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Class 12 Political Science Suggestion 2024-25: CBSE & TBSE, ICSE (NCERT)
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Class 12 Political Science Suggestion 2024-25
Class 12 Political Science Suggestion 2024-25: CBSE & TBSE, ICSE (NCERT). We provide free of cost suggestions for the Board Exams.to help the students. SCHOOL OF LEARNING COACHING AGARTALA is taken an initiative to help students across Tripura. So, keep eyes on the website to get latest updates. Best and 1st CUET Coaching Centre at Agartala, Tripura
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Chapter-1 The Cold War Era
English Suggestions 2024
1. Which among the following statements about the Cold War is wrong?
(а) It was a competition between the US and Soviet Union and their respective allies.
(b) It was an ideological war between the superpowers.
(c) It triggered off an arms race.
(d) The US and USSR were engaged in direct wars.
Answer: (d) The US and USSR were engaged in direct wars.
2. Which among the following statements does not reflect the objectives of NAM?
(a) Enabling newly decolonised countries to pursue independent policies.
(b) No to joining any military alliances.
(c) Following a policy of neutrality on global issues.
(d) Focus on elimination of global economic inequalities.
Answer: (c) Following a policy of neutrality on global issues.
3. Mark correct or wrong against each of
the following statements that describe the features ol Tliitary alliances formed by the superpowers.
(a) Member countries of the alliance are to provide bases in their respective lands for superpowers.
(b) Member countries to support the superpower both in terms of ideology and military strategy.
(c) When a nation attacks any member country, it is considered as an attack on all the member countries.
(d) Superpowers assist all the member countries to develop their own nuclear weapons.
Answer: (a) True (6) True (c) True (d) False
4. Here is a list of countries. Write against each of these blocs they belonged to during the Cold War.
Answer: (a) Poland—Eastern Alliance (Warsaw Pact)
(b) France—Western Alliance (NATO)
(c) Japan—Western Alliance (NATO)
(d) Nigeria—NAM
(e) North Korea—Eastern Alliance (Warsaw Pact)
(f) Sri Lanka—NAM
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5. The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control. What were the reasons for both these development?
Answer: The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control:
1. Cuban Missile Crisis engaged both of them (superpowers) in the development of nuclear weapons to influence the world.
2. US dropped nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the intention to stop Soviet Union from making military and political gains in Asia.
3. Both the powers were not ready to initiate a war because they knew that destruction from these will not justify any gain for them.
4. Both the powers were to be rational and responsible being restraint and avoiding risk of another World War to ensure human survival.
5. Hence, both the superpowers decided to limiting certain kinds of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons by signing various significant agreements within a decade i.e. Limited Test Ban Treaty, Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty etc.
6. Why did the superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries? Give three reasons.
Answer: Superpowers had military alliances with smaller states who were helpful for them in gaining access to:
1. Vital resources as oil and minerals.
2. Territory from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.
3. Locations from where they could spy on each other.
4. Economic support to pay their military expenses.
7. Sometimes it is said that the Cold War was a simple struggle for power and that ideology had nothing to do with it. Do
you agree with this? Give one example to support your position.
Answer: Yes, the Cold War was a simple struggle for power and that ideology had nothing to do with it because:
1. The Cold War led to several shooting wars but this did not lead to another World War.
2. Despite direct confrontations in Korea (1950-53), Berlin (1958-62), the Congo (early 1960s), neither alliance system crossed certain limits.
3. Many lives have been lost in some of the arenas like Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan but World War spread a nuclear war or global hostilities.
8. What was India’s foreign policy towards the USandUSSR during the Cold War era? Do you think that this policy helped India’s interests?
Answer: India’s foreign policy towards the US and USSR was two fold:
1. Took particular care in staging away from the two alliances.
2. Raised voice against the newly decolonised countries becoming part of these alliances.
3. Moreover, India tried to reduce the differences and rivalries between these alliances from escalating into a full scale war.
Yes, this policy served India’s interests also:
1. Non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions that served India’s interests rather than interests of superpowers and its allies.
2. India maintained a balance between two superpowers as if India felt ignored by one superpower it could tilt towards other superpowers.
3. Neither the alliance could take India for granted.
9. NAM was considered a ‘third option’ by third world countries! How did this option benefit their growth during the peak of the Cold War?
Answer: Non-alignment offered newly decolonised countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, a third option—not to join either alliance. A majority of NAM members was categorised as the Least Development Countries (LDCs), to be developed more economically not to remain dependent on richer countries. A new International Economic Order (NIEO) originated with this realisation. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought out a report in 1972 entitled towards a New Trade Policy for Development which proposed a reform of global trading system:
1. LDCs got control over their own natural resources which were being exploited by developed western countries.
2. To make western market available for LDCs to make trade more beneficial.
3. To reduce cost of-technology from western countries.
4. To provide LDCs with a greater role in international economic institutions.
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10. What do you think about the statement that NAM has became irrelevant today? Give reasons to support your opinion.
Or
What is the relevance of non-aligned movement after the end of Cold War?
Answer: By the mid 1970s, NAM had become an economic pressure group and by late 1980s, the NIEO initiative had faded due to stiff competition from developed countries who acted as a united group while non-aligned countries struggled to maintain their unity in face of this opposition. Non-alignment both as an international movement and as a core of India’s foreign policy lost some of its earlier relevance. Though non-alignment contained some core values and enduring ideas. It was based on a recognition that decolonised states shared a historical affiliation and can become powerful force if they come together, as very small and poor countries need not to become follower of any big powers instead they could persue an independent foreign policy also.
