A Paper 2 comparative topic on 20th-century authoritarian states. You study how such leaders emerged, consolidated power, and used policies — across two leaders from different regions.
Here you meet a shared framework and verified examples — Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Castro and Mussolini — with historians’ interpretations. Collect ⭐ stars, then press Start.
The topic organises around three themes: the emergence and rise of the authoritarian state; the consolidation and maintenance of power; and the aims and results of domestic and social policies. You compare two leaders from different regions.
Authoritarian states typically rose amid crisis: defeat and economic collapse in Germany, war and revolution in Russia and China. Weak or new institutions, economic hardship and effective use of ideology and promises of order opened the door.
Hitler was appointed Chancellor on 30 January 1933. After the Reichstag Fire (27 February 1933) the Enabling Act (March 1933) gave him dictatorial powers; the Night of the Long Knives (30 June 1934) purged rivals, and on Hindenburg’s death (August 1934) Hitler became Führer. Historian Ian Kershaw describes officials "working towards the Führer."
After Lenin’s death (1924), Stalin outmanoeuvred rivals and by 1928-29 held power. He launched the First Five-Year Plan (1928) and collectivisation, and unleashed the Great Terror (1936-1938) with show trials and purges — analysed in Robert Conquest’s The Great Terror (1968).
Sort each feature under the correct leader and state.
Mao proclaimed the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949. His Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) aimed at rapid industrialisation but caused a catastrophic famine; historian Frank Dikötter (Mao’s Great Famine, 2010) estimates at least 45 million deaths. The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) convulsed China until Mao’s death in 1976.
Tap an item on the left, then its match on the right.
Common tools: propaganda and censorship, a cult of personality, terror and secret police (Gestapo, NKVD), one-party control, and a command economy. Comparing how two leaders used these tools is ideal essay material.
Other common studies: Mussolini, who came to power after the March on Rome (October 1922); and Fidel Castro, who took power in Cuba when Batista fled on 1 January 1959. Choosing leaders from different regions strengthens comparison.
Tap the events in sequence, earliest first.
Structure thematically — rise, consolidation, policy — not leader-by-leader. Argue about similarities and differences, cite dated evidence and at least one historian’s interpretation, and judge the topic in your conclusion.
Framework: emergence, consolidation of power, and aims/results of policies
Hitler: Chancellor 1933; Enabling Act; Führer 1934 (Kershaw: "working towards the Führer")
Stalin: Five-Year Plans, collectivisation, Great Terror 1936-38 (Conquest)
Mao: PRC 1949; Great Leap Forward 1958-62 (Dikötter); Cultural Revolution 1966-76
Essay craft: compare thematically across two regions with dated evidence and historiography
You can now compare how authoritarian states emerged, consolidated and ruled. Press Finish to see your score.
You’ve worked through Authoritarian States (20th Century) for IB Diploma History SL. 🎉
Your stars: 0 / 0
Next: test yourself in the Evaluate stage, then lock it in with Verify.