Deck 6: Regimes

Question 1

The wealthiest 1 percent of Americans received the biggest of the Bush administration's 2001 tax cuts, which some would argue is an example of __________.

A)government being too big
B)the unaccountable nature of elites
C)political power benefitting those with money and connections
D)good public policy

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Conservative billionaires generously funded pro-Romney __________ and yet still lost the 2012 presidential election.

A)politicians
B)policies
C)super-PACs
D)social media

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Though rare, a "True" democracy, is a system in which __________.

A)all citizens meet periodically to elect officials
B)all citizens meet periodically to elect officials and personally enact laws
C)popular accountability is common, but political competition is extremely limited
D)the wealthy almost always have greater influence than the poor

Answer 3

B

Question 4

How do elitists compare to pluralists, in regards to accountability to the masses?

A)Those who argue that elites are little accountable are elite theorists; those who argue that elites are only mildly accountable are pluralists.
B)Those who argue that pluralists are little accountable are elite theorists; those who argue that elites are ultimately accountable are elitists.
C)Those who argue that elites are very accountable are elite theorists; those who argue that elites are ultimately accountable are pluralists.
D)Those who argue that elites are little accountable are elite theorists; those who argue that elites are ultimately accountable are pluralists.

Question 5

How many parties exist in a totalitarian regime?

A)Several
B)Two
C)One
D)Varying, depending on election year

Question 6

What is evidence for the usefulness of social media in relation to democracy?

A)Text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, and TV media helped catalyze the "Arab Spring."
B)Myspace played an indispensable role in the Chinese democracy movement that led to Tiananmen Square.
C)The U.S. Press has been called "the fourth branch of government."
D)Social media has contributed to the strengthening of government authority through its tendency toward supporting government positions.

Question 7

Who can organize a group to protest or demand something from politicians?

A)Almost exclusively those citizens most in touch with policy issues
B)Only the most well-connected citizens
C)Primarily wealthiest citizens
D)Just about any group of citizens

Question 8

What is the relationship between alternation in power and democratic elections?

A)Neither one are usually accompanied by peaceful protest.
B)Both are heavily dependent on religion playing a minimal role.
C)Both depend upon groups of citizens voting automatically for a given party.
D)Both must have must have an element of uncertainty and fluidity.

Question 9

Which country has recently become more authoritarian?

A)Cuba
B)China
C)Spain
D)Venezuela

Question 10

What German thinker argued that any organization, no matter how democratic its intent, ends up run by a small elite?

A)Thomas Hobbes
B)Robert Michels
C)C) Wright Mills
D)Robert Dahl

Question 11

Which of the following countries is, arguably, a "fake democracy"?

A)France
B)Germany
C)Cuba
D)Russia

Question 12

A media that is critical of its nation's government is typically indicative of __________.

A)the degree of democracy in a country
B)the health of a nation's economy
C)the degree of wealth in a nation
D)the overall weakness of a nation

Question 13

Modern elite theorists tend to be __________, contrary to what one might assume.

A)radicals
B)conservatives
C)evangelical Christians
D)libertarians

Question 14

In Iraq __________ vote for different parties, making governance complicated and often violent.

A)Sunnis and Shiites
B)men and women
C)the young and the old
D)the wealthy and the poor

Question 15

The non-violent civil rights campaigner, Martin Luther King, and his followers changed both the __________ of America.

A)religion and psychology
B)laws and the psychology
C)laws and economy
D)public policy and educational system

Question 16

Recall one unstated but important function of alternation in power.

A)The guarantee of economic growth
B)An inherently peaceful turnover of power
C)Control of corruption
D)The encouraging of civil disobedience

Question 17

Which type of regime has an obedient media, state-supervised interest groups, and pervasive corruption?

A)Transitional
B)Democratic
C)Authoritarian
D)Totalitarian

Question 18

Describe the more accurate reflection of reality regarding elite and pluralist theories: a view of society as __________.

A)many billiard balls colliding with each other and with government policy
B)a series of small pyramids, each capped by an elite
C)many billiard balls, each sitting beneath a pyramid
D)a single pyramid, with many elite at the top

Question 19

Though some specify term limits, most democratic systems allow for __________.

A)reelection
B)institutionalized dynasties
C)opposition activity only just before the election
D)the selling of congressional seats

Question 20

Totalitarianism began with __________.

