prep for IB History exam. Move to Global War. Authoritarian Regimes. European 20th Century.
| Front | Minseito Party |
| Back | Rikken Minseitō commonly known as the Minseitō party. Major centrist and liberal political party in pre-war Imperial Japan. Prominent force in the short-lived parliamentary democracy periods before being absorbed into the Imperial Rule Assistance Association in 1940, as Japan transitioned to a one-party state.Origins and ideology:Establishment: Minseitō was formed in June 1927, through a merger of two other parties: the Kenseikai and the Seiyūhontō. It was created partly as a counterweight to its conservative rival, the Rikken Seiyūkai.Political position: The Minseitō occupied more liberal and progressive position than the Seiyūkai, which was more conservative. Minseitō advocated for "Parliament-centric politics" and sought to promote incremental democratization, albeit in cooperation with the powerful Japanese bureaucracy.Key policies: Platform included protecting individual liberty and originality. First Japanese party to explicitly describe itself as a "Democratic Party". Major political moments:Hamaguchi and the London Naval Treaty: Minseitō gained power with PM Hamaguchi, who was critically wounded in a 1930 assassination attempt by a right-wing extremist after signing the London Naval Treaty which was opposed by the more militaristic factions in Japan.Mukden Incident (1931): Minseitō government under PM Reijirō Wakatsuki strongly opposed the Mukden Incident. The government's inability to control the military led to its collapse that same year.Rise of militarism: As militarism and nationalism grew during the 1930s, Minseitō faced increasing pressure. Attempted to recover some political ground by adopting a more pro-military stance in the 1936 general election. Unsuccessful in stopping the shift toward military dominance. Dissolution:Disbandment: Military's growing influence and the drive toward a totalitarian state. Minseitō voluntarily dissolved itself in Aug 1940 with all other Japanese political parties. All absorbed into the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, which became the sole ruling party.Historical context: Emblematic of the decline of Taishō Democracy and the rise of Japanese militarism that led to WWII. |
| Front | Gang of Four |
| Back | Radical political faction of four Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who came to prominence during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). All four members were arrested in 1976. The faction's downfall marked a significant turning point in Chinese politics and the end of the Cultural Revolution.The members:Jiang Qing: Mao's wife. Leader of the Gang. A former film actress, she was in charge of the country's cultural apparatus during the Cultural Revolution. She received a suspended death sentence, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. She committed suicide in 1991.Zhang Chunqiao: A writer and propagandist from Shanghai, he rose to a high position within the CCP Politburo. He was sentenced to a suspended death sentence, which was later commuted. He was released in 1998 on medical grounds and died in 2005.Yao Wenyuan: A literary critic and propagandist, he played a key role in the purges of the Cultural Revolution. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, released in 1996, and died in 2005.Wang Hongwen: A former Shanghai factory worker, he was the youngest of the four and rose to become a Vice Chairman of the CCP. He was sentenced to life in prison and died in 1992. Rise to power during the Cultural Revolution:Mao's allies: The Gang of Four allied themselves with Chairman Mao Zedong to remove rivals within the party and enforce radical Maoist policies.Control of propaganda: The group controlled the media and propaganda outlets to maintain their power and promote their policies.Persecution of opponents: They were responsible for the persecution of political opponents, intellectuals, and others deemed "counter-revolutionary," which led to widespread turmoil and bloodshed. Downfall:Mao's death: Following Mao's death in September 1976, the Gang of Four attempted to seize full control of the government.Coup d'état: Coalition of veteran party officials led by Hua Guofeng arrested the four members in a bloodless coup on October 6, 1976.Show trial: Put on a public "show trial" from 1980–1981. Blamed for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution. Trial served to discredit the faction and preserve Mao's legacy.Shifting policy: Removal of the Gang of Four allowed more moderate leaders to rise and implement the economic reforms that would define modern China. Significance:The Gang of Four is remembered as emblematic of the chaos and fanaticism of the Cultural Revolution. Their downfall marked the end of the radical Maoist era. |
| Front | Balilla - Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB) |
| Back | Nickname of the Italian fascist youth organization the Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB), which operated from 1926-1937. Created by Mussolini's regime to indoctrinate young people with fascist ideals and prepare them for future roles in society and the military.Origin of the name:Name taken from a legendary folk hero, Giovan Battista Perasso, a Genoese boy who, in 1746, is said to have started a revolt against Austrian occupying forces by throwing a stone at an official. Fascist regime used this story to evoke a spirit of nationalism and revolutionary youth.Structure and activities:ONB was a compulsory and comprehensive organization for Italian youth, with different sections for various age groups: Ages 6–14 (boys): Enrolled in the Balilla proper.Ages 14–18 (boys): Moved up to the Avanguardisti.Ages 8–17 (girls): Enrolled in the Piccole Italiane. Activities were designed to create a "new man" of the fascist era and included: Paramilitary training: Boys were taught military drills and given scaled-down or dummy rifles.Physical fitness: Curriculum emphasized gymnastics, sports, and grueling hikes.Ideological indoctrination: Propaganda was used to promote discipline, loyalty, and patriotism to the fascist cause and Mussolini.Gender-specific roles: Girls were trained for domestic life and taught to be submissive to men, reflecting traditional fascist gender roles. Significance:Totalitarian control: By making membership mandatory and outlawing other youth groups, allowed the fascist regime to extend its control beyond the schools and into the leisure time of young people.Limited success: Powerful but historians question its overall effectiveness in totally indoctrinating Italy's youth, given the enduring influence of the Catholic Church and its youth organizations.Absorption into GIL: In 1937, absorbed into a new, consolidated organization called the Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (GIL). GIL continued the same mission until the fall of Mussolini's regime during WWII. |