Political Science 100 - Introduction to Politics » Fall 2021 » Chapter 5 Authoritarianism

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Question #1
Until relatively recently, which kind of state has been the most common in the world?
A.   Anarchistic states
B.   Democratic states
C.   Authoritarian states
D.   Libertarian states
E.   Communist states
Question #2
Theocracies are notable due to what characteristic?
A.   Power concentrated in one person
B.   Power concentrated in a small group of people
C.   A lack of any separation of church and state
D.   A lack of clear parliamentary control
E.   All decisions made collectively
Question #3
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.   Much less common 
D.   Slightly less common 
E.   Roughly as common 
Question #4
On what criteria would authoritarian states outperform democratic states?
A.   Constitutional protections of liberties 
B.   Representation of multiple societal interests
C.   Consideration of the lower classes
D.   Dedication to the rule of law
E.   The simplicity of decision making
Question #5
Why are special interests more likely to slow state action in democracies than in autocracies?
A.   Autocracies are likely to suppress public criticism from special interests.
B.   Democracies are generally weaker governments than autocracies.
C.   Unlike democracies, special interests are well represented in autocracies.
D.   Unlike democracies, autocracies generally lack special interests.
E.   Democracies are legally required to satisfy special interests before making policy.
Question #6
Democracies are more likely to be successful in what contexts?
A.   Relatively poor and poorly educated countries
B.   Relatively poor and well-educated countries
C.   Relatively poor and neither well-educated nor poorly educated countries
D.   Relatively prosperous and well-educated countries 
E.   Relatively prosperous and poorly educated countries
Question #7
An autocracy is a form of an authoritarian state with what kind of leadership?
A.   A single ruler
B.   A large group of military leaders
C.   A small group of economic elites
D.   A small group of religious elites
E.   A large group of people representing society broadly 
Question #8
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 large group of people representing society broadly 
D.   A small group of religious elites
E.   A large group of military leaders
Question #9
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.   The Middle East
B.   North Africa
C.   Sub-Saharan Africa
D.   Western Europe
E.   Asia
Question #10
Which of the following best describes a coup d'état?
A.   A peaceful transition of power following a contentious election
B.   An attempted seizure of governmental power by an alternate power group 
C.   A major policy change that frustrates the political opposition
D.   A revision of the constitution that changes the procedural rules
E.   A minor battle between two neighboring countries
Question #11
Which of the following is the main goal of authoritarian states?
A.   Representing the policy preferences of organized interests
B.   Representing the policy preferences of the general public
C.   Preserving the rule of law
D.   Maintaining a power monopoly
E.   Avoiding international entanglements
Question #12
In what major way do authoritarian regimes differ from totalitarian regimes?
A.   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.
B.   Authoritarian regimes tend to be far more opposed to international criticism than totalitarian regimes.
C.   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. 
D.   Authoritarian regimes tend to be far more open to public criticism than totalitarian regimes.
E.   Authoritarian regimes are much less likely to be hereditary than totalitarian regimes.
Question #13
Despite the lack of political freedoms, in what way might authoritarian regimes be positive for the people?
A.   Protecting the public from negative campaign advertisements
B.   Maintaining law and order
C.   Reducing economic inequality
D.   Minimizing the influence of the military on politics
E.   Preventing political and economic corruption
Question #14
What is a politburo?
A.   An influential group of impartial economic advisers
B.   A hereditary legislative body similar to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom
C.   An alternative parliament made up of political dissidents
D.   A small group that makes final political decisions
E.   An influential group of military advisers
Question #15
Which Chinese leader is given the most credit for China’s rapid economic growth in international trade over the past three decades?
A.   Deng Xiaoping 
B.   Ayatollah Khomeini
C.   Mao Zedong
D.   Chiang Kai-shek
E.   Wen Jiabao
Question #16
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.   Both countries are heavily indebted to the World Bank.
C.   China purchases a lot of the United States’ exports, whereas the United States funds much of China’s debt.
D.   Both countries rely on Japan to buy their exports.
E.   The United States is reliant on China for most of its intellectual property development.
Question #17
What are sovereign wealth funds?
A.     
B.   They are economic tools used to regulate the amount of currency available in an economy.
C.   They are investment funds held by the world’s monarchs.
D.   They are investment funds held by the world’s most powerful economic leaders.
E.   They are state-owned investment funds, often made up of international assets.
F.   They are state banks that tax international imports.
Question #18
An anticorruption and prodemocracy movement in 1989 led to what action by the Chinese government?
A.   The creation of the Democracy Wall
B.   Liberalization of speech and press freedoms
C.   Diplomatic relations with Taiwan
D.   The massacre in Tiananmen Square
E.   The establishment of democratically elected local governments
Question #19
When the Shah of Iran was overthrown in 1979, what type of government replaced him?
A.   A theocratic autocracy
B.   A parliamentary democracy
C.   A socialist dictatorship
D.   A hereditary monarchy
E.   A presidential democracy
Question #20
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 deny the public constantly to emphasize control.
B.   It is good to be feared and loved, but only at the same time.
C.   It is good to be feared and loved, but better to be loved.
D.   It is good to be feared and loved, but better to be feared.
E.   It is good to be merciful at all times to court public favor.
Question #21
Modern autocrats often rely on what in order to gain legitimacy?
A.   International support
B.   Interest group advocacy
C.   Parliamentary support
D.   Free elections
E.   Personal charisma
Question #22
Prior to the early 1990s, why was South Africa generally NOT considered a democratic nation?
A.   South Africa operated a system of apartheid. 
B.   South Africa lacked a national constitution.
C.   South Africa prevented women from voting.
D.   South Africa had a hereditary monarch.
E.   South Africa was ruled by a military general.
Question #23
Authoritarian rulers do not have to use mechanisms to frustrate their political opponents since they have all of the power in government.
A.   TRUE
B.   FALSE

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