“Authoritarian states had total control over the population.” With reference to two states, to what extent do you agree with this statement?

The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that authoritarian states had total control over the population. The two states may or may not be from the same region. Responses will address the extent to which states were successful and/or unsuccessful in achieving full control. Candidates may refer to the extent to which political methods were effectively used by Nazi Germany to maintain authoritarian control, such as changing the political structure, instituting new laws, the purging of civil servants and banning opposition parties. Other possible themes include the use of social policies including the regulation of education, youth groups, religion, marriage, divorce and the use of economic policies to mobilize the population and to achieve ideological aims such as Mao’s establishment of communes. Candidates may also consider the use of force, secret police, terror and other violent methods such as in Stalin’s purges or the role and effectiveness of propaganda in the achievement of authoritarian control. Candidates may challenge the statement by referring to opposition to the regime such as the existence of opposition groups during Castro’s rule. Candidates’ opinions and conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the statement that authoritarian states had total control over the population. This was a popular question, although many candidates resorted to describing the methods used to assert control, ranging from force to propaganda with limited attempts to analyse the extent to which total control was achieved. Stronger responses referred to the continuous presence of opposition groups indicating the limitations to state control. There were also some good responses that made judicious use of relevant historiography to support their analysis.