Question 1

Which of the following represented the peak of political power in a Communist country?

Accepted Answer

The general secretary was the ultimate authority in a Communist country, and held the most power. The Politburo was the executive committee of the Communist Party, but the general secretary was the head of the party and had the final say in major decisions. The legislature, president, and prime minister were all subordinate to the general secretary in a Communist system.

Question 2

The leader responsible for the widespread purges and rapid industrialization in the Soviet Union was:

Accepted Answer

The leader responsible for the widespread purges and rapid industrialization in the Soviet Union was Joseph Stalin. Lenin laid the groundwork for the Soviet system, but Stalin was the one who implemented the policies that led to massive industrialization and the purges of political dissidents. Gorbachev came later and was responsible for the reforms that eventually led to the fall of the Soviet Union. Marx was the philosopher who developed the ideas that inspired communism, but he did not play a direct role in Soviet politics. Castro was the leader of Cuba, not the Soviet Union.

Question 3

Under communism, religion and nationalism were:

Accepted Answer

Under communism, religion and nationalism were suppressed. Communists believed that religion and nationalism were "opiates of the masses" and undermined the collective goals of the state. They saw these beliefs as relics of the past that would eventually disappear as society advanced towards socialism. Therefore, under communist regimes, religious and nationalistic practices were often actively discouraged or even outlawed.

Question 4

Central planning was weakened by:

Accepted Answer

Central planning was weakened by its inability to create incentives and competition. Without competition, there was no pressure to innovate, and without incentives, workers had little motivation to increase productivity. This lack of competition and incentives led to stagnant economies and poor performance.

Question 5

Mikhail Gorbachev was associated with:

Accepted Answer

Mikhail Gorbachev is best associated with glasnost, the policy of political openness, and perestroika, the economic reform program in the Soviet Union in the 1980s. These policies aimed to modernize and revitalize the Soviet economy and political system. They represented a significant departure from the previous Soviet policies and played a crucial role in the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

Question 6

Given all the changes that Communist countries have undergone, how would one measure their progress toward democracy and capitalism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given all the changes that Communist countries...

Question 7

Economic reform has been most successful in:

Accepted Answer

Economic reform has been most successful in Eastern Europe and the Baltics, such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. These countries have implemented market-oriented reforms, privatized state-owned enterprises, liberalized trade and investment policies, and attracted foreign direct investment. As a result, they have experienced rapid economic growth, reduced poverty, and improved living standards.

Question 8

In creating new executive structures, most postcommunist countries have opted for:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In creating new executive structures, most postcommunist...

Question 9

Politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state, reserved for people approved by the Communist Party, are known as:

Accepted Answer

The politically sensitive or influential jobs in the state that are reserved for people approved by the Communist Party are known as nomenklatura. This system was used in the former Soviet Union and other communist countries to maintain control of important positions in government, industry, and other areas.

Question 10

Why was communism able to spread across such a large part of the globe? What explains its attraction?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was communism able to spread across...

Question 11

Gorbachev's perestroika was concerned with:

Accepted Answer

Perestroika was a policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev that focused on restructuring the economic and political systems of the Soviet Union.

Question 12

Which of the following can be seen, in part, as a legacy of communism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following can be seen,...

Question 13

Gorbachev's policy of glasnost was concerned with:

Accepted Answer

Glasnost was a policy of political openness and liberalization introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. It aimed to increase transparency and promote public discussion of social and political issues, as well as to reduce censorship and improve civil liberties. The policy was part of Gorbachev's broader program of reform known as perestroika, which aimed to modernize the Soviet economy and political system.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the role of political parties in Communist countries?

Accepted Answer

In Communist countries, the state is typically dominated by a single Communist party that holds a monopoly on political power. Other parties may be banned or allowed to exist but are prevented from challenging the Communist Party's dominance.

Question 15

The two main challenges in economic change after communism have been:

Accepted Answer

The two main challenges in economic change after communism were marketization and privatization, as former communist countries had to transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-based one. This involved privatizing state-owned enterprises and introducing market competition and pricing mechanisms. While other options listed may have been relevant, they did not represent the main challenges faced in economic change after communism.

Question 16

Is communism dead? If so, could it be resurrected as a political force?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is communism dead? If so, could it...

Question 17

Communist political-economic systems relied on a system known as:

Accepted Answer

Communist political-economic systems relied on a central planning system where the government made decisions about production, distribution, and pricing of goods and services. This was in contrast to decentralized planning, which involves decision-making at a local level, and economic voluntarism, which relies on the free market to determine economic outcomes. Spontaneous production and anarchism are not systems commonly associated with communist political-economics.

Question 18

Could communism have been reformed and preserved in the Soviet Union? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Could communism have been reformed and preserved...

Question 19

Why was communism unable to provide the benefits that it promised in theory? Are there inherent flaws in this line of thinking, or did those in power misapply its principles?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was communism unable to provide the...

Quiz 9: Communism and Postcommunism