Comparative Politics Test 2 - Totalitarian Regimes Flashcards
What century phenomenon is Totalitarianism?
20th
What is a Left authoritarian ideology?
Communism
What is a Right authoritarian ideology?
Nazism
What is the most totalitarian ideology?
Communism
What are the definitions of Totalitarian Regimes?
1) Official doctrine covering every part of life
2) Single party (person) creates/upholds that doctrine
3) System of terror (involves secret government police)
4) Government control of communications
5) Government control of weapons
6) Government control over the whole economy
When was the origin of Wahhabism? What nation did it originate in?
18th Century with Saudi Arabia
When was the origin of the Islamic Brotherhood?
1928; Egypt
What were the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood?
1) To create a Global Islamic State (Umma)
2) Sharia Law must cover every aspect of life
When/where was the Islamic Revolution?
Iranian Revolution, 1979
When was the Rise of Islamic Terrorism and with what groups?
1980s; Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah
What is the most recent emergence of Islamist extremism?
ISIS and the Caliphate
How is totalitarianism present in the West?
With the Technocracy and the merging of the State and Industry leading to total control and pacification.
Who overran Russia during the Middle Ages?
Mongol Invaders
What religion was integral in the Byzantine Empire?
Orthodox Christian
What kept Russia as part of the “West”?
Religion
When did political centralization occur in Russia and around which city?
After 1500 and Moscow
Which family first began to unite Russia around Moscow?
Romanov Dynasty
What are the features of the Romanov Dynasty?
A) Ruled by the “Divine Right”
B) Aristocrats + Church supported the Crown for Defense and Security
C) Decentralized feudal economy (agrarian)
What was the Romanov Dynasty ruled by?
Divine Right
Who supported the Romanov Dynasty for defense and security?
Aristocrats & Church
What key figure needed his religion to consolidate his power over the people and connect with the population?
Peter the Great
Russia was essentially a slave system until what year?
1851
In what direction did Russia expand?
Eastward
What were the major international changes to Russia in the 19th century?
A) Napoleonic Wars: 1812
B) Crimean War: 1854 - 1856
C) Russo-Japanese War: 1905
How did the Napoleonic Wars change Russia?
Napoleon invaded Russia and conquered it in the name of the Enlightenment. Russia was victorious. Russia could, for the first time, establish itself in the domain of Europe as a military force to be reckoned with.
How did the Crimean War change Russia?
It represented a crisis in leadership in the Crown.
How did the Russo-Japanese War change Russia?
Russia sent its navy all the way from the Baltic, around Africa to Japan; the Japanese beat them. It was the first time that a non-European power defeated a European power. It was the prelude to revolution, and Japan had risen to world power status (equal to European country).
What were some domestic changes in Russia in the 19th century?
1861: End to Feudalism (or serfdom)
1880: political violence that led up to WWI, assassination of the Czar was in 1888.
Who was the final Russian czar?
Nicholas II
When was the assassination of the Czar?
1888
When was WWI?
1914-1917
When was the Russian Revolution?
1917-1921
What was the Russian Revolution?
The Red Army vs. White Army (Monarchists supported by English and Americans)
When was the Soviet Union created?
1922
What were the social and political goals of the USSR?
- Land Reform
- Political participation (party - socialism)
- Industrial Development (industrialization - economic mobilization that brings everyone into the economic sphere)
Who were the major political leaders of the USSR?
Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Josef Stalin
Who forged the modern Soviet State?
Josef Stalin
What is the basis of the Communist Party?
Bolsheviks (Proletariat)
How many people did Stalin kill with collectivism?
30 million
What were Stalin’s major accomplishments?
- Defeated Germany
- Became a World Power
- Rapid Industrialization
What is Russia’s Political Style?
Submissive
What is Russia’s political culture?
Paternalistic and authoritarian
What kind of people are the Russian populous?
Conservative (agrarian peasant people)
In theory, Russia was supposed to be what kind of society?
Classless
How was Russia ethnically stratified?
15 Republics with 100+ ethnic groups
What percentage of the USSR population were Russian?
75%, including the elite, economic, military & politics
When did the USSR reign?
1921-1991
What Party was the center of the USSR?
Communist Party
What entity was the vanguard of social revolution and change in the USSR?
Communist Party
What composed the State in USSR?
