Exam 6: The Totalitarian Model: A False Utopia

Which totalitarian leader's peasant-based revolution do many radicals (especially in developing countries) regard as the guiding example of revolutionary organization in a rural society?

Mao's Great Leap Forward involved a significant reduction in social control and media censorship.

During the transformation stage of totalitarian development, who is to blame for all the country's problems?

The text indicates that Afghanistan under the Taliban is a recent example of a totalitarian regime. In what ways did that regime reflect the characteristics of totalitarianism? What does this tell us about the regime's supporters? Does this bring any insight to the question of why terrorists based in Afghanistan consider the United States an enemy?

What is the first step in consolidating power after an overthrow of the government?

The transformation stage of society generally coincides with the regime's assumption of control over the armed forces.

A key reason why pre-twentieth century rebellions did not produce total revolutions was that they lacked cohesive structure.

Ideology tends to paint a picture of the world as it is and offers an explanation.

What is the basis for moral judgment in a totalitarian system? How are political actions determined to be good or bad? Contrast the totalitarian moral framework with that of an authoritarian or democratic regime.

Why does the text refer to totalitarian regimes as false utopias?

Which "totalitarian imitator" was the most radical in his treatment of his own people?

Totalitarian ideologies generally focus on some form of absolute evil to which they can attribute all national or worldwide wrongs and social injustices.

What did Hitler, Mao, and Stalin believe about human nature? When we look at the methods, results, and levels of societal cooperation involved in the attempts undertaken to re-invent human nature in Nazi Germany, Communist China, and the Soviet Union, what do we learn about human nature?

Many have argued that violence and propaganda are contradictory, but what did Eugene Hadamovsky say about them?

Mao's "Great Leap Forward" of the late 1950s was preceded by what episode?

What is the final step to a consolidation of power?

Which of the following would NOT be found in the "totalitarian tool box"?

Whatever the quality of leadership, total revolutions depend in the final analysis on the willingness of converts to engage in extraordinary acts of self-sacrifice in the name of the cause.

What nation is widely known as the "Hermit Kingdom"?

The text refers to totalitarian regimes as presenting a contrast between ends and means; describe the ends sought by leaders of totalitarian societies, and compare this to the ways they attempt to bring about these ends. Is it possible for a totalitarian leader to not bring about such a contradiction?