A)Mao Zedong's rise and the fomenting of the Chinese Soviet Republic in 1931
B)Mussolini's coming to power in Italy in 1922
C)Hitler's rise in Germany in 1933
D)Lenin's 1917 seizure of power in Russia

Question 21

The Nazi Gestapo, the Soviet NKVD under Stalin, and Mussolini's OVRA had no judicial restraints.How is this indicative of the totalitarian state's embrace of organized terror?

A)In an effort to keep the military from seeking too much power, security police utilize both physical and psychological methods.
B)In an effort to keep the people cowed, security police utilize both physical and psychological methods.
C)In an effort to keep the people cowed, security police solely utilize physical methods.
D)In an effort to keep the people cowed, security police solely utilize psychological methods.

Question 22

Which of the following is a cause for democratic failure?

A)Wealth
B)Minor inequality
C)No middle class
D)Expansive civil society

Question 23

Why might authoritarianism have spread in newly independent nations around the early mid-twentieth century?

A)Though colonialists had encouraged democracy; there was a lack of individualism and market economies, levels of education and income were low.
B)Colonialists had never encouraged democracy; there was too much individualism and levels of education and income were low.
C)Colonialists had never encouraged democracy; there was a lack of individualism and market economies, and levels of education and income were low.
D)Though colonialists had encouraged democracy, and there was a tradition of individualism and market economies, levels of education and income were low.

Question 24

Describe the purpose of total control as relates to the image of the state.

A)To reveal the state as genuine and open entity
B)To excuse the state's invasive and/or violent political measures
C)To convey to the citizens a perception of only everyday order
D)To convey to visitors a perception of nearly perfect order

Question 25

Describe "authoritarian" capitalism.

A)The regime allows partially market economies, and loosely controlled political activities.
B)The regime allows partially market economies, but tightly retains political control.
C)The regime tightly controls market economies, but allows freedom of political activity.
D)The regime allows partially market economies, but tightly retains control of infrastructure.

Question 26

Which ambassador to the UN argued that there is a difference between authoritarian and totalitarian regimes?

A)Francisco Franco
B)Jeane J. Kirkpatrick
C)Robert Mugabe
D)Adlai Stevenson

Question 27

What country is a contemporary example of a totalitarian regime?

A)Iran
B)North Korea
C)Vietnam
D)China

Question 28

How do totalitarian regimes eliminate armed resistance?

A)They hold a monopoly on all weapons.
B)They attempt to pacify the people by encouraging peaceful protest.
C)They attempt to distract the people with entertainment and sports.
D)They ensure that the only weapons the people have access to are manual action.

Question 29

What happened to democracy in formerly colonized nations after World War II?

A)Democracy was relatively quickly replaced by authoritarianism.
B)Democracy flourished.
C)Libertarianism quickly replaced democracy.
D)Religious political movements began to strongly flavor democracy.

Question 30

__________ showed an early form of authoritarianism with his famous phrase: "The state-that's me."

A)Francisco Franco
B)Fidel Castro
C)Queen Anne
D)Louis XIV

Question 31

Venezuela is considered what type of authoritarian regime?

A)Military
B)Personalistic
C)Limited monarchy
D)Dominant-party

Question 32

Right-wing totalitarianism does not desire revolution; instead, it attempts to block __________.

A)a leftist revolution
B)ethnic turmoil
C)an Islamic fundamentalist movement
D)a libertarian revolution

Question 33

What is the difference between "traditional" authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

A)"Traditional" authoritarianism seeks political passivity and obedience rather than enthusiastic participation and mobilization.
B)"Traditional" authoritarianism seeks political passivity and civil disobedience rather than enthusiastic participation and mobilization.
C)"Traditional" authoritarianism seeks political activity and obedience rather than enthusiastic participation and mobilization.
D)"Traditional" authoritarianism seeks political passivity and obedience rather than enthusiastic dissent.

Question 34

What are features of an all-encompassing ideology?

A)An official theory of history and economics, a portrayal of the world in black-and-white terms, and acceptance of an imperfect society
B)An official theory of history and economics, a portrayal of the world in black-and-white terms, and claims of a perfect society
C)An eclectic sense of history and economics, a portrayal of the world in complex terms, and claims of a perfect society
D)An official theory of history and economics, a portrayal of the world in complex terms, and claims of a perfect society

Question 35

What are the main types of authoritarianism?

