this view is conservative,in that it accepts social stratification and class as fixed,representing the proper order of thing.It is self-serving,for it seeks to enhance trade and commerce,and to reward those with the virtues it admires,namely the petit bourgeoisie.
In support of this identification,it should first be noted bow closely these assertions fit the definition of Dualism (Perry,1970).It is not claimed that Dualist absolutist thinker must logically be followers of the New Right.The connection is contingent,and depends on the British cultural and historical context.In the USA Dualist absolutist thought is likely to be found among fundamentalist Christians and radical-right groups such as the Heritage Foundation,for example, althought the puritan ethic and business values are widespread in American education (Carier,1976).What is claimed is the converse,that New Right thinking in Britain can be categorized as Dualist and absolutist.
The key representative of New Right thinking is the British Prime Minister of the 1980s,Magrarrt Thatcher,and a case study of her ideology follows.As the prime mover behind socail and education policy,her ideological position is of key importance.Thus Thatcher's personal ideology,being the engine of her policy,has undoubtedly had a major impact on government legislation and policy,and she is thus the most important representative of New Right.Tn addition,the right wing think-tanks and pressure groups are currently very influential precisely because the views they publish resonate with those of Thatcher.In fact it was she,together with Keith Joseph,who in 1974 founded possibly the most important of these groups,the Centre for Policy Studies (1987,1988).This was established as a radical alternative to the conservative party research department ,which was dominated by moderates loyal to Edward Heath(Gordon,1989).prior to 1979,these think-tanks had no impact on