A model answer for the thematic unit of the OCR History A Level. Awarded top band of the mark scheme. Middle East Unit - very limited content available on the internet as it is a new spec.
“Authoritarian dictatorships in the Middle East met the needs of their peoples throughout
the period from 1908 to 2011?”
[25 marker]
Authoritarianism is characterized by highly concentrated and centralized government
power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential challengers
evident in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Egypt in the Middle East during the period 1908-
2011. Whilst regimes such as Egypt and Turkey managed to largely improve the social
and economic conditions of their people, Iran, Iraq and Syria offered a more inconsistent
standard of socioeconomic life for their people. This essay will thus focus on the social
and economic demands of the people, the cultural needs of the people and the theme of
security and protection.
Firstly, when considering the social and economic demands of the people, unlike the
other countries, Egypt and Turkey improved their policies from 1908 to 2011. For
example, in Turkey, Ataturk’s nationalisation of the tobacco industry in 1925 meant that
Turkey’s national income led to the bettering of life for women as they were granted full
suffrage in 1935. Similarly, in Egypt under Nasser’s rule, the nationalisation of large
companies and the building of the Aswan Dam, meant that highly-skilled professionals
were being produced by 1970. Which also led to 2,000 villages being electrified.
Demonstrating how socioeconomic life was improved in Turkey and Egypt in the period
1908 to 2011. Alternatively, Iraq, Iran and Syria have shown some inconsistency. And
whilst there were elements of socioeconomic improvement in Iraq, Iran and Syria –
such as the doubling of literacy rates in the ‘White Revolution of Iran’, this was not
consistent. These instances of meeting the demands of the people were inconsistent
because in pursuit of war the economic conditions of the citizens were jeopardised. As a
result, in terms of the theme of socioeconomic improvement, it is not possible to judge all
authoritarian regimes as “meeting the needs” their people. Instead, you can argue that
Egypt and Turkey met the needs of their people consistently. Whilst Iran, Iraq and Syria
placed concerns over national security above socioeconomic well-being.
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