For the IB History 2020 syllabus, Paper 2 Topic 10 essay, authoritarian rule is challenged internally by political opposition, popular resistance, elite rivalry and policy failure, and externally by foreign intervention, war, sanctions and ideological pressure. These challenges threaten rulers when they weaken coercive power, legitimacy or support among key groups.
The syllabus requires study of the nature, extent and treatment of opposition and the effect of foreign-policy success or failure on the maintenance of power.
| Source of challenge | How it threatens rule |
|---|---|
| Political or popular opposition | Alternative organizations and protest expose declining legitimacy. Nasser crushed the Muslim Brotherhood after the 1954 assassination attempt; Mao answered criticism revealed by the 1957 Hundred Flowers Campaign with the Anti-Rightist Campaign. |
| Elite or military rivalry | Regimes rely on party and armed-force support. Hitler’s 1934 Night of the Long Knives removed SA leaders and reassured the army. |
| Policy failure | Poor outcomes weaken competence and support. Mao’s Great Leap Forward caused catastrophic famine and temporarily reduced his influence, although he retained ultimate authority. |
| Foreign intervention | Outside powers may support opponents or seek regime change. The US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 failed and instead strengthened Castro’s anti-imperialist legitimacy. |
| War or diplomatic failure | Defeat damages authority. Egypt’s defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War weakened Nasser, but mass support kept him in office. |
The common misconception is that any challenge automatically weakens a ruler. A leader may instead exploit it to justify repression, mobilize nationalism or eliminate rivals. Its effect therefore depends on the regime’s response, the unity of its coercive institutions and whether opposition can coordinate.
Exam technique: For a Paper 2 response, structure paragraphs around internal and external factors, but compare their relative importance throughout. Explain the mechanism linking each challenge to weakened or strengthened power, use precise evidence from at least two states where the question requires comparison, and reach a substantiated judgement. Do not merely list opposition.
