"I like Mr. Gorbachev, we can do business together"

Margaret Thatcher’s remark, “I like Mr. Gorbachev, we can do business together,” encapsulates a pivotal moment in the late 20th century, signaling a subtle yet profound shift in East-West relations during the final years of the Cold War. Thatcher, known for her steely demeanor and staunch anti-communism, recognizes in Mikhail Gorbachev a partner markedly different from his Soviet predecessors. The personal dimension of her statement, expressing genuine regard for Gorbachev, is significant: it indicates a breaking down of the mutual suspicion and dehumanization that had characterized interactions between Western leaders and Soviet officials for decades.

Thatcher’s use of the phrase “do business” is loaded with meaning. As a champion of free-market values and an advocate for pragmatic politics, Thatcher is suggesting not only that constructive dialogue is possible but that tangible cooperation might be achievable. She does not see Gorbachev merely as an ideological adversary but as someone who is reasonable, pragmatic, and open to negotiation. The comment echoes a sense of hopefulness—a readiness to move beyond entrenched animosities and potentially recalibrate the international order.

The context is crucial. Gorbachev had recently ascended to power, bringing with him reformist concepts such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). Thatcher’s positive assessment helped pave the way for a thaw in British-Soviet—indeed, Western-Soviet—relations and lent credibility to Gorbachev’s attempts at reform in the eyes of wary Western leaders. Her endorsement was not simply an expression of personal fondness, but a diplomatic signal that the West was open to dialogue and mutual understanding if there was a genuine partner on the Soviet side. Ultimately, Thatcher’s statement reflects a subtle yet pointed optimism: that even adversaries can find common ground and work cooperatively if there is trust and a willingness to engage.