Q1

[oslo90066]

I do not quite understand the difference between D and E. I chose D because I thought that that is what the last paragraph implied. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could explain the difference.

[aileenann]

(D) says that authoritarian principles are untenable _ meaning no one can really defend these principles, because they are impractical, i.e. because they bring about their own downfall. (E) says that authoritarian rulers who do end up caving in to democratic measures do so because their authoritarian rules tends to produce a backlash/demands for such democratic measures. These are different because (D) is making a statement that an ideology can never work/never last while (E) is making the statement that where authoritarian leaders do "fail" (i.e. lose full authoritarian control) it tends to be a result of their own behavior. (E) is a much less strong claim and relates directly to the authoritarian rulers who get so much press in the passage. I would say this is enough to choose (E) over (D).

Furthermore, some parts of (D) do not have support in the passage. Where (D) says that authoritarian principles demand a degree of economic and social stability, this does not seem to have any grounding in the text. While the passage tells us that economic growth can create a period of stability that may lead to demands for democracy, the passage never tells us that authoritarian rule cannot be maintained in the absence of such economic growth. Moreover, even the statement about the tendency of stability to promote democracy (lines 51-56) are not an absolute statement, again, not supporting the degree of (D).

Finally, since this question is a main-point question, you didn't necessarily want to look for what was implied. Rather you wanted a statement that got at the main point of the passage - which should be something important enough that it is discussed throughout much of the passage.

I hope this helps. Feel free to follow-up if you have more questions.

[LSAT-Chang]

Hi Aileen, what does (C) really mean?
Is it wrong because the authoritarian policies don't really "alienate the economic power base" but rather just undertake democratic reforms?? Also, is it wrong because it only talks about the second change, whereas there is also the change in values and norms and the third change as well?

[timmydoeslsat]

Hi Aileen, what does (C) really mean?
Is it wrong because the authoritarian policies don't really "alienate the economic power base" but rather just undertake democratic reforms?? Also, is it wrong because it only talks about the second change, whereas there is also the change in values and norms and the third change as well?

(C) is very narrow. It is not completely supported either.

This answer choice is wanting you to think back about the claims made about the privileged people in society, like the bankers.

We know that this the second type of change that the author discusses that can contribute to a society bringing down the idea of a forever authoritarian rule.

The privileged people in society will eventually see the authoritarian rule as no longer being necessary and that its prolonged existence may, in fact, hurt their deep pockets in the long run.

However this is simply way too narrow for a main point answer.