A)Military, personalistic, traditional plutarchy, dominant-party, and single-party
B)Security, personalistic, traditional monarchy, dominant-party, and single-party
C)Military, personalistic, traditional monarchy, dominant-party, and single-party
D)Military, pluarlistic, traditional monarchy, dominant-party, and single-party

Question 36

More than half the world's nations are at least a bit __________.

A)theocratic
B)democratic
C)authoritarian
D)oligarchic

Question 37

Spain, under Franco, was an example of what type of authoritarian regime?

A)Military
B)Personalistic
C)Traditional monarchy
D)Dominant-party

Question 38

The mass media in totalitarian states __________.

A)show the system is functioning well under wise leaders, while practicing a mildly critical attitude toward the official ideology
B)question the system, but still push the official ideology
C)show the system is functioning well under wise leaders, and sell the official ideology
D)question the system only in times of crisis, otherwise selling the official ideology

Question 39

__________ states regularly use organized terror and violence against their citizens to maintain control and achieve their goals.

A)Authoritarian
B)Transitional
C)Oligarchic
D)Totalitarian

Question 40

In Zimbabwe, in 2008, Robert Mugabe was kept in power through miscounted elections.This is an example of __________.

A)the sway that authoritarianism holds in much of the third world
B)corruption being largely a problem of the developed world
C)the inherent and natural complexities of the electoral system
D)the sway that totalitarianism holds in much of the third world

Question 41

What two types of regimes have contributed to the latest wave of democracy?

A)Authoritarian and communist
B)Communist and totalitarian
C)Authoritarian and totalitarian
D)Theocratic and communist

Question 42

Until the nineteenth century democracy carried a positive connotation.

Question 43

The statement: "All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable," is representative of a healthy relationship to civil disobedience.

Question 44

Oil exports retard democracy because they concentrate __________ in the hands of a few.

A)wealth and power
B)knowledge and wealth
C)power and knowledge
D)ideology and wealth

Question 45

Totalitarian governments can usually only be ousted if the entire regime collapses.

Question 46

How have economics managed to transform authoritarian regimes?

A)Growing economies have transformed whole societies into a democracy.
B)Growing economies have transformed minimal aspects of societies into more democratic systems.
C)Dwindling economies have spurred even greater authoritarianism.
D)Dwindling economies have spurred democratic change in hopes that such a change might spur the economy.

Question 47

The collapse of Communist regimes shows the role of the __________ in a
Negative sense.

A)middle classes
B)dictator
C)church
D)economy

Question 48

Explain how Russia might be described as a kleptocracy.

A)The executive is relatively powerful; the parliament is weak; the oil and gas sectors are under both private and government control, as is most of the popular media, aiding in the support of a middle class.
B)The executive is extremely powerful; the parliament is weak; the oil and gas sectors are under private control, as is most of the popular media, creating a diverse and complex economy.
C)The executive is extremely powerful; the parliament is weak; the oil and gas sectors are under government control, as is most of the popular media, leaving a select few to get rich.
D)The executive is relatively powerful; the parliament is relatively powerful; the oil and gas sectors are under government control, but the popular media is not, leaving a select few to get rich.

Question 49

Petrostates, like those around the Persian Gulf, are not ripe for democracy but are ripe for overthrow.

Question 50

The fact that Yale graduates George Bush and John Kerry were both members of the super-elite and secretive Skull and Bones society is an example of money and connections giving elites access to political power.

Question 51

Totalitarian governments can usually only be ousted if the entire regime collapses.

Question 52

Describe the relationship of citizens of petrostates to their governments.

A)Citizens stand independent of the government with regard to employment, but do not form an autonomous, pluralistic middle class.
B)Citizens depend on the government for jobs and handouts, but form an autonomous, pluralistic middle class.
C)Citizens depend on the government for jobs and handouts and do not form an autonomous, pluralistic middle class.
D)Citizens stand independent of the government with regard to employment, and tend to form an autonomous, pluralistic middle class.

Question 53

Rigged elections in nations like Zimbabwe confirm the rule of any variety of parties.

Question 54

Some voters, never having known democracy, turn to authoritarian figures who promise to restore __________.

