Falklands War

The Falklands War was an armed conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982 which lasted for 74 days. The Falkland Islands are British territory, but Argentina claimed sovereignty over them.

The Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands, also called Malvinas, are a group of 780 islands in the South Atlantic, 400 miles distant from Argentina. Only two islands are inhabited. In 1982, the year of the war, 1,800 people lived on the islands and half of them in the capital, Port Stanley on East Falkland. The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory, controlled by a governor and about 100 Royal Marines are based there. Sheep farming is one of the major ways to have an income.

The Conflict

A dispute about sovereignty has existed since Britain occupied the islands in 1833. Since then, Argentina has repeatedly demanded that authority on the Falklands should belong to their own country and negotiations between both governments have taken place again and again without a solution. In 1982, British politicians were also more concerned with the Soviet Union and the danger which was felt at that time. Prior to that, Britain also had left negotiations and did not intensify defence on the islands despite possible attack. Yet, the issue was very important for Argentina as can be seen from its constitution declaring its power over the Falklands. Besides, Argentine politicians always referred to a necessary re-establishment of power.

Consequently, the dispute became more and more complicated and there was also a lack of sympathy of the Islanders towards Argentina. The problem was how patient Argentina would be concerning the matter. Among other things, the junior minister at the Foreign Office, Nicholas Ridley, visited Argentina and the Falklands. In talks with the Argentinians, Ridley revealed that the British were not interested in the Falkland Islands. On the other hand, he explained to the Islanders that in case of an attack by Argentina the British would intervene. However, Argentina understood his statement in such a way that military actions would not be opposed as the Falklands are 8000 miles away from Britain and Argentina would have an advantageous position.

Moreover, Argentina had a military government since 1976 and the head of government at that time was General Leopoldo Galtieri, in power since 22 December 1981. In order to keep his position and stay in power, Galtieri became the driving force behind the idea to invade the Falkland Islands since he hoped for support of the population when being successful. As a result, on 2 April 1982, Argentinian invasion on the Falklands started with the result that Britain’s world status was at stake and its government had to prove itself in this situation.

Thereafter, there were fierce debates in the House of Commons until it was decided to send troops to the Falklands although the distance, the Argentinian position and other concerns depicted problems for the soldiers who should land on the western side of East Falkland. On the contrary, the British military was prepared for such conflicts and had much knowledge about the Falklands. Moreover, the USA and France supported Britain. The war ended when Britain could reconquer Port Stanley and Argentina surrendered on 14 June 1982, but the argument with Argentina about sovereignty on the Falklands continues until today.

Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War

After the war, some people said that Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister since 1979, had only been lucky to win the war. Some others criticized that the outcome of the war would have been different if the planned cuts on British defence spending would have been realized before the war. Nevertheless, given that the British navy was the second largest in the NATO it should have been no difficulty for the UK to reconquer the Falklands.

Indeed, Thatcher’s knowledge about military issues was not very detailed, but she presented herself as a strong guide with a clear image about the war’s outcome in mind. After her election in 1979, her popularity went down and the reputation of the Conservative Party deteriorated as well. The ending of the conflict presented her in a different light. On the one hand, Thatcher owes this new support to the media like The Sun which was not opposed to her and her actions and so she was presented positively. Additionally, newspapers and television were not able to show pictures of e.g. dying people due to the distance to the Falkland Islands. The shortness of the war proved advantageous, too. The Falklands War affected the Prime Minister’s image in her own party, the Conservative Party, as well: The fact that she was a woman, from the middle-class and was not appointed to an office of state before becoming Prime Minister did not matter anymore.

Margaret Thatcher stressed the fact that Britain has to prove its world position concerning the war and moreover emphasized her image of Britain’s greatness. Her attitude underlined what was still found in the population: nostalgic feelings and the desire for imperial and military power. The public was aware of Britain’s decline since World War II and so met Thatcher’s political position. Therefore, the second election victory of Margaret Thatcher can be attributed in part to the Falklands War. Critical views on the war were less published due to the Prime Minister’s positive media representation strengthening her public image. Besides, the war showed that Britain was capable to defend itself which was important for the population in the time of the Cold War. Thatcher’s words addressed the citizens’ anxieties and uncertainties and made them feel proud about their country. Thus, she was well received and could win the election for a second time.

Sources

Dillon, George M. The Falklands, Politics and War. Basingstoke et al.: Macmillan, 1989.

Monaghan, David. The Falklands War. Myth and Countermyth. Basingstoke et al.: Macmillan, 1998.

Vinen, Richard. Thatcher’s Britain. The Politics and Social Upheaval of the Thatcher Era. London et al.: Simon and Schuster, 2009.