Peace and conflict
What is peace, according the class discussions?
Peace is a situation where basic needs are met, rights are respected, relationships are harmonious, and conflicts are resolved through peaceful means.
What distinguishes a revolution from simple social change?
A revolution involves a deep, rapid, and disruptive transformation of the political, social, or economic system, not gradual adjustments.
Who ruled Russia before the 1917 revolutions?
Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov Dynasty.
What type of government did the Mexican Revolution rise against?
The dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz.
Which ancient civilization is credited with inventing democracy?
Ancient Greece (specifically Athens).
What is the main difference between positive peace and negative peace?
Positive peace involves justice, equality, and addressing structural violence, while negative peace is simply the absence of war or direct violence.
What are the three key characteristics of a revolution in terms of scope, pace, and nature?
Deep scope, rapid pace, and disruptive nature.
What was one major cause of popular discontent leading to the February Revolution?
Food shortages and exhaustion caused by World War I.
What structural problem most affected peasants and workers before the revolution?
Extreme concentration of land and wealth in the hands of a small elite. Especially with the "haciendas" system.
Who wrote Romeo and Juliet?
William Shakespeare.
Which form of peace focuses on stopping or managing ongoing violent conflict?
Peacekeeping.
Which type of revolution seeks to transform values, norms, and cultural practices?
A cultural revolution.
What was the “bread policy,” and why did it cause protests?
It placed state control over grain production and prices; poor management caused shortages, long lines, and urban unrest.
What was the main difference between liberals and conservatives in 19th-century Mexico?
Liberals supported a secular state and limiting Church power, while conservatives defended tradition, the Church, and strong central authority.
Which artist is known as the “King of Pop”?
Michael Jackson.
How does peacebuilding differ from peacemaking?
Peacebuilding focuses on creating long-term conditions for positive peace such as justice and equality, while peacemaking focuses on negotiating agreements to end conflict and maintain negative peace.
Explain the difference between long-term causes and short-term triggers of a revolution.
Long-term causes create the conditions for revolution, while short-term triggers directly ignite it.
How did Rasputin’s influence over the Russian royal family contribute to the collapse of the Tsarist regime?
Rasputin’s close relationship with Tsarina Alexandra undermined confidence in the monarchy, increased distrust among the aristocracy and the public, and reinforced perceptions of corruption and incompetence within the Tsarist government, accelerating its loss of legitimacy.
What did middle-class reformers demand during the Porfiriato? Particularly with Madero
Free elections, an end to re-election, and greater political participation.
What is the name of the international organization founded after World War I to promote peace and cooperation?
The league of nations.
Why can a society experience violence even while living positive peace?
Because even without war, structural and cultural violence—such as inequality, racism, or lack of access to resources—can persist and create latent conflict.
Why do economic crises and military defeats often accelerate revolutionary movements?
Because they expose regime weakness, reduce legitimacy, and increase public support for radical change.
Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk crucial for Bolshevik consolidation of power?
It fulfilled Lenin’s promise of peace, allowing the Bolsheviks to focus on internal control despite territorial losses.
Who was Madero and how can you explain his power in the politics of Mexico?
A businessman that inherited economic and social power from his family and their participation in the Haciendas; he advocated for social justice and politics.
He studied abroad and internalize liberal ideas from education in USA and France, which he would later apply to oppose Porfirio Díaz.
To what family did Florence owe much of its Renaissance peak, thanks to their wealth, banking power, and patronage of artists (Like Botticelli or Da Vinci and thinkers (Like Machiavelli)?
The Medici family.