Reading questions for final Flashcards
In India Gandhi applied the tactics of “nonviolent resistance” (p. 866/777). Explain
what the term means. What are its origins? Under what circumstances, do you think, can
nonviolent resistance be successful?
In India, Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance or satyagraha opposed injustice through peaceful protests, civil disobedience, and non-cooperation, rooted in Indian principles of ahimsa and inspired by figures like Tolstoy and Thoreau. It succeeds when discipline, public sympathy, and moral pressure expose the oppressor’s illegitimacy, as seen in Gandhi’s campaigns like the Salt March, which weakened British rule.
Was nationalism a strongly developed force in China?
Why did Mao believe that peasants could be an effective revolutionary force?
How did Mao gain peasant support?
How did the Nationalists treat the peasants?
Nationalism was a strong force in China, driven by movements resisting foreign domination. Mao saw peasants as a powerful revolutionary force due to their numbers and poverty, gaining their support through land reforms and addressing grievances. In contrast, the Nationalists taxed and mistreated peasants, pushing many to support the Communists.
Do you think that totalitarian states succeeded in exercising complete political control
over all aspects of society? In other words did they succeed in “brainwashing” their
subjects?
Totalitarian states often came close to exercising complete control through propaganda, censorship, and repression, deeply influencing public behavior and thought. However, they rarely achieved total “brainwashing,” as resistance, private dissent, and underground movements persisted, demonstrating the limits of their control over individual minds and societies.
What is meant with the “revolution from above” in the Soviet Union? (p. 893/799)
Why did Stalin believe industrialization of the Soviet Union was necessary?
Discuss the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union.
The “revolution from above” refers to Stalin’s forced industrialization and collectivization to modernize the Soviet Union and compete with capitalist powers. Collectivization, especially in Ukraine, led to resistance and the Holodomor, a devastating famine that caused millions of deaths.
Explain Mussolini’s seizure of power
Mussolini seized power in Italy in 1922 by exploiting post-World War I instability, economic crisis, and fear of socialism. Leading his Fascist Party and its paramilitary Blackshirts, he staged the March on Rome, pressuring King Victor Emmanuel III to appoint him as Prime Minister. Mussolini consolidated power through intimidation, legal manipulation, and propaganda, eventually establishing a dictatorship.
What were the major differences between Italian fascism and Nazism?
Italian Fascism emphasized state power and nationalism without racial theories, while Nazism prioritized racial purity, militarization, and aggressive territorial expansion.
Explain how and why Hitler was able to take over power in 1933.
Hitler took power in 1933 due to economic hardship from the Great Depression, political instability in the Weimar Republic, and widespread public fear. Exploiting this, the Nazi Party gained support by blaming Jews, Communists, and the Treaty of Versailles for Germany’s troubles. In January 1933, conservative politicians appointed Hitler as Chancellor, believing they could control him. However, Hitler quickly consolidated power by eliminating opposition, using the Reichstag Fire to justify crackdowns, and passing the Enabling Act, allowing him to govern by decree and establish a one-party dictatorship.
What is the policy of appeasement? How was it viewed after the war?
The policy of appeasement was a strategy by Britain and France in the 1930s to avoid war by allowing Nazi Germany to expand, such as through the Munich Agreement. After the war, it was widely seen as a failure, as it emboldened Hitler and led to World War II. Many criticized it for not resisting Germany earlier.
What is meant with the “de-Stalinization” (p. 946/850) of the Soviet Union? What
were its consequences?
“De-Stalinization” was the process of reducing Stalin’s repressive policies and centralization after his death in 1953, led by Khrushchev. It aimed to ease political repression, reduce fear, and promote reforms. Consequences included political and cultural relaxation, economic shifts, and reduced reliance on mass purges, but Cold War tensions continued.
What is Arab socialism? How was it applied in Egypt under Nasser?
Arab socialism combines socialist principles with Arab nationalism, focusing on state control, wealth redistribution, and national independence. Under Nasser in Egypt, it was applied through land reforms, nationalization of industries like the Suez Canal, and social investments to reduce inequality and modernize the economy.
Why did nationalism rise in Africa? What are the differences with the rise of
nationalism in Asia and the Middle East?
Nationalism rose in Africa due to colonial rule, economic exploitation, and racial discrimination, as people sought independence. Unlike Asia and the Middle East, African nationalism struggled with colonial-imposed ethnic divisions, later decolonization, and direct opposition to European powers.
In the tragic Arab-Israeli conflict there have nevertheless been two hopeful
developments:
one is the Camp David Accords, explain what they consist of.
The second
one is the start of the peace process in 1993. What was agreed? How was the peace process subsequently derailed?
The Camp David Accords (1978) were a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, facilitated by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Egypt agreed to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for peace. This made Egypt the first Arab nation to officially recognize Israel.
The 1993 Peace Process, marked by the Oslo Accords, involved mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Israel agreed to grant limited self-rule to Palestinians in parts of the West Bank and Gaza, while the PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist.
The peace process was derailed due to factors like continued violence, settlement expansion, political divisions within Israel and the Palestinian leadership, and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, which weakened efforts to maintain negotiations.
Characterize the Shah’s policies in Iran. Why was he deposed in 1979?
The Shah’s policies in Iran focused on modernization, secularization, and Westernization but were marked by corruption, political repression, and economic inequality. He was deposed in 1979 due to growing discontent, fueled by his secular reforms, political repression, and economic struggles. The Islamic Revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, gained mass support and led to the Shah’s overthrow, establishing an Islamic republic.
- How did Gorbachev try to reform the Soviet Union? What is Perestroika and what is
Glasnost? What is the “new political thinking”? (Hanks, p. 978/881).
Gorbachev’s reforms aimed to address economic stagnation and political issues in the Soviet Union by introducing reforms to modernize the system and reduce Cold War tensions.
Perestroika: This means “restructuring” in Russian. It was an economic policy focused on decentralizing economic control, promoting market mechanisms, and reforming industries to improve productivity.
Glasnost: Meaning “openness,” this policy encouraged political transparency, freedom of expression, and reduced censorship. It allowed for more open discussion of issues, including criticism of the government.
“New Political Thinking”: Gorbachev introduced this concept to shift Soviet foreign policy toward diplomatic engagement, reduced military spending, and improved relations with the West, emphasizing cooperation over confrontation.
The pope called 1989 a year of miracles. Why?
The Pope called 1989 a year of miracles because it saw the peaceful fall of communist regimes across Eastern Europe, including the Berlin Wall, through non-violent movements inspired by faith and the struggle for freedom.
