Oxnard College » Political Science » Political Science 100 - Introduction to Politics » Fall 2021

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. Democratic states

B. Anarchistic states

C. Libertarian states

D. Communist states

E. Authoritarian states

Question #2

Theocracies are notable due to what characteristic?

A. A lack of clear parliamentary control

B. Power concentrated in a small group of people

C. Power concentrated in one person

D. All decisions made collectively

E. A lack of any separation of church and state

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. Slightly more common

B. Much more common

C. Roughly as common

D. Much less common

E. Slightly less common

Question #4

On what criteria would authoritarian states outperform democratic states?

A. Constitutional protections of liberties

B. The simplicity of decision making

C. Representation of multiple societal interests

D. Consideration of the lower classes

E. Dedication to the rule of law

Question #5

Why are special interests more likely to slow state action in democracies than in autocracies?

A. Democracies are legally required to satisfy special interests before making policy.

B. Democracies are generally weaker governments than autocracies.

C. Unlike democracies, special interests are well represented in autocracies.

D. Autocracies are likely to suppress public criticism from special interests.

E. Unlike democracies, autocracies generally lack special interests.

Question #6

Democracies are more likely to be successful in what contexts?

A. Relatively poor and well-educated countries

B. Relatively prosperous and poorly educated countries

C. Relatively poor and poorly educated countries

D. Relatively prosperous and well-educated countries

E. Relatively poor and neither well-educated nor poorly educated countries

Question #7

An autocracy is a form of an authoritarian state with what kind of leadership?

A. A large group of military leaders

B. A small group of economic elites

C. A small group of religious elites

D. A single ruler

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 small group of religious elites

B. A small group of economic elites

C. A large group of military leaders

D. A large group of people representing society broadly

E. A single ruler

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. Western Europe

B. Asia

C. North Africa

D. The Middle East

E. Sub-Saharan Africa

Question #10

Which of the following best describes a coup d'état?

A. A minor battle between two neighboring countries

B. A revision of the constitution that changes the procedural rules

C. A peaceful transition of power following a contentious election

D. An attempted seizure of governmental power by an alternate power group

E. A major policy change that frustrates the political opposition

Question #11

Which of the following is the main goal of authoritarian states?

A. Maintaining a power monopoly

B. Representing the policy preferences of the general public

C. Representing the policy preferences of organized interests

D. Preserving the rule of law

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 much less likely to be hereditary than totalitarian regimes.

D. Authoritarian regimes tend to be far more open to public criticism than totalitarian regimes.

E. 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.

Question #13

Despite the lack of political freedoms, in what way might authoritarian regimes be positive for the people?

A. Preventing political and economic corruption

B. Maintaining law and order

C. Protecting the public from negative campaign advertisements

D. Minimizing the influence of the military on politics

E. Reducing economic inequality

Question #14

What is a politburo?

A. An influential group of impartial economic advisers

B. An influential group of military advisers

C. A hereditary legislative body similar to the House of Lords in the United Kingdom

D. A small group that makes final political decisions

E. An alternative parliament made up of political dissidents

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. Mao Zedong

C. Chiang Kai-shek

D. Ayatollah Khomeini

E. Wen Jiabao

Question #16

In what major way are the United States and China both economically dependent on each other?

A. Both countries are heavily indebted to the World Bank.

B. The United States purchases a lot of Chinese exports, whereas China funds much of the United States’ debt.

C. The United States is reliant on China for most of its intellectual property development.

D. Both countries rely on Japan to buy their exports.

E. China purchases a lot of the United States’ exports, whereas the United States funds much of China’s debt.

Question #17

What are sovereign wealth funds?

A. They are state-owned investment funds, often made up of international assets.

B. They are investment funds held by the world’s monarchs.

C. They are economic tools used to regulate the amount of currency available in an economy.

D. They are state banks that tax international imports.

E. They are investment funds held by the world’s most powerful economic leaders.

Question #18

An anticorruption and prodemocracy movement in 1989 led to what action by the Chinese government?

A. Liberalization of speech and press freedoms

B. Diplomatic relations with Taiwan

C. The creation of the Democracy Wall

D. The establishment of democratically elected local governments

E. The massacre in Tiananmen Square

Question #19

When the Shah of Iran was overthrown in 1979, what type of government replaced him?

A. A parliamentary democracy

B. A presidential democracy

C. A hereditary monarchy

D. A socialist dictatorship

E. A theocratic autocracy

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 be feared and loved, but only at the same time.

B. It is good to be feared and loved, but better to be loved.

C. It is good to deny the public constantly to emphasize control.

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. Personal charisma

B. Interest group advocacy

C. Parliamentary support

D. Free elections

E. International support

Question #22

Prior to the early 1990s, why was South Africa generally NOT considered a democratic nation?

A. South Africa was ruled by a military general.

B. South Africa lacked a national constitution.

C. South Africa had a hereditary monarch.

D. South Africa prevented women from voting.

E. South Africa operated a system of apartheid.

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. FALSE

B. TRUE

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