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