Unit 8: Paper 2 — Authoritarian Rule
Topic 8.2: How was authoritarian rule maintained? Questions
Practice 15 exam-style questions for IB History (2028) Topic 8.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q5
What did the 1936 Soviet Constitution achieve for Stalin's regime?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question2Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q1
Which Soviet secret police organisation was responsible for the mass arrests during the Great Purge (1936-1938)?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question3Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q2
Approximately how many people were executed during Stalin's Great Purge (1936-1938)?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question4Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q3
What was the main achievement of Castro's 1961 Literacy Campaign in Cuba?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question5Choose1 mark
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q4
What did Castro's CDRs (Comités de Defensa de la Revolución) combine?
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question6Evaluate15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q13
Evaluate the claim that legal methods are the least important tool used by authoritarian regimes to maintain power. Support your answer with reference to two examples from your thematic study, drawn from at least two different regions.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question7Explain4 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q10
Explain a relevant example of a regime using propaganda to maintain authoritarian rule from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question8Analyse6 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q7
Analyse perspectives, using one example from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question9Analyse6 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q6
Analyse cause and consequence, using one example from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question10Analyse6 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q8
Analyse cause and consequence, using one example from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question11Explain4 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q11
Explain a relevant example of a regime using popular support to maintain authoritarian rule from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question12Explain4 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q9
Explain a relevant example of a regime using force to maintain authoritarian rule from your thematic study.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question13To what extent15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q12
To what extent was force more important than popular support in maintaining authoritarian rule? Support your answer with reference to two examples from your thematic study, drawn from at least two different regions.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question14Discuss15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q14
Discuss the view that authoritarian regimes cannot survive using popular support alone, without significant use of force. Support your answer with reference to two examples from your thematic study, drawn from at least two different regions.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock Question15Examine15 marks
2026• Aimnova original vault - 8.2.1 - Q15
Examine the relationship between propaganda and popular support in the maintenance of authoritarian rule. Support your answer with reference to two examples from your thematic study, drawn from at least two different regions.
Markscheme and model answer locked
Unlock QuestionReady to practice Topic 8.2?
Get instant AI feedback on your answers, view detailed markschemes, and track your progress across all IB History (2028) topics.