HSC Modern History: Power and Authority in the Modern World Practice Test

Self-sufficiency in the economy, reducing reliance on imports, is described as autarky. Autarky means trying to produce most or all of what a country needs domestically, so it doesn’t depend on foreign goods or foreign exchange. In practice, regimes pursuing autarky aim to shield the economy from external shocks, such as blockades or sanctions, and to support military or industrial ambitions by building up domestic production. For example, Nazi Germany pushed autarky through the Four Year Plan, boosting internal manufacturing, promoting agricultural output, and developing substitutes like synthetic rubber and synthetic fuel to cut imports. This stance shapes policy choices—controls on imports, incentives for domestic industries, and strategic substitution of goods—aimed at long-term independence from foreign sources.

The other terms describe political control or events rather than an economic goal. Gleichschaltung refers to aligning all institutions with the ruling party, Book Burnings were acts of censorship and propaganda, and the Reichstag Fire was a pivotal political crisis used to justify emergency measures.