British politics has been revolutionized in between 1988 and 1998 by two major factors: the hegemony of Thatcherism for 18 years; and the current dominance of what some say is variant - Blairism - forged in opposition and enthroned in government since May 1997. Thatcherism introduced radical new imperatives for all levels and functions of government and a stern, often disapproving attitude towards Britain's European partners. Blair has retained the economic thrust of Thatcher but is more co-operative on Europe and unquenchably modernizing on everything else.