The United Kingdom’s Never-Ending Crisis of Authority: from Shakespeare’s History Plays to Brexit

Abstract

This article draws parallels and contrasts between Margaret Thatcher, Theresa May and Shakespearean kingship models in Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2. It argues that Thatcher’s strategy of addressing domestic crises such as the miners’ strike by focusing on external issues such as the Falklands war mirrors Richard II’s focus on Ireland as Henry IV took over England. The article furthers compares Thatcher to Henry IV and Prince Hal, noting that both Thatcher and Henry IV were idealized as solutions to national challenges before assuming power. Thatcher was mythologised as the UK’s first female leader, “the Iron Lady” who would put the great back in Great Britain, similar to Prince Hal’s deceptive image, managing to manipulate public opinion. In the article, I argue that the United Kingdom has a tradition of redirecting internal political crises toward external enemies—a tactic Thatcher used with the Falklands and May with Europe. Brexit, under May’s leadership, represents a modern scapegoat for Britain’s internal issues, echoing historical patterns followed by Thatcher and Richard II. This continuity illustrates an ongoing crisis of authority in the UK, where leaders focus on external threats to divert attention from internal problems, revealing enduring themes in British political culture and Shakespearean drama.