- Council of Ministers
- Supreme Court
- General Secretary
What did the Party consist of in the USSR?
The Party Congress - selected the Central Committee - selected Politburo & Secretariat
What did the Party Congress in USSR consist of?
Thousands of members across USSR
What did the Central Committee in USSR consist of?
A few hundred members
What did the Central Committee in the USSR select?
- Politburo
- Secretariat
Who was the main policy-making body of the USSR?
Politburo
Who was the body that disciplined/controlled the Party?
Secretariat
Who is the “Head of State” in Russia?
General Secretary
Who is the Head of the Party?
General Secretary
When did Mikhail Gorbachev become the General Secretary?
1985
Who attempted to bring reform to the Soviet Union in 1985?
Mikhail Gorbachev
What were the two attempts at reform in Russia by Gorbachev?
- Perestroika
2. Glasnost
What reform in Russia involved the economy?
Perestroika
What reform in Russia involved ideas?
Glasnost
When had Gorbachev’s reforms deteriorated?
1989
What were the 3 reasons for the collapse of the USSR?
A. Domestic problems [economic disenchantment amongst population]
B. International Pressure [US defense spending - Reagan outspent Russia in Arms Race]
C. International Pressure - Vatican [soft power - critics of human rights abuses, NGOs, international attention]
When did Russia decide to leave the USSR?
1991
Who was the first president of Russia?
Boris Yeltsin
What is the CIS and when was it formed?
Commonwealth of Independent States, during the breakup of the USSR
When did Vladimir Putin become president?
1999
What kind of political system is Russia?
Federal, Presidential
How many States/Cities/Oblasts in Russia?
85
What is the center of power in Russia?
Moscow
Who has the power in the Russian government?
The president
Who oversees the House in the Russian Government?
The Premier
How long is the president’s term in Russia?
6 years
What are the two major Houses in the Russian government?
Upper House: Federal Council
Lower House: Duma
What is the Lower House in Russia?
Duma
What is the Upper House in Russia?
Federal Council
How many political parties are in modern day Russia?
4
What are the 4 major political parties in Russia?
- United Russia
- Just Russia
- Liberal Democrat Party
- Commmunist Party
What Russian Political Party is seen as the Reform Party?
United Russia
What political party is Vladimir Putin?
United Russia
What is the “Big Question” in Russia?
Is it possible to build democracy?
What are the major trends in Russia?
A. Weak economy (outside of military) B. Health/Environmental Problems C. Declining Birth Rates D. International Issues - Eastern Europe: Ukraine - Middle East: Iran & Syria are long-term allies
What kind of culture is China?
Confucian
What class is China?
Mandarin
What was one of the first bureaucracies in the world?
China
What was one of the first centralized governments in the world?
China
Why was China one of the first centralized governments? (2 reasons)
- Defensive purposes: aristocrats needed the monarchy for defense [the Mongols and Japanese were Chinese enemies]
- Economic reasons: Hydraulic [water-based] society
How is China a Hydraulic society?
Control and manifestation of water is crucial to the State’s power over the people
When did the Dynasties in China end?
1911
What was the last Dynasty in China?
Manchu Dynasty
What type of Rule has dominated China throughout its history?
Dynastic Rule of the Monarchs
When was the Republic of China in rule?
1912-1949
What type of democracy was the Republic of China?
Western Style Democracy
What were the steps to the creation of a Communist China?
- Creation of Democracy
- early ruler was Sun Yat Sen.
- Sun Yat Sen died and his #2 man becomes the ruler and turns China into a nationalist regime/orientation [military rule[ - Creation of Communist Party [by Mao Zedong in 1921]
- War
- Revolution breaks out with the Chinese Civil War (1926 - 1949)
- WWII (1936 - 1945) - Japan invades China
How was China turned into a Democracy?
The first president, Sun Yat Sen, was a sincere Democrat. He took office in 1921. He died, and his #2 man Chiang Kai Shek becomes the ruler and turns China into a nationalist regime/orientation with military rule. The name of Shek’s party was Kuomintang. There was a struggle under his rule to modernize China/
Who was the 1st president of China and when did he come to office?
Sun Yet Sen, 1921.
Who succeeded the first president of office in China?
Chiang Kai Shek
What was the name of Chiang Kai Shek’s military party?
Kuomintang
When was the Communist Party created and by whom?
