Topic 3: Origins and Development of Authoritarian and Single-Party States

The 20th century produced many authoritarian and single-party states. The origins, ideology, form of government, organization, nature and impact of these regimes are studied in this unit.

At KCCIS, topic 3 is explored through an in-depth look at the lives and regimes of Stalin's USSR, Hitler's Germany and Mao's China.

This unit is assessed through an exam of 1h 30m. The paper consists of five sections, each covering one topic. There are six extended-response essay questions on each topic. Students have to answer two questions, one from each topic studied (Single-Party States and the Cold War).

The structure of each section is:
  • Three questions on named people, themes, topics or events that are listed in the syllabus.
  • Two open-ended questions
  • at least one question addressing social, economic or gender issues

Of these:
  • at least one question will be set that demands material from two regions covered.
  • any one of the questions may be a comparative question, or based on a quotation.