FEATURES OF DICTATORSHIPS: USSR, ITALY, JAPAN

Question 1

what are the 2 types of dictatorships according to Stephan Lee

Answer 1

authoritarian & totalitarian

Question 2

what was the most powerful dictatorship

Answer 2

Russia developed most powerful dictatorship of the interwar period (+only one to remain) - ‘gold standard’ of dictatorship

Question 3

what was the period of dictatorship for USSR

Answer 3

Single party dictatorship from 1917-18; Stalinist dictatorship from late 1920s-53

Question 4

what was the period of dictatorship for Italy

Answer 4

Single party dictatorship established after Mussolini came to power in 1922; he was deposed in 1943

Question 5

what was the period of dictatorship for japan

Answer 5

Militarists emerged dominant during 1930s & established a military dictatorship from late 1930s-1945

Question 6

Who were the dictators

Answer 6

Stalin, Mussolini, no individual for Japan but had personalities like Tojo

Question 7

what were the ideologies for USSR

Answer 7

Marxism (focused on ‘class’ rather than ‘race’ enemies),

Question 8

Ideology for Italy

Answer 8

Fascism; no racial component but brutal practices in colonies
Based on extreme nationalism & focused on military power to control the people
Supported a class society & rights to private property

Question 9

Ideology for Japan

Answer 9

traditional values and bushido code, ultra nationalism, militarism, assumption of superiority

Question 10

Economy of USSR

Answer 10

• Stalin created five-year plans to improve the economy & industrial capacity of the Soviet Union (akin to Lenin’s New Economic Policy)
• Began collectivisation to ensure its success
• By late 1930s Stalin turned the S.U into a powerful industrial nation & one-party totalitarian state

Question 11

economy of italy

Answer 11

Some move towards Fascist corporate state; increased state ownership alongside capitalism
Corporate State concerned w improving working/living conditions & economy

Question 12

japan economy

Answer 12

Economy geared to needs of ‘national defence state’ but Japanese-style capitalism maintained

Question 13

Propaganda & terror of USSR

Answer 13

propaganda: cult of Stalin, censorship & propaganda promoting Soviet achievements

terror:
Secret police (NKVD), labour camps, purges & extreme brutality inflicted on millions
Many political opponents banished to Gulags & Siberia
1933 → ‘Great Purge’ to eliminate all political rivals in the Communist Party

Question 14

Propaganda & terror of italy

Answer 14

propaganda; Personality cult, censorship & propaganda promoting Fascist achievements

terror: Secret police (small), intimidation & threat of terror but limited

Question 15

Propaganda & terror of japan

Answer 15

propaganda: Censorship & propaganda supporting war effort & reinforcing traditional values
terror: Secret police, tight controls & potential for terror but limited use

Question 16

popularity of USSR, Italy & Japan

Answer 16

USSR: Some genuine support for Stalin & his goals but terror was dominant feature
Italy: Some genuine support but popularity declined in 1930s (Mussolini gained support of left-wing interventionists, radical nationalists, & WWl veterans who were strong proponents of nationalism)
Japan: Genuine loyalty to the Emperor & widespread compliance of population

Question 17

social & cultural impact of USSR

Answer 17

Rapid urbanisation & ‘Soviet realism’; benefits of education, some social welfare advances & new opportunities

Question 18

social & cultural impact of italy

Answer 18

Limited impact on Italian society over a long period

Question 19

social & cultural impact of japan

Answer 19

Limited impact on Japanese society despite demands of ‘national defence state’ over a relatively short period