Examine the impact of the foreign policy of two authoritarian states on the maintenance of power in those states.

The question requires that candidates consider the interrelationship between foreign policy and the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states. The two states may or may not be from the same region and the periods discussed may or may not have occurred at the same time. The impact may extend (briefly) beyond 2000, but it must be clearly linked to the foreign policy of the states from within the timeframe. A comparative approach may or may not be used. Candidates may refer to foreign policy under one leader, multiple leaders, or throughout the duration of an authoritarian state. It may be suggested that successful foreign policy benefitted a regime by increasing its popularity and/or diverting attention from domestic problems. Foreign policy failures that undermined the regime may also be addressed. While other relevant interrelationships may be considered—to provide context to, or commentary on, the significance of the impact of foreign policy on the maintenance of power—the bulk of the response will remain on that raised in the question.