Abstract
This paper discusses how Joseph Stalin's murderous autocracy in the Soviet Union subverted its own socialist ideals in the name of progress and modernization. The paper explains how his succession of Five Year Plans, though successful in bringing the USSR into the modern age, nonetheless cost tens of millions of peasant lives.

From the Paper
"Joseph Stalin, the autocratic ruler of the Soviet Union for nearly three decades, remains infamous for crushing millions of his own people beneath the massive grinding wheel of the Communist Party that he so completely controlled. Stalin's succession of Five Year Plans were designed to rapidly pull the new Soviet Union into the industrial age and in the process mold the Russian people into a strong, independent and modern nation able to counter the might of the highly industrialized Western world."

Tags:joseph stalin, collectivization, gulag, world war II, industrialization, Soviet Union, five year plan

Abstract
The paper describes how Daniel R. Brower in his article "Urbanization and Autocracy: Russian Urban Development in the First half of the Nineteenth Century" published in 1983 in The Russian Review (volume 42, pp. 377- 402) looks at the elements that shaped the urbanization in imperial Russia in the first half of 19th century. The apper posits that the topic is attractive because even though only 10% of Russian population lived in the cities in 1850 (Daniel, 377) the development of urban areas played an important role in the upholding of imperial control.

From the Paper
"Daniel R. Brower in his article "Urbanization and Autocracy: Russian Urban Development in the First half of the Nineteenth Century" published in 1983 in The Russian Review (volume 42, pp. 377- 402) looks at the elements that shaped urbanization in imperial Russia in the first half of 19^th century. The topic is attractive because even though only 10% of Russian population lived in the cities in 1850 (Daniel, 377) the development of urban areas played an important role in the upholding of imperial control. Brower generally concentrates on two important topics: the city planning

Tags:summary, russia, urbanization

Abstract
Charlemagne was one of the greatest emperors that Europe has ever seen and this paper details how he came to power, what it took to stay in power, and how he lost his power. Included is his involvement with the Church and the first Crusades to spread Catholicism.

From the Paper
"During the reign of Charlemagne, from 768 to 814 A.D., the growth of the Church in the west gained increasing power over its eastern counterparts. Charlemagne, the son of Pepin the Short, was indoctrinated with the Christian religion early in his life, and as a result he grew to become the leading proponent of Christian belief throughout the west. He continued the role of papal protector in Italy and his father's policy of territorial conquest in the north. After defeating King Desiderius and the Lombards in 774 he crowned himself "King of the Lombards." He began to increase the size of his kingdom by forcibly converting "pagans" into Christianity. His most difficult conquest was converting the Saxons into loyal Christian citizens. Thus, after thirty-three years of war the Saxons accepted Charlemagne's terms and renounced their religion and customs and adopted those of Christianity, while those that refused were relocated throughout Gaul and Germany. In 800 A.D. on Christmas day Pope Leo III, who was imprisoned by the Roman aristocracy a year earlier but escaped to the protection of Charlemagne who then restored him as pope, crowned Charlemagne emperor."

Tags:ages, catholicism, church, christianity, crusades, emperor, europe, frank, holy, middle, pope, roman

Abstract
This paper provides a critical review and response to Marcus Gee's essay "Nations Can Thrive Without Democracy, But Only For So Long." The paper explains that Gee's essay addresses the rise of China from a third-world economic nobody to one of the giants of industry in today's world. The paper also discusses Russia's return to autocracy, and the widespread belief that a rising economy and prosperity would spread capitalism and democracy around the world; however, Russia and China have resisted this assumption, and cling to their autocratic governments, seemingly without regret. The paper suggests that perhaps it is naive to think that every people in the world desire a democracy, and that their cultures and values support a democracy; China and Russia seem to be clear examples of countries that are perfectly happy without a democracy. The paper concludes that it is easy to agree with Gee's points that democracy spreads as prosperity spreads, and that eventually all people long for the ability to make choices about their own future, but his arguments are sometime loose and conjectured, which weakens his overall effectiveness.

From the Paper
"In addition, he notes that the Chinese and Russians somehow "choose" to be continuing autocracies, and then acknowledges the power of their leaders. Thus, the people are under the thumb of their leaders, and may be "settling" for autocracy because they see democracy as unattainable and out of reach. Take the Russians, for example, who had a real shot at democracy when the Soviet Union fell, and have instead allowed Putin to create another autocracy not unlike much of the Soviet regime before the fall. Indeed, people may choose autocracy, or they may be bullied into it, or they simply may be more comfortable with it, because it is so ingrained in their lives."

Tags:autocracy, dictatorship, police, state, china, russia, industry, rise

Abstract
This paper examines how the Roman Republic was designed to distribute power or control and how the government was made up of the Senate and the Assembly of the People similar laws to the parliamentary structure in the United States today. In particular, it looks at how, after being successful in battle numerous times, Sulla became one of the two Rome's consuls, the highest office in the republic and how, in 88 B.C., he was placed in command of the war against King Mithradates VI of Pontus in Asia Minor. It discusses how Sulla was an important figure in Rome's history because he was the first to establish a personal autocracy, which gave him the authority as a single leader to exercise absolute control over Rome's citizens and every aspect of their lives.

