Thatcherism was authoritarian populism, not fascism, retaining representative institutions.

Evidence

What we have to explain is a move toward “authoritarian populism”—an exceptional form of the capitalist state which, unlike classical fascism, has retained most (though not all) of the formal representative institutions in place, and which at the same time has been able to construct around itself an active popular consent. This undoubtedly represents a decisive shift in the balance of forces, and the National Front has played a “walk-on” part in this drama. It has entailed a striking weakening of democratic forms and initiatives; but not their suspension. — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 1096

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces Hall’s signature concept ‘authoritarian populism’—the mechanism by which the right wins popular consent without suspending democratic forms.
• XREF: Hegemony from Gramsci is the framework here; also connects to how consent is manufactured—echoes points made earlier in the book and general political theory.