In nutshell, it can be concluded that NAM has not lost its relevance. It has stood test of adverse circumstances. It has served an important purpose of protecting and preserving interests of third world countries.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]
1. Why was the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation also called Western Alliance?
Answer: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was an association of twelve states. All these states belonged to western Europe. Therefore, this association was also called Western Alliance.
2. Name the two superpowers responsible for Cold War. When did the world become unipolar?
Answer: The US and USSR were responsible for Cold War. The world became unipolar in 1991 after disintegration of USSR.
3. What does USSR stand for?
Answer: Union of Soviet Socialist Republic.
4. When did NATO and WARSAW PACT come into existence?
Answer: NATO—April 1949
WARSAW PACT—1955
5. Mention the period of first and second World Wars.
Answer: First World War: 1914-1918
Second World 1939-1945
6. What is meant b; .old War?
Answer: Cold War is a state of extreme unfriendliness existing between two superpowers especially with opposing political system which expresses itself not through fighting but through political pressures and threats.
7. “ Non-alignment does not imply neutrality or equidistance.” What does this statement mean?
Answer: Neutrality refers to a policy of staying out of war and not to help end a war. Non-aligned states including India worked to prevent wars and rivalries between others.
8. What was deterrence relationship between superpowers?
Answer: Deterrence relationship refers that both sides have the capacity to retaliate against an attack and to cause so much destruction that neither can afford to initiate war.
9. How did superpowers maintain arms- control?
Answer: Superpowers maintained arms control by signing significant agreements within a decade as Limited Test Ban Treaty, Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty and hold several rounds of arms limitation talks.
10. What do you understand by Least Developed Countries?
Answer: Majority of NAM members were categorised as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to be more developed economically and to lift their people out of poverty.
11. What was the difference in the ideology of Western Alliances and that of Eastern Alliances?
Answer: The Western Alliance headed by the US represented ideology of liberal democracy and capitalism while the eastern alliance headed by Soviet Union committed to socialism and communism.
12. What was India’s policy of Non¬alignment?
Answer: India’s policy of Non-alignment was not a policy of‘fleeing away’ instead India was in favour of actively intervening in world affairs to soften Cold War rivalries and prevented differences from escalating into a full scale war.
13. Why did India not join either of the two camps during the Cold War?
Answer: India did not join either of the two camps during the Cold War because India played an active role in mediating between the two rival alliances for the sake of peace and stability. Their strength was based on unity of NAM members and their resolve to remain non-aligned despite the attempts and made by two superpowers to bring them into their alliances.
14. How were the military alliances beneficial to smaller nations during the Cold War?
Answer: Smaller nations got the promise of protection, weapons and economic aid against their local and regional rivals. A state was supposed to remain tied to its protective superpowers to unite influence of other superpower and its allies.
15. Name any two foreign leaders alongwith the countries they belonged to, who are recognised as the founders of NAM.
Answer: Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito; Egypt’s leader Gamal Abdel Nasser.
16. What was Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT)?
Answer: It was arms control treaty between superpowers. It banned nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water. It was signed by the US, UK and USSR in Moscow on 5 August, 1963. It entered into force on 10 October, 1963.
17. When and where the first NAM Summit was held?
Answer: The first NAM Summit was held in Belgrade in 1961 and it was attended by 25 member states.
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Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. What is meant by the Cuba Missile Crisis?
Answer: Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union and received both diplomatic and financial aid from it. In 1962, Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to convert it into a Russian base. This move fired the US. It ordered American warships to intercept any Soviet ships heading to Cuba as a way of warning the USSR of its seriousness. A clash seemed imminent in what came to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis.
2. What was the main objective of New International Economic Order?
Answer: The main objective of NSEO was to develop more to Least (Economic)
Developed countries of NAM and to lift them out of poverty by their sustainable development.
3. Mention two military features of the Cold War.
Answer: 1. Cold War divided the world into two divisions namely Western and Eastern alliances as well as SEATO and CENTO.
2. Mad arms race had taken to manu-facture atom-bomb and nuclear weapons by Super Powers of the world.
4. Explain Eastern and Western alliance during Cold war.
Answer: 1. Cold War gave birth to Eastern Alliance known as Warsaw Pact headed by Soviet Union in 1955 with the principal function to counter NATO’s forces.
2. Cold War created Western Alliance known as NATO in April 1949 by association of twelve states. Its policy was that an armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them and everybody would be obliged to help each other.
5. When did NATO come into existence? How many states joined it?
Answer: NATO came into existence in April 1949 and twelve sca+ joined it.
6. Name any two t,rms control treaties signed between two superpowers in 1960s.
Answer: 1. Limited Test Ban Treaty (5 August, 1963)
2. Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (1 July, 1960)
7. Name two leaders who played crucial role in Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer: 1. Nikita Khrushchev—Leader of Soviet Union
2. John F. Kennedy—US President
8. Explain any four objectives on Non- aligned Movement.
Answer: 1. NAM aimed at an end of colonisation and freedom to all nations.
2. NAM promoted and maintained international peace and security.
3. NAM aimed at removal of disparity among developed, poor and very small countries.
4. NAM aimed at promotion of New International Economic Order to encourage cooperation among nations.
9. Mention any four important events which took place during Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer: 1. In 1962, USSR installed Missiles in Cuba with intention to convert it into Russian base.
2. America became aware of it and as a warning ordered American warship to intercept Soviet ships moving to Cuba.
3. The US was feared of developing nