Level 1
Define what an authoritarian state is.
An authoritarian state is a system of government that puts order and obedience to the regime above the personal freedoms of its citizens.
How do authoritarian states emerge?
Authoritarian states emerge in times of crises induced by war, economic crisis, political instability, lack of leadership, unpopular governments, fear of revolution, new ideas introduced in politics, and nationalist independence movements.
To what extent is Stalin responsible for industrializing the USSR?
To a large extent. Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union in the early 1920’s till his death in 1953. Stalin used fear tactics and silenced the opposition by any means. When in power, Stalin launched several five-year plans that intended to further industrialize the USSR. Under his rule, the Soviet Union turned from a peasant society into an industrial and military superpower on the global scale.
Describe the characteristics of an authoritarian state.
Little or no freedom of speech. No freedom of assembly. No freedom of movement. No freedom of travel abroad. No independent judicial system. All sources of information are censored. Any opposition is harshly punished. Has a leader whose popularity is reinforced by a personality cult.
Evaluate how Hitler created enemies of the state to benefit his political power.
Hitler blamed Germany’s economic issues on a minority race- the Jews. By placing blame on this race, the Germans turned against them, and turned towards Hitler to fix this issue within society. By blaming this group, Hitler gained a huge following because his country thought he had the answers for change.
Discuss how Castro’s criticism of the Cuban government aided in his rise to power.
During his rise to power, Castro openly criticized the corruption within the Cuban government. Students and the youth looked to young leader, Fidel Castro, for his militant rhetoric and violent struggle for freedom. Castro went into hiding and plotted an armed revolution in order to liberate the country of Cuba.
True or False: During Nasser’s time in Egypt, women were accorded more rights than they had ever had.
True.
How did Saddam Hussein eliminate opposition to his party and its ideologies?
He used an extensive secret-police establishment to suppress any internal opposition to his rule, and he made himself the object of an extensive personality cult among the Iraqi public.
To what extent did the ineffectiveness of King Farouk lead to Nasser’s rise to power in Egypt?
The ineffectiveness of King Farouk to a large extent led to Nasser’s rise to power because he failed to attend to Egypt’s problems. He was appointed by the British and was immediately “uneducated, lazy, and vain”. His attempts to introduce reforms failed against Egypt’s politicians and landowners. He also vainly butted heads with Britain, making him despised globally. This led to support for Nasser.
What was the goal of the Hitler youth?
The goal of the Hitler youth was to indoctrinate children at their most impressionable age, removing them from the influence of their parents, who may have opposed the regime, and to get Hitler’s ideology into the family unit.
Evaluate how/why the opposition of authoritarian leaders are eliminated.
The mistakes or shortcomings of opponents are crucial to the success of the new leader and the party in their attempt to seize and hold onto power. In almost every case, prior to regime change, the defeated power had failed to respond to the problems in society, effectively opening the door to its opponents. This failure may be due to a rigidity of approach, weak leadership, or underestimation of its opposition.
How successful was the cultural revolution in re-asserting Mao’s power over China?
The cultural revolution was not successful in re-asserting Mao’s power because 1.5 million people died and China’s cultural heritage was ruined. Instead, Mao sent in an army to restore order, showing he mainly used force to establish power.
What was the UAR?
A political union between Egypt and Syria that combined them into a single sovereign state.
How did Castro’s domestic policies benefit Cuban society?
Castro abolished legal discrimination, brought electricity to the countryside, provided for full employment, and advanced the causes for education and healthcare by building new schools and medical facilities.
To what extent did the Great Depression play a role in pushing forward Hitler and his policies?
During the Great Depression, Hitler became a powerful force in German politics. With many unemployed, Germans began to stray away from the parliamentary republic and became open to more radical reforms. Once he was appointed chancellor, Hitler formed a legal dictatorship and passed the Enabling Act. This act gave his cabinet full legislative powers for a period of four years and allowed for deviations from the constitution. He used this new power to take over Germany, excluding Jews from society and creating eugenic policies.