Deck 7: Democracies and Authoritarian Systems

Question 1

A one-party state:

A) is usually unresponsive to the demands of citizens
B) typically has no institutional basis to support it
C) concentrates most or all political power in a single political party
D) is, by definition, a military government
E) is the same as a democracy with a dominant party

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Monarchies are most common in:

A) eastern Europe
B) the Middle East
C) South America
D) Africa
E) Asia

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The organizational structure of the political system strongly influences the processes of political choice.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A one party state would be considered a form of _________________.

Question 5

Two of democracy's important strengths are the level of dignity it confers on all citizens, and its strong protection against arbitrary treatment by government.

Question 6

India, Jamaica, Malta, Botswana, and Costa Rica are relatively _________________ states without large industrial bases that are democracies.

Question 7

Which is most likely to be of longest duration?

A) A state
B) A regime
C) A government of a particular set of elites and supporters
D) The tenure of an individual office holder
E) The length of a particular legislative session

Question 8

The year 1989 saw a major wave of democratization in _________________.

Question 9

In the months following Mubarak's fall from power in Egypt:

A) the military ruled the country
B) the Muslim Brotherhood ruled the country
C) a coalition of moderate and liberal groups ruled the country
D) a United Nations peacekeeping unit kept order in the country
E) most observers felt that Egypt would have a smooth transition to democracy

Question 10

Military governments:

A) are nearly always right-wing governments
B) are nearly always centrist governments
C) are nearly always leftist governments
D) typically have no discernible ideology
E) can range from right-wing governments to left-wing governments

Question 11

The coming of democracy and the continuation of democracy are natural and normal international political processes.

Question 12

Your text uses a term for those political systems where analysts are not sure if there is enough democracy in a system to merit calling it a democracy. That label is ______________________ democracies.

Question 13

After the rule of Stalin in the Soviet Union:

A) elections were held, and the Communist Party won a bare majority of seats
B) the new government immediately initiated democratic reforms
C) one leader ruled for the next five decades
D) transitions of power were peaceful for the next five decades
E) the government continued violent repression of much of the population

Question 14

The most prominent theocracy is found in this country:

A) Saudi Arabia
B) Iran
C) China
D) Myanmar (Burma)
E) Spain

Question 15

The number of democracies in the world:

A) has fluctuated dramatically up and down since the mid-1970s
B) now includes nearly every state
C) has grown steadily since the mid-1970s
D) was highest just prior to World War II
E) has stayed fairly constant since the mid-1990s

Question 16

The notion that in a democracy groups will sometimes win and sometimes lose but will accept that they always have the prospect of getting enough of what they want to stay in the game is called the _________________________.

Question 17

Coup d'etat means _______________________________.

Question 18

Which of the following states become democratic during the "third wave" of democratization?

A) France
B) Britain
C) Costa Rica
D) Spain
E) United States

Question 19

A transition to democracy that is spawned by an economic crisis in a state is labeled a ___________________________.

Question 20

Given the natural levels of public support in democracies, they are relatively stable and solid systems.

Question 21

Critical Thinking
Your text defines democracy as a regime in which all fully qualified citizens vote at regular intervals to choose, from among alternative candidates, the people who will be in charge of setting a state's policies. In your view, is this all that is necessary to have a healthy, functioning democracy?

Question 22

Critical Thinking
A great deal is said about "democracy" and "freedom." If freedom is being unconstrained by laws, rules and regulations … does democracy really reduce the likelihood that government will engage itself less in the lives of its citizens? Is that conclusion possible in a society which becomes overwhelmingly a litigating society (i.e. government making decisions binding on individuals)?

Question 23

Democracies are better at fostering economic growth.

Question 24

A coup that establishes a military regime has an immediate and persistent problem of political legitimacy.

Question 25

One principle difference between democractic and authoritarian systems is the balance they create between power and choice.

Question 26

What key conditions and factors can lead to a successful transition from authoritarian government to democratic government?

Question 27

Economic strength (prosperity) increases the chances that a political system will remain a democracy.

Question 28

One-party states are less common than military regimes.

Question 29

What is the connection between prosperity and democracy? What could explain this connection?

Question 30

In what ways might an authoritarian political system be more efficient than a democratic political system?

Question 31

Your text describes a "pact" as an agreement among elites (incoming and outgoing) to ensure a smooth transition and lay a good base of support for a future regime.