How were dissidents—those who spoke out against government policies—treated differently in the Soviet Union than in Western democracies?
A. They were often selected to become part of the communist party’s government.
B. They were often exiled or sent to prison camps.
C. They were asked to leave the country and sent to live in another communist state.
D. They were fined and lightly punished.
B. They were often exiled or sent to prison camps.
Despite the “balance of terror,” why did people still fear nuclear war?
A. The superpowers continued to develop new nuclear weapons.
B. The superpowers had entered into détente.
C. Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) was inevitable.
D. Head-to-head conflict between the superpowers never happened.
A. The superpowers continued to develop new nuclear weapons.
In order to determine how dissidents were treated differently in the Soviet Union compared to Western democracies, we need to understand the historical context and look for credible sources of information.
First, we need to know what a dissident is. A dissident is someone who speaks out against government policies or expresses views contrary to the mainstream ideology.
To gather information about the treatment of dissidents, we can consult historical records, books, academic articles, or reliable news sources. These sources can provide insights into the actions taken by the Soviet Union and Western democracies towards dissenting individuals.
In the case of the Soviet Union, dissidents were often subjected to harsh treatment. Answer B, which states that they were often exiled or sent to prison camps, is accurate. The Soviet government viewed dissident activities as a threat to their authority and sought to suppress any form of dissent. Dissidents were typically labelled as enemies of the state, arrested, and subjected to imprisonment, forced labor in gulags, or exile to remote regions of the Soviet Union.
On the other hand, in Western democracies, the treatment of dissidents generally varied. While there were instances where dissenting individuals faced repercussions, such as fines or brief imprisonments, the treatment was not as severe as in the Soviet Union. Western democracies tend to value freedom of speech and expression, providing more room for dissidents to voice their opinions without facing extreme punishment or exile.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B: Dissidents were often exiled or sent to prison camps in the Soviet Union, whereas in Western democracies, punishment was generally less severe.