Paper 2 questions- Origins and development of Authoritarian and single-

party states
Emergence of Authoritarian States:
- Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged: economic factors, social division, impact of
war, weakness of political system.
- Methods used to establish authoritarian states: persuasion and coercion, the role of leaders,
ideology, the use of force, propaganda.

Consolidation and maintenance of power:

- Use of legal methods, use of force, charismatic leadership, dissemination of propaganda.
- Nature, extent and treatment of opposition
- The impact of the success and/of failure of foreign policy on the maintenance of power

Aims and results of policies:

- Aims and impact of domestic economic, political, cultural and social policies.
- The impact of policies on women and minorities
- Authoritarian control and the extent to which it was achieved.

1. “Authoritarian regimes encouraged women to work but did not give them equal status with men.”
Discuss with reference to two authoritarian regimes.

2. With reference to two authoritarian leaders, each from a different region, evaluate how successfully
they established totalitarian control.

3. With reference to two authoritarian states, to what extent did successful domestic policies help to
combat internal opposition?

4. Examine the importance of ideology in the rise to power of two authoritarian leaders, each from a
different region.

5. “Authoritarian leaders usually failed to achieve total control over religious groups.” Discuss with
reference to two authoritarian leaders.

6. To what extent were existing social and economic problems the most significant factor in the rise to
power of two authoritarian leaders.

7. Compare and contrast the impact on the arts of two authoritarian leaders.

8. Discuss the methods used to maintain political control by two authoritarian leaders, each chosen
from a different region.
9. With reference to two authoritarian leaders, to what extent do you agree that the media was
dominated by propaganda?

10. “Popular support, rather than the use of force, was vital to the establishment of single-party
states.” With reference to two states, each from a different region, to what extent do you agree with
this statement?

Topic : Causes, practices and effects of wars

Causes of war:
- economic, ideological, political, territorial and other causes
- short and long term causes

Practices of war and their impact on the outcome

- types of war: civil wars, wars between states, guerrilla wars
- technological developments, theatres of war- air, land, and sea
- the extent of the mobilization of human and economic resources
- the influence and/or involvement of foreign powers

Effects of war
- the successes and failures of peacemaking
- territorial changes
- political repercussions
- economic, social and demographic impact; changes in the role and statues of women.

1. To what extent were territorial changes a significant consequence of 20 th century wars?

2. Discuss the significance of air and sea power in determining the outcome of two 20th century wars.

3. With reference to two countries, each from a different region, examine the social impact of war
during the second half of the 20th century.

4. To what extent did ideology contribute to the outbreak and expansion of the Second World War up
to 1941?
5. To what extent did economic issues contribute to the outbreak of two 20 th century civil wars?

6. Discuss the impact of foreign involvement on the outbreak and the course of two civil wars, each
chosen from a different region.

7. To what extent is the term “limited war” applicable to 20th century conflicts?

8. Examine the view that economic problems were the longest lasting results of 20 th century wars.