From the Paper
"Assassination was considered a viable and acceptable means of removing someone who was not wanted in political office. In theory, it may be one of the reasons why Sulla resigned and is still the only known dictator to resign from office. One might conclude that after declaring himself dictator with no time restrictions to end his dictatorship. Sulla then resigns of his own free will-- This one act seems to signify his intent to have absolute power over the people and ultimately with no end to it."

Tags:autocracy, general, resign, reforms, political-power

Abstract
The paper states that the conversion of the Rus - the medieval political entity centered on the city of Kiev - is dated from 988, when its pagan ruler, Vladimir, and his subjects were baptized under the auspices of the Byzantine emperor, Basil II. The writer explains that the acceptance of Eastern Christianity may have been determined as much by geography as theology. The paper explains that, over time, the architecture, decorative arts and music, in the area of the Kievan Empire, began to reflect Byzantine style. The writer shows that one of the most significant consequences of the conversion of the Kievan Empire was the division between church and state. The paper explains that the Byzantine view of church-state relations suited the rulers of Kiev and later the Russian Tsars, who saw themselves as Caesars, who were all-powerful in their realms. It explains that autocracy has been a factor in the development of Russian leadership until the time of the Soviet Union, which itself had all-powerful leaders. In conclusion, the writer posits that had the Kievan Empire not converted to Eastern Christianity, the society and culture in Russia today would be far different from what would have developed in the absence of that conversion a millennium ago.

From the Paper
"The acceptance of Eastern Christianity by the Kievan Empire may have been determined as much by geography as theology. Kiev, strategically situated on the Dnieper River, in the tenth century dominated the established trade route between the Baltic Sea in the north and the Black Sea in the south. This so-called "route from the Varyagi (Varangians or Vikings) to the Greeks," permitted trade from northern Europe to the Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Mediterranean, and various parts of Asia. The prosperity and influence of Vladimir's Kiev depended on the use and control of this route, which involved many rivers, lakes, and the portage of simple rafts and open boats between bodies of water (Barraclough 114-15). "Byzantium was not only Kiev's principal partner in this north-south trade, the two also at times fought wars against each other and at other times aided each other against the threat of third powers. In fact, the most direct cause of the conversion of Vladimir may have been an agreement between Vladimir and Emperor Basil that called for Vladimir to provide 6,000 troops to help Basil put down the rebellion of Phocas, one of Basil's generals, who had declared himself Emperor, taken over most of Asia Minor, and besieged Byzantium (Shchapov 58-59). What Vladimir got out of the agreement was marriage to an Imperial Princes, Anna, the Emperor's sister. "

Tags:autocracy, byzantine, church, state

Abstract
This paper is in the form of two essays. The first essay examines Napoleon Bonaparte's role in the French Revolution, and assesses whether Napoleon was a revolutionary or a defender of the old order. The author concludes that Napoleon was revolutionary in some of his domestic policies, but was very much a defender of the old order in terms of autocracy and authoritarian rule. The second essay analyzes why Germany and Italy attained independence by 1870, while the Czechs, Irish, and Poles did not.

Abstract
The first of these two-page essays examines the Bolshevik Revolution, and discusses the key factors that contributed to the success of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The author concludes that Lenin knew exactly what to do, what to say, and what to conceal. He took advantage of the Russian people's desperate hopes for peace, bread, and an end to tsarist autocracy by promising them all three. The second essay examines the reasons for the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The author discusses the economic, political, and social flaws of communism, and explains why they led to its demise.

Tags:russian, history, essays

Abstract
On 13 September 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera launched a successful and bloodless coup d'etat, beginning seven years of dictatorship in Spain. Primo de Rivera was a maladroit politician filled with the fervor of Spanish patriotism thought sufficient to navigate his dictatorship through the murky waters of politics. This paper will argue that the regime was more of a developmental dictatorship than one based in the usual fundamentals of autocracy. It concerns itself instead with describing the political realities in which the Primo de Rivera dictatorship was based, before moving on to discuss the objectives and achievements of the regime. The paper concludes by suggesting ways in which the dictatorship may have influenced the cataclysmic developments that drew the nation into Civil War less than a decade after the collapse of the Primo de Rivera regime.

Tags:miguel, primo, de, rivera

Abstract
This paper attempts to explain how the Carter administration tried to shepherd a transition from autocracy to democracy in Nicaragua and how US actions unwittingly helped an opposition force come to power that would make the country just as undemocratic as before.

From the Paper
"Nicaragua was controlled by the Somoza regime which kept itself in power through its 5,000 man "national guard." Throughout the 1970s, resistance to the regime grew, and by 1977, some 16 opposition groups had been established. The US joined in this opposition, even though Somoza had been a Cold War ally. The Carter administration had made human rights an international issue and announced that it would eliminate the "yankee" approach to diplomacy with South America. Carter began criticizing Somoza's human rights abuses in order to distance the US from the dictator."

Tags:diplomacy, foreign, guerilla, nicaragua, Sandinistas, policy, human, rights, cold, war, Iran, Somoz