Question 1

Lenin and Stalin in the Soviet Union, Mao in China, and Castro in Cuba are just a few examples of the "cult of personality" that appears in communist societies. Why do these societies seem to produce this "cult of personality"? Do we see the same in industrialized democracies? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The "cult of personality" in communist societies can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, these leaders often rose to power during times of great social and political upheaval, and their strong personalities and charisma allowed them to gain a significant following. Additionally, the centralized nature of communist governments meant that these leaders had a great deal of control over the media and propaganda, allowing them to cultivate an image of themselves as larger-than-life figures.

Furthermore, the ideology of communism often emphasizes the importance of a strong, central leader who can guide the country towards a utopian society. This emphasis on a single, powerful leader naturally lends itself to the development of a cult of personality.

In industrialized democracies, we do not typically see the same level of cult of personality surrounding political leaders. This is largely due to the nature of democratic governance, which emphasizes the importance of institutions and the rule of law over the power of any single individual. Additionally, the free press and independent media in democracies often serve as a check on the development of a cult of personality, as they are able to provide more balanced and critical coverage of political leaders.

Overall, the cult of personality in communist societies is a result of the unique historical, political, and ideological factors at play in those societies, and is not typically seen to the same extent in industrialized democracies.

Question 2

The reform launched by Mikhail Gorbachev to allow more openness in the political system in the Soviet Union was known as __________.

Accepted Answer

glasnost'

Question 3

After Stalin's death, the Soviet Union moved away from focusing on the cult of personality as part of the process of

Accepted Answer

A)   glasnost.
B)   de-Stalinization.
C)   perestroika.
D)   cultural revolution.
E)   balance of power. B

Question 4

According to Marx, immediately after the anticipated workers' revolution, there would be a transition phase as capitalism was destroyed and resources were redistributed equally. What was Marx's name for this transition period?

Accepted Answer

A)   Anarchy
B)   Opiate of the masses
C)   Dictatorship of the proletariat
D)   Empire of the bourgeoisie
E)   Communism

Question 5

Marx borrowed which idea from Georg Hegel, who believed that societies shift from one stage to another?

Accepted Answer

A)   Proletariat
B)   Bourgeoisie
C)   Nomenklatura
D)   Historical materialism
E)   Dialectic

Question 6

Marx and most Marxists called the workers the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Marx and most Marxists called the workers...

Question 7

After World War II, the majority of countries that became communist did so as a result of

Accepted Answer

A)   democratic elections by their citizens.
B)   returning to their form of government from before the war.
C)   a vote by the national government.
D)   having the system imposed as satellites of the Soviet Union.
E)   revolutions by the proletariat.

Question 8

Socialism can be traced back to which seventeenth-century English movement?

Accepted Answer

A)   Protestants
B)   Anglicans
C)   Catholics
D)   Levelers
E)   Communists

Question 9

In transitioning from communist rule, the Eastern European and former Soviet States had to

Accepted Answer

A)   create new government institutions and shift to a private ownership economy.
B)   maintain the communist government and shift to a private ownership economy.
C)   create new government institutions and maintain a state-owned economy.
D)   maintain the communist government and maintain the private ownership economy.
E)   maintain the communist government and maintain the state-owned economy.

Question 10

The organization that Lenin set up to control worldwide socialist revolutions was known as the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Comintern
B)   Politburo
C)   Secretariat
D)   Warsaw Pact
E)   NATO

Question 11

To varying degrees, socialists generally agree that

Accepted Answer

A)   providing for public ownership and control of a substantially more egalitarian society will improve human relations in general.
B)   private property cannot be permitted.
C)   democracy cannot be allowed to prevent the creation of an egalitarian society.
D)   "freedom from" hunger, disease, and poverty must be earned.
E)   equality of opportunity is a sufficient goal.

Question 12

The majority of governmental systems in countries that used to have Marxist-Leninist regimes are best described as:

Accepted Answer

A)   Hybrid regimes
B)   Democratic regimes
C)   Theocracies
D)   Military dictatorships
E)   Failed states

Question 13

In the Soviet Union, almost every child in the country joined what Communist Party-dominated organization, similar to the American Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts?

Accepted Answer

A)   Young Soviets
B)   Hitler Youth
C)   Red Army
D)   Young Pioneers
E)   Cadre

Question 14

Given how few Communist states remain, why study Communism in an introduction to comparative politics course?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given how few Communist states remain, why...

Question 15

Rather than the equality of opportunity stressed by liberals, Marxists tend to emphasize equality of __________ instead.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rather than the equality of opportunity stressed...

Question 16

The 1980s attempt to restructure the Soviet economy was known as ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   ostankino
B)   sarbonis
C)   perestroika
D)   glasnost
E)   nomenklatura

Question 17

In addition to Mongolia, which country had the only other communist government prior to the end of World War II?

Accepted Answer

A)   China
B)   the Soviet Union
C)   North Korea
D)   Cuba
E)   North Vietnam

Question 18

Which individual emerged as the leader of Russia immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Accepted Answer

A)   Nikita Khrushchev
B)   Leonid Brezhnev
C)   Boris Yeltsin
D)   Vladimir Putin
E)   Yuri Andropov

Question 19

The communist parties in communist states were run according to the principle of __________ that gave all power to a small, elite group.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The communist parties in communist states were...

Question 20

Marx and most Marxists called the owners of property and wealth the __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Marx and most Marxists called the owners...

Exam 7: Current and Former Communist Regimes