Discuss the reasons for the rise to power of a military dictatorship in one country.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for the rise to power of a military dictatorship in any one country. This question allows candidates to write about their own national history where appropriate. Prominent choices are likely to be Argentina in 1966 and 1976, Brazil in 1964, Uruguay in 1973 or Venezuela in 1948. While factors contributing to the rise of dictatorships will vary, candidates may discuss the role of external factors such as the Cuban Revolution, the willingness of the US to accept right-wing dictatorships as preferable to socialist regimes and domestic factors such as labour unrest and high inflation. Candidates could also argue that in some cases there had been a longer-term failure to establish the legitimacy of political institutions. Civilian politicians were perceived as weak and/or corrupt. In these circumstances, the military could portray itself as the nation’s saviour.