Deck 5: The Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality

Question 1

Following World War II, authoritarian regimes, like military dictatorships, were common in all of the following parts of the world EXCEPT which of the following?

A)Asia
B)The Middle East
C)North Africa
D)Sub-Saharan Africa
E)Western Europe

Answer 1

E

Question 2

When the entirety of human history is considered, democracies, when compared to authoritarian governments such as monarchies, are which of the following?

A)Much more common
B)Slightly more common
C)Roughly as common
D)Slightly less common
E)Much less common

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Which of the following best describes a coup d'état?

A)A revision of the constitution that changes the procedural rules
B)A minor battle between two neighboring countries
C)A peaceful transition of power following a contentious election
D)An attempted seizure of governmental power by an alternate power group
E)A major policy change that frustrates the political opposition

Answer 3

D

Question 4

On what criteria would authoritarian states outperform democratic states?

A)Representation of multiple societal interests
B)The simplicity of decision making
C)Dedication to the rule of law
D)Constitutional protections of liberties
E)Consideration of the lower classes

Question 5

In what major way are the United States and China both economically dependent on each other?

A)The United States purchases a lot of Chinese exports, whereas China funds much of the United States' debt.
B)China purchases a lot of the United States' exports, whereas the United States funds much of China's debt.
C)Both countries rely on Japan to buy their exports.
D)Both countries are heavily indebted to the World Bank.
E)The United States is reliant on China for most of its intellectual property development.

Question 6

When the Shah of Iran was overthrown in 1979, what type of government replaced him?

A)A parliamentary democracy
B)A presidential democracy
C)A hereditary monarchy
D)A theocratic autocracy
E)A socialist dictatorship

Question 7

An anticorruption and prodemocracy movement in 1989 led to what action by the Chinese government?

A)The massacre in Tiananmen Square
B)The creation of the Democracy Wall
C)Liberalization of speech and press freedoms
D)The establishment of democratically elected local governments
E)Diplomatic relations with Taiwan

Question 8

Why are special interests more likely to slow state action in democracies than in autocracies?

A)Unlike democracies, special interests are well represented in autocracies.
B)Unlike democracies, autocracies generally lack special interests.
C)Democracies are legally required to satisfy special interests before making policy.
D)Democracies are generally weaker governments than autocracies.
E)Autocracies are likely to suppress public criticism from special interests.

Question 9

An oligarchy is a form of an authoritarian state with what kind of leadership?

A)A single ruler
B)A small group of economic elites
C)A small group of religious elites
D)A large group of people representing society broadly
E)A large group of military leaders

Question 10

Which of the following is the main goal of authoritarian states?

A)Representing the policy preferences of the general public
B)Maintaining a power monopoly
C)Representing the policy preferences of organized interests
D)Preserving the rule of law
E)Avoiding international entanglements

Question 11

Despite the lack of political freedoms, in what way might authoritarian regimes be positive for the people?

A)Reducing economic inequality
B)Maintaining law and order
C)Preventing political and economic corruption
D)Minimizing the influence of the military on politics
E)Protecting the public from negative campaign advertisements

Question 12

Democracies are more likely to be successful in what contexts?

A)Relatively prosperous and well-educated countries
B)Relatively poor and well-educated countries
C)Relatively prosperous and poorly educated countries
D)Relatively poor and poorly educated countries
E)Relatively poor and neither well-educated nor poorly educated countries

Question 13

What are sovereign wealth funds?

A)They are investment funds held by the world's monarchs.
B)They are investment funds held by the world's most powerful economic leaders.
C)They are economic tools used to regulate the amount of currency available in an economy.
D)They are state-owned investment funds, often made up of international assets.
E)They are state banks that tax international imports.

Question 14

An autocracy is a form of an authoritarian state with what kind of leadership?

A)A single ruler
B)A small group of economic elites
C)A small group of religious elites
D)A large group of people representing society broadly
E)A large group of military leaders

Question 15

In what major way do authoritarian regimes differ from totalitarian regimes?

