China

This page focuses on what students most need to know about this topic in preparation for the IB exam.

1. IB Definition of Topic
WFS students should note that this topic is not considered part of the European regional history option, so there will not be a question from it in Paper 3.

However, aspects of this topic may appear as elements of questions in Paper 2, in the Prescribed Subject areas of
 * War
 * Authoritarian States.

Interactive Quizzes and Other Content Review Materials
A variety of [|interactive quizzes, activities and videos] developed or compiled by Russel Tarr at ActiveHistory.

Rise to power
1. With reference to the leaders of two single-party states, each chosen from a different region, analyse to what extent internal conflict and weak governments contributed to their rise to power. 2. Analyse the ways in which either Stalin or Nasser came to power. 3. Assess the importance of the use of force for the establishment of totalitarian control. > 4. Compare and contrast the methods used in the rise to power of two right-wing leaders of single-party states.
 * Examiners: This was a very popular question with most candidates choosing Mao and Hitler as examples of leaders from two different regions. A few chose Castro, rather than Mao, although these responses, on the whole, were not as good with candidates being less knowledgeable about the former. There was a requirement to address both “weak government” and “internal conflict” as factors that led to the rise of the leaders and most candidates selected relevant detail to support arguments. For the most part, responses were quite well structured.
 * Examiners: This was another very popular question with most candidates choosing Stalin and demonstrating good knowledge of the events of 1924 -29. Indeed, for the most part, candidates fell into a narrative mode here and began with the failure of Stalin to inform Trotsky about the date of the funeral and continued through the defeat of the “Right Deviationists”. Better responses included some analysis of the context of the USSR in the 1920s, linking the adoption of new policies by Stalin to changing economic circumstances. Only a few candidates chose Nasser and these responses, on the whole, were not supported with good, accurate detail.
 * Examiners: There was confusion among candidates who attempted this question, with many reading “establishment” to mean “rise to power”, rather than the expansion of control by a leader attempting to garner more authority over every aspect of the state. Examiners were, therefore, instructed to credit answers that focused upon aspiring leaders as well as those in power. There was no limit placed upon the number of examples chosen and, whereas some candidates focused upon one state or leader, others chose two or more. Few candidates attempted to define “totalitarian control” and responses suggested that the majority saw it as a synonym for “single party state”. The term “totalitarian” is included in the History Guide and so candidates ought to be familiar with its implications. For the most part, candidates did address “force” and better answers estimated its importance, alongside other factors such as propaganda, education, populist policies and so on.
 * Examiners: This was a popular question and, for the most part, handled quite well by candidates using Hitler and Mussolini as examples of right wing leaders. Some also attempted Franco or Perón. There was a clear understanding of the demands of the question and many candidates had good knowledge of the rise to power of both leaders chosen.

5. Analyse the conditions that enabled one left-wing leader to become the ruler of a single-party state.

6. In what ways, and to what extent, was propaganda important in the rise and rule of Hitler?
 * Examiners: This question proved quite popular and though detail about propaganda pre-and post rise to power of Hitler was present, the „to what extent‟ invitation was not always dealt with. „Other factors‟ tended to be conspicuous by their absence.