Final answer:
During the 1930s, many European governments were led by fascist dictators, such as Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germany, who rose to power during times of economic distress and disillusionment with democratic governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The New Leaders of European Governments in the 1930s
The characteristic that explains the new leaders of European governments during the 1930s is that many of them were fascist dictators. The interwar period and the economic distress of the 1920s and 1930s led to disillusionment with democracy and parliamentary systems, paving the way for the rise of authoritarian regimes. Countries such as Italy, Spain, and Germany saw leaders like Mussolini, Franco, and Hitler exploiting the economic instability, which was a byproduct of the Great Depression, to enforce totalitarian control and abandon democratic norms. These leaders and parties established themselves by promising order, unity, and national revival through strong, centralized governance and often through aggressive nationalist policies.
Throughout Europe during this period, totalitarian ideologies prospered, as democratic institutions struggled and governments worldwide experimented with authoritarian policies to manage the economic downturn. The advent of World War II would further solidify the power of fascist leaders, dramatically altering the political landscape of the continent.