1921, Mao Zedong
When was the Chinese Civil War?
1926-1949
When was China involved in WWII?
1936 - 1945.
When was the rise of Chinese communism?
1949
Who was the leader of the Communist party?
Mao Zedong
What position did Mao Zedong hold?
General Secretary (Chief AND Head of State)
How did China embark on political and economic reform?
Through Autarky; or isolationism. They were slowly industrializing and attempting to build self-reliance and their own economy.
When did Richard Nixon visit China?
1972
When did Mao Zedong die?
1976
What kind of political changes took place in China during the 50s and 60s?
The Cultural Revolution: there was a domestic focus inward with rural education. The re-education of the population (communist educational system to bring communism to the masses). This resulted in Agrarian and Rural education.
What kind of economic changes took place in China during the 50s and 60s?
The “Great Leap Forward”: There was a major focus on rural development with collective farms. There was also a focus on industrialization.
What was the political style in China?
Submissive and authoritarian
What were some themes of political culture in China?
- Respect for Family/Ancestry
- Respect for Education
- Xenophobia
- Secular Wordview
- Few channels for change
Historically, what was the social stratification in China?
It was a Monarch:
- Monarch
- State
- Bureaucrats/Mandarins
- Landowners
- Peasants
Currently, what is the social stratification of China?
Communism: classless society
- Bureaucracy [Chinese Communist Part CCP]
- Proletariat
When did the Chinese cultural revolution take place?
1950s and 60s
Who really influenced Mao Zedong?
Vladimir Lenin
What is the difference between Marxism and Communism?
Marxism: theory, ideology, philosophy
Communism: practice of this ideology
How was the Communist Party a “Vanguard Party” for Lenin?
Lenin had the idea that the Communist Party could be a vanguard party: it was organized to promote revolution and to jumpstart the revolution. Lenin realized that you needed politics to advance the revolution, not just the Marxist ideology. He would also use violence to achieve its end.
Who were the enemies of the Communist Revolution in China?
Capitalist merchants, wealthy peasants, landowners, intellectuals, people with overseas connections
What was the major difference between Lenin & Mao?
the MEMBERS: the Maoist revolution was peasant-based (very different from Soviet Revolution): there were enough peasants to convince there was a better life, and this gave strong support for the revolution.
In theory, the communist party is the “vanguard” of the revolution. What is it in reality?
It monopolizes all political party at the expense of the proletariat, it is the center of all political power in China.
What is the political structure of China?
The State + The Party
What composes the State in China?
The President [Head of State]
The Judiciary [Supreme People’s Court]
Prime Ministries/Gov’t Ministries [State Council]
Legislature [ The national People’s Congress]
What is the title of the Judiciary in China?
Supreme People’s Court
What is the title of the Ministries in China?
State Council
What is the title of the Legislature in China?
The National People’s Congress
What is the structure of the Party [CCP] in China?
National Party Congress selects the Central Committee which is made up of the “Political Organs”
What are the Political Organs in the CCP?
Politburo
Secretariat
Who is the head of the Party?
The President [ Head of State]
Who was Deng Ziaoping and when did he rule?
He was the 2nd revolutionary; he realized the world was changing rapidly and knew that China had to evolve to survive, and thus began the capitalist reforms in 1987.
Who is the current leader of China?
Xi Jinping
What is Xi Jinping known for?
He pushed China into its modern, competetive phase. He argued that Communists could rule domestically but that China could use capitalism to engage with the international world. It became an enormous production & consumption center.
What is the basis of Chinese wealth?
Manufacturing
What is another element of Chinese political style/culture?
Secrecy
When did Democratic reforms initiate in China?
1989 Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
1989 Democratic protests in Beijing, China that resulted in the deaths of hundreds (if not thousands) of demonstrators and the martial law
What were some democratic economic reforms?
Private Property
Patent Laws
Content Laws
Why did totalitarianism fail?
- Leadership disputes
- Penetration of the culture was incomplete [never completely bring everyone to communism]
- Geographic barriers [size of the country]
- Inadequate Infrastructure
What are some problems with the Chinese economy? [6]
A. Aging population B. Dependence on foreign markets C. Dependence on oil D. Cannot feed itself E. Health/Environmental costs - water and air pollution, high cancer rates F. Rising Labor Costs
