Deck 19: Autocratic Systems of Government

Question 1

Who described totalitarianism as a different form of political oppression combining an all-powerful messianic leader,revolution,and the systematic use of arbitrary total terror?

A) Zbigniew Brzezinski
B) V.I. Lenin
C) Adam Przeworski
D) Hannah Arendt

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the major difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

A) Authoritarianism is a "syndrome," while totalitarianism is an ideology.
B) Totalitarianism places importance on a single-minded drive to remake society according to a utopian vision, while authoritarianism is more pluralist in its ideological connections.
C) Authoritarianism places importance on a single-minded drive to remake society according to a utopian vision, while totalitarianism is less tied to a single ideological platform.
D) Totalitarianism is a purely historical phenomenon, while authoritarianism is more modern.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following is a typical attribute of most right-wing authoritarian regimes?

A) a dictator for life
B) too many people
C) no idea of a classless society
D) rampant capitalist expansion

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Coercion is used in both authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.What is the key difference between the use of force in the two types of regimes?

A) Force in totalitarian regimes is physically violent, while economic force is employed in authoritarian regimes.
B) Force in authoritarian regimes is physically violent, while economic force is employed in totalitarian regimes.
C) Violence is aimed at political opponents in an authoritarian regime, while even citizens who are politically neutral are victims in totalitarian regimes.
D) Violence is restrained in totalitarian regimes, while it is unleashed with full military force in authoritarian regimes.

Question 5

According to Friedrich and Brzezinski,which of the following is NOT an element of totalitarianism?

A) a terroristic police
B) a market economy
C) an official ideology
D) a single party led by one man

Question 6

A ruler believes that his country is capable of sweeping social reforms along religious lines.He uses the military to control the lives of private citizens,and allows foreign companies to work in certain areas of the economy and agrees to certain international commitments.What type of ruler is this?

A) totalitarian
B) right-wing authoritarian
C) left-wing authoritarian
D) statist

Question 7

Which of the following would threaten the reign of an authoritarian ruler the least?

A) rumours of a coup d'état
B) loss of popular support
C) loss of military support
D) loss of support within the ruling party

Question 8

Which of the following situations would be LEAST likely to occur in a right-wing authoritarian state?

A) nationalization of certain key resources
B) privatization of certain key resources
C) the imposition of new political institutions
D) the implementation of certain free-market policies

Question 9

While there are many different types of authoritarian regimes,what do they all share in common?

A) None of them hold free and fair elections.
B) None of them have civil or political rights.
C) None of them hold elections.
D) None of them allow private business or professional organizations

Question 10

What does statism refer to?

A) the use of the state to direct the economy
B) the imposition of statutes to enforce curfews
C) the use of the military in border skirmishes
D) the use of state police to enforce political order

Question 11

In which ideological context does mass political mobilization typically develop?

A) statism
B) left-wing authoritarian regimes
C) right-wing authoritarian regimes
D) coup d'état

Question 12

A government owns all daily newspapers and employs all of the reporters and journalists in the country.What is this an example of?

A) pseudo-democratic rule
B) nationalization of resources
C) control of communications
D) centralized economic planning

Question 13

Which of the following characteristics is NOT typical of totalitarian regimes?

A) state monopoly of communications
B) the use of political police
C) messianic all-powerful leader
D) powerful opposition party

Question 14

What does the term "statism" refer to?

A) the long-term presidency of a dictator
B) the state as the principal instrument in expanding the economy
C) the control of the supreme court by the people
D) the control of the media by the state

Question 15

Which of the following statements defines the relationship of the state to the law in a totalitarian regime?

A) The law is essentially a tool of the state.
B) The state is subordinate to the law.
C) Both the law and the state are subordinate to the people.
D) The law and the state conflict.

Question 16

Almost all totalitarian regimes of the twentieth century have fallen.Given the nature of totalitarianism,which phenomenon poses the greatest challenge for totalitarian regimes today?

A) lack of charismatic rulers
B) decline in military capabilities
C) globalization
D) lack of revolutionary national ideologies

Question 17

What is a key attribute of despotism?

A) Elections are not called every four years.
B) The wealthy are subject to excessive taxes.
C) Religious practice is banned.
D) An individual rules through fear and disregard for the law.

Question 18

Authoritarian rulers typically enjoy power for only a short period of time and are often overthrown.How does their overthrow typically come about?

A) by a coalition government of the united opposition parties
B) by socialists and separatists
C) by a mass political movement
D) by a faction within the military or the ruling party

Question 19

Which of the following would NOT be found in totalitarian regime?

