Evaluate the impact of foreign policy on the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states, each from a different region.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of foreign policy on the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states, weighing up its importance or otherwise. The two authoritarian states must be from different regions. Candidates may offer equal coverage of both authoritarian states, or they may prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both states will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the role of the authoritarian ruler defending national interests and its impact on their popularity, for example, the increase of Nasser’s popularity after the Suez Crisis. They may also refer to the use of a foreign policy to unify the population around the regime, for example, Castro's confrontations against the US. Candidates may evaluate the impact of the Cold War, for example, Sukarno's relationship with the Soviet Union. They may also refer to the importance of wars, but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the impact of foreign policy on the maintenance of power in two authoritarian states, each chosen from a different region. There were some excellent responses demonstrating sound knowledge and understanding of the demands of the question. Germany and Italy were popular examples with responses that made clear and coherent connections between foreign policy and the maintenance of power. In weaker responses, a more explicit link between foreign policy and the maintenance of power was required. Where knowledge of foreign policy was limited, there was a tendency to dismiss it and to focus on listing other, more familiar, factors that helped these leaders stay in power. This, however, meant that the response failed to address the crux of the question.