Explain the trend in politics of the 1970s and 1980s in returning to conservativism

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The era of détente and possible thaw in the cold war ended with several key events. A trend toward diplomacy had created the hope of a more rational political policy in the early 1970s, but with the oil embargo of 1973 and the subsequent seizure of hostages by Iran under the Carter administration, followed by another embargo in 1979, there was the realization on behalf of the western powers about the dangers of a globalized economy. Preliminary work to disarm and reduce nuclear proliferation had begun, but with the election of Ronald Reagan as president, an avowed hawk in international politics, there was a return to a conservative, promilitary stand among the superpowers. This was mirrored in Europe with the election of Helmut Kohl and Margaret Thatcher in West Germany and England, respectively, who again raised the dangers of communism and advocated a rearmament policy. Thatcher strong-armed the Labour Party reforms into submission in favor of building business and industry in Britain.