Regimes Quiz

Which of the following statements represents a pluralist explanation for increases in defense spending?

Defense spending increases when the public demands greater attention be paid to national security threats

Which statement explains how economics have transformed authoritarian regimes in recent decades?

Growing economies have spurred democratic transitions

Which of the following represents the greatest threat to a newly formed democracy?

A highly unequal distribution of wealth

What does Barrington Moore's observation "No bourgeoisie, no democracy" imply about the requirements for stable democracy?

A stable democracy can only take hold in a society with a large and educated middle class

Which of these are features of an all-encompassing ideology?

An official theory of history and economics, a protrayal of the world in black-and-white terms, and claims of a perfect society

Elite theorists and pluralists differ on whether or not:

Any single group has a monopoly on the influence over government policies

What is the main difference between autocratic regimes of the past and twentieth-century totalitarian regimes?

Autocratic regimes demobilized their populations, whereas totalitarian regimes demanded mass mobilization and widespread participation by citizens

What do most political scientists point to as the catalyst of the recent wave of democratization in the Third World?

Economic modernization that allows for the emergence of a middle class

One benefit of a system with frequent alternation in power is:

Effective control over corruption

A supporter of an authoritarian capitalist state would most likely justify this type of regime as a means of:

Ensuring a rise in living standards

Which statement explains the claim that "democracy does not always equal freedom?"

Even democratic elections can produce regimes that limit rights and freedoms

Which of these is the most significant cause for democratic failure?

Lack of a middle class

Totalitarianism began with:

Lenin's seizure of power in Russia

What do authoritarian leaders seek from their citizens?

Passivity and obedience

Which statement differentiates the recent experiences of Poland, and the Czech Republic from that of Hungary?

Poland and the Czech Republic have created lasting democracies; Hungary has shown shades of totalitarianism

Which statement explains why democracies tend to fail in poor countries?

Poor countries tend to lack a vibrant middle class, education levels are low, pluralism functions poorly, and people have yet to be shaped by markets that normalize behavior

What distinguishes a kleptocracy from other types of authoritarian states?

Power in a kleptocracy is a means for distributing favors among privileged elites rather than an end in itself

The main way that democratic governments are held accountable is through:

Regular electoral challenge

Which of the following conditions, if true, might have prevented Germany from succumbing to totalitarian rule?

The Allies concluded a less punitive deal after World War I

Recent Supreme Court decisions loosened restrictions on campaign spending. Which statement represents the way an elite theorist would most likely evaluate this development?

The Supreme Court has undermined democracy by tilting elections in favor of moneyed interests

What evidence would pluralists most likely cite to support their claims that elites are ultimately accountable?

The millions of dollars that tobacco firms have paid out in lawsuits and settlements

Which statement describes "authoritarian capitalism"?

The regime allows markets to function in a mostly free way but retains a monopoly over political power

The economic performance of the totalitarian regime in the Soviet Union was undermined by:

The routine corruption that comprised much of Soviet life

States with which type of government regularly use organized terror and violence against citizens to maintain control and achieve goals?

Totalitarianism

What is the difference between "traditional" authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

Traditional authoritarianism seeks political passivity and obedience rather than enthusiastic participation and mobilization