Unit Outline

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This unit examines the conditions in which authoritarian states emerged including the impact of economic factors; social division; war; and the weakness of the existing political system. It also examines the methods used by leaders to establish their rule, including persuasion and coercion; personal characteristics; ideology and policies; the use of force and propaganda.

1. Why do Authoritarian States emerge?

This lesson explores how we can define authoritarian states and examines the common factors in their emergence that we can use to compare their rise.

2. Emergence of Adolf Hitler and the NSDAP

This series of lessons examines the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the NSDAP in Germany from 1919-1933.

3. Emergence of Mao Zedong and the CCP

The next focus of this unit assesses the rise to power of Mao Zedong and the CCP in China from 1921-1949.

4. Emergence of Fidel Castro and the M26-7

This last unit explores the rise to power of Fidel Castro and the M26-7 in Cuba from 1947-1959.

5. Emergence of Joseph Stalin and the CPSU

This extra series of lessons examines the rise of Joseph Stalin as leader of the USSR from 1924-1929, after the death of Lenin.

6. Comparing the Emergence of Auth. States

This concluding lesson compares and contrasts the rise to power of authoritarian leaders and states.