A) Internet regulation and banning of certain sites.
B) Privately owned newspapers.
C) Large public demonstrations in support of the ruler.
D) Falsified media stories.

Question 20

There are many differences between liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes.In which of the following points do the two regimes differ the most?

A) economy
B) constitutionalism
C) civil society
D) ideology

Question 21

Totalitarianism involves the arbitrary use of total terror to keep people in line with the state's ideas.

Question 22

Central to totalitarianism is the attempt to completely _________ society.According to Hannah Arendt,this occurs through the destruction of _______,________,and ________ traditions.

Question 23

In totalitarian regimes,one political party dominates,and others are illegal.

Question 24

Totalitarian governments are characterized by their control of media and use of propaganda.

Question 25

Adam Przeworski and others studied more than one hundred regimes and found that per-capita incomes grow faster in authoritarian regimes than in liberal democracies.

Question 26

Autocracy is essentially the same thing as what Aristotle called ___________ and what Montesquieu called ____________,which he described as one man ruling through fear and without regard to law.Such definitions always point to similar characteristics: rule is ___________,in the interest of the___________,and based on _________ and fear.

Question 27

Totalitarian regimes usually have an official ideology that is focused around the personality of one all-powerful messianic leader.

Question 28

Totalitarianism has been described as a "syndrome" or "pattern of interrelated traits."

Question 29

Totalitarianism is defined as that political system that provides total care in health,education,and economic development for all of its citizens.

Question 30

Adam Przeworski found that per-capita incomes grow faster in ________ than in __________ regimes and that there was never solid evidence for the "efficient ___________" hypothesis.

Question 31

Adam Przeworski and others studied more than one hundred regimes and found that per-capita incomes grow faster in democracies than in authoritarian regimes.

Question 32

The overwhelming evidence suggests that authoritarian regimes are more efficient economically than liberal democracies.

Question 33

Autocracies can be classified as either authoritarian or totalitarian governments.

Question 34

Hannah Arendt defined totalitarianism as a form of political __________ that differs essentially from others known to us in the sense that wherever it rose to power,it developed entirely new political _________and destroyed all traditions.She noted two distinguishing features: the existence of a _________ movement and the arbitrary use of_________.

Question 35

Left- and right-wing authoritarianism are found in essentially the same type of government.

Question 36

According to Friedrich and Brzezinski,totalitarianism is a _______ that exists when six elements come together: an official ________,a single political __________ led by one man,a _______ police,a ________ monopoly,a ________monopoly,and a centrally directed _________.

Question 37

Statism refers to the tendency in right-wing authoritarian regimes to foster greater control for the citizens of the state apparatus.

Question 38

Autocracy is essentially the same thing as tyranny and despotism.

Question 39

In authoritarian regimes,organizations that challenge government policy,such as labour unions,are severely repressed.

Question 40

One of the features of a totalitarian regime is the power of autonomous labour unions.

Question 41

Authoritarian rulers will often come to power with political support.Which situations might influence an individual to support the idea of an authoritarian rule? In your opinion,are there any benefits to authoritarianism? Why,or why not?

Question 42

Discuss Adam Przeworski's views on the alleged efficiency of authoritarianism.Are despotic regimes better than democracies at generating economic growth?

Question 43

In a totalitarian state,law is __________ to the state,and there are no ___________ in the proper sense of the term.

Question 44

Are there any authoritarian or totalitarian states left in the world? Has globalization helped or hindered their continued existence?

Question 45

Define autocracy.Compare it to the classical and modern definitions of tyranny and despotism.

Question 46

Compare the similarities and differences between authoritarianism and totalitarianism.Give specific examples of regimes in each category.

Question 47

The Arab Spring surprised political analysts when it succeeded in deposing four authoritarian regimes.Is this an indication that changing global factors make it more difficult to retain power in an authoritarian state? If so,what factors impact authoritarian rule,and if not,how can authoritarian regimes overcome new challenges to their rule?

Question 48

The concept of ___________ implies authority that is not put to the test of ________.A bias towards statism and a major political role for the military characterize _____________.An official ideology and a call for fundamental social transformation are features of ___________.Whether left or right,authoritarian leaders tolerate little or no _________ and reject the principles of liberal democracy.

Question 49

Discuss Hannah Arendt's observations on totalitarianism.Provide examples that illustrate her views.

Question 50

Identify the basic features of totalitarianism.Provide examples of totalitarian regimes.

Question 51

Is there a trade-off between democracy and economic development? Is there any evidence for the "efficient authoritarian" hypothesis?