Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher died Monday from a stroke at the age of 87. What characterized her as a political leader was her strong will and leadership, which earned her the nickname "Iron Lady."

As Britain's first female prime minister, Ms. Thatcher stayed in power for 11½ years beginning in 1979, becoming the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century. She brought sweeping changes to the United Kingdom's economy and society, and played an important role in ending the Cold War. A champion of neoliberalism, she turned the "sick old man of Europe" into a powerful center of financial globalization.

But her policy widened economic disparities in British society. Her detractors say she destroyed local economies and communities and the lives of members of the working class and even the middle class. She has also been criticized for doing little to promote the rights of women and socially marginalized groups. Her leadership record will no doubt continue to stir controversy for years to come.