Content: Topic 10: Authoritarian States
Topic 1: Emergence of authoritarian states
- Conditions in which authoritarian states emerged: economic factors, social division, impact of war, weakness of political system
- Methods used to establish authoritarian states: persuasion and coercion, the role of the leader(s), ideology, the use of force, propaganda.
- Use of legal methods, use of force, charismatic leadership, dissemination of propaganda
- Nature, extent, and treatment of opposition
- The impact of the success and/or failure of foreign policy on the maintenance of power
- Aims and impact of domestic economic, political, cultural, and social policies.
- The impact of policies on women and minorities
- Authoritarian control and the extent to which it was achieved.
Content: Topic 12: The Cold War
Topic 1: Rivalry, mistrust, and accord
- The breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the emergence of superpower rivalry in Europe and Asia (1943-1949); role of ideology; fear and aggression; economic interests; a comparison of the roles of the US and the USSR.
- The US, USSR, and China - superpower relations (1947-1979): containment; peaceful co-existence; Sino-Soviet and Sino-US relations; detente.
- Confrontation and reconciliation; reasons for the end of the Cold War (1980-1991); ideological challenges and dissent; economic problems; arms race.
- The impact of two leaders, each chosen from a different region, on the course and development of the Cold War
- The economic, social, and cultural impact of the Cold War on two countries, each chosen from a different region
- Cold War crises case studies: detailed study of any two Cold War crises from different regions; examination and comparison of the causes, impact, and significance of the two crises.