A)the power of elites and incomes
B)ties with the outside world and stability
C)stability and incomes
D)stability and military prowess

Question 55

How do the experiences of Poland and the Czech Republic differ from that of Hungary, as relates to transitions into democracy?

A)Poland and the Czech Republic have created lasting democracies, while Hungary has shown shades of authoritarianism.
B)Poland and the Czech Republic have created lasting democracies, while Hungary has shown shades of totalitarianism.
C)Poland and the Czech Republic have shown shades of authoritarianism, while Hungary has created a lasting democracy.
D)Poland and the Czech Republic have created lasting kleptocracies, while Hungary has shown shades of democracy.

Question 56

Egypt is indicative of a democratic regime.

Question 57

All political scientists agree that in democracy elites make the actual decisions while the masses generally go along with it.

Question 58

Postcolonial leaders having picked up socialist views while students in Europe contributed to the proliferation of authoritarian regimes in developing nations.

Question 59

What prepares a people's democratic attitudes?

A)Guidance from powerful elites
B)A liberal intellectual bent
C)Having fomented and carried out a revolution
D)Centuries of religious and philosophical evolution

Question 60

Why do democracies tend to fail in poor countries?

A)Economic growth creates a large upper class; education levels rise; people increasingly recognize their interests and express them; pluralism; the market itself teaches citizens to be government-reliant.
B)Economic growth creates a large middle class; entrepreneurship levels rise; people increasingly recognize their interests and though they rarely express them; pluralism; the market itself teaches citizens about self-reliance, pluralism, tolerance, and not expecting too much.
C)Economic growth creates a large middle class; education levels rise; the market itself teaches citizens about self-reliance, pluralism, tolerance, and not expecting too much.
D)Economic growth creates a large middle class; education levels rise; people increasingly recognize their interests and express them; pluralism; the market itself teaches citizens about self-reliance, pluralism, tolerance, and not expecting too much.

Question 61

In an authoritarian regime legislator's __________ the dictator's laws, and puppet prime ministers and cabinet's carry them out.

Question 62

Niger's version of authoritarianism is of the __________ type.

Question 63

There are different types of democracy.Explain the differences between representative democracy and direct democracy.Which type of democracy does the U.S.have and why? Also, how are liberal and illiberal democracies different? Provide at least one example of each.

Question 64

How does authoritarianism in developing nations contrast with authoritarianism in the global north?

Question 65

In most middle-income and __________ nations democracy tends to last.

Question 66

Brazil is considered __________ by the Select Freedom House 2012 Rankings, which measures degrees of democracy.

Question 67

Democracy is dependent for its growth, at least in part, on a __________ economy.

Question 68

How are security forces an example of a tool of organized terror?

Question 69

Compare and contrast elites and pluralists.

Question 70

How are security forces an example of a tool of organized terror?

Question 71

What is authoritarianism? What factors would lead us to conclude that a regime is authoritarian, as opposed to democratic or totalitarian? What are the five types of authoritarianism and how do they differ? Provide examples of each of the five types in your answer.

Question 72

Sponsors of __________ can oversimplify and manipulate issues, despite their appearance of being very democratic.

Question 73

What is totalitarianism? What are the essential elements in a totalitarian regime? Specifically, what are the roles of the state and what is the relationship between state and society? How is totalitarianism different than authoritarianism? What are some examples of totalitarianism that make these differences clear?

Question 74

What is the main idea of popular accountability of government?

Question 75

Secret arrests, imprisonment, and torture are made possible under totalitarian regimes, as __________ guarantees either do not exist or are ignored.

Question 76

The textbook presents a few main modern regime types.What are they and what countries exemplify each type? What are the key differences in these regime types? In other words, what details distinguish them from one another - use historical examples from the text to aid in your explanation?

Question 77

What types of states are most likely to become authoritarian? Why? Along the same lines, what authoritarian states have been most likely to democratize? Under what circumstances does this democratization occur and why? Based on previous findings, describe one country you think is likely to democratize in the near future.

Question 78

The U.S.congress reluctantly voted for the 2008 and 2009 financial bailouts, as opinion ran against those bailouts, abandoning the __________ theory to act as trustees for the public good.

Question 79

The twentieth century version of __________ is quite different from the autocracies of centuries past.

Question 80

The U.S.oil industry, in which George W.Bush and Dick Cheney had been executives, were given __________ by those men during their time in office together, an example of the access elites have to political power.