Compare and contrast the use of force in the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between the use of force in the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states referring to both throughout. The two states may or may not be from the same region. Candidates may compare and contrast the use of force as a tool to maintain authority within the state, for example, Mao’s use of the Cultural Revolution as a tool to eliminate opposition inside and outside of the ruling party with Lenin’s use of the Cheka that was intended to target only counter-revolutionaries. Candidates may compare and contrast the use of force in isolated incidents, such the use of political assassinations by Pinochet or in mass campaigns such as the purges under Stalin. Candidates will also likely compare and contrast the use of secret police forces in authoritarian states or agencies such as the OVRA in Italy. Candidates may compare and contrast the use of force to maintain power by individual leaders or refer, more broadly, to the use of force within authoritarian states. Candidates’ opinions and conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between the use of force in the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states referring to both throughout. This was a popular question with some excellent responses seen that focused well on "maintenance of power" and supported arguments with accurate factual knowledge and insightful comparative analysis. Weaker responses also used an appropriate comparative structure and referred to the "use of force" although, for the most part, these described the methods used. Where other factors were introduced, most candidates were able to make links to the question and so justified their inclusion. China under Mao and Germany under Hitler, by far, were the most popular examples. Responses seen that used Cuba under Castro, Italy under Mussolini or the USSR under Stalin tended to demonstrate weaker knowledge of the topic.