A)Authoritarian regimes are generally uninterested in the actions of the public except for their political actions, whereas totalitarian regimes seek to regulate all types of actions.
B)Authoritarian regimes seek to regulate all types of public actions, whereas totalitarian regimes are generally uninterested in the actions of the public except their political actions.
C)Authoritarian regimes tend to be far more open to public criticism than totalitarian regimes.
D)Authoritarian regimes tend to be far more opposed to international criticism than totalitarian regimes.
E)Authoritarian regimes are much less likely to be hereditary than totalitarian regimes.

Question 16

Over the past decade, how has China altered its military strategy?

A)China expanded military spending and became more confrontational with its neighbors.
B)China reduced its military spending to focus on infrastructure and development.
C)China expanded military spending but avoided conflict with its neighbors.
D)China reduced its military spending by reducing the number of soldiers in its standing military.
E)China left its military spending unchanged but focused more on conventional weapons.

Question 17

Until relatively recently, which kind of state has been the most common in the world?

A)Authoritarian states
B)Democratic states
C)Communist states
D)Libertarian states
E)Anarchistic states

Question 18

Theocracies are notable due to what characteristic?

A)A lack of clear parliamentary control
B)Power concentrated in one person
C)A lack of any separation of church and state
D)Power concentrated in a small group of people
E)All decisions made collectively

Question 19

What is a politburo?

A)A small group that makes final political decisions
B)An influential group of impartial economic advisers
C)An influential group of military advisers
D)A hereditary legislative body similar to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom
E)An alternative parliament made up of political dissidents

Question 20

Which Chinese leader is given the most credit for China's rapid economic growth in international trade over the past three decades?

A)Mao Zedong
B)Chiang Kai-shek
C)Deng Xiaoping
D)Wen Jiabao
E)Ayatollah Khomeini

Question 21

Modern autocrats often rely on what in order to gain legitimacy?

A)International support
B)Personal charisma
C)Free elections
D)Parliamentary support
E)Interest group advocacy

Question 22

What mechanisms do authoritarian rulers use to frustrate their political opponents?

Question 23

Describe some of the economic problems in China created by its rapid economic growth.

Question 24

Despite its political despotism, Imperial China accomplished what major achievement?

A)Privatization of personal property
B)The development of a free market for labor
C)Integration of women into political life
D)A massive reduction of economic inequality
E)Technological improvements that increased food production

Question 25

Given the recent reemergence of authoritarian governments around the world, make an argument about whether you expect this trend to continue. Be sure to make a specific, supported argument throughout.

Question 26

Based on his observations of the Italian city-states of the 1600s, Machiavelli, in The Prince , offers what advice to would-be rulers?

A)It is good to be feared and loved, but better to be feared.
B)It is good to be feared and loved, but better to be loved.
C)It is good to be feared and loved, but only at the same time.
D)It is good to be merciful at all times to court public favor.
E)It is good to deny the public constantly to emphasize control.

Question 27

Consider the United States' relations with some of the major autocracies of the world. Do these relations generally advance or detract from American diplomatic goals? What would Aristotle advise? Machiavelli?

Question 28

Prior to the early 1990s, why was South Africa generally NOT considered a democratic nation?

A)South Africa had a hereditary monarch.
B)South Africa was ruled by a military general.
C)South Africa operated a system of apartheid.
D)South Africa prevented women from voting.
E)South Africa lacked a national constitution.

Question 29

Describe some of the principal sources of China's rapid economic advancement in the late twentieth century and in the twenty-first century.

Question 30

Describe some of the factors that led to the overthrow of the Mubarak regime in Egypt. Which of these factors seems most influential? Why?

Question 31

Describe the basic structure of the Mubarak regime in Egypt. How did this system reflect some of the virtues and vices of autocracies?

Question 32

Based on what you have learned so far, would Aristotle be supportive of modern authoritarian forms of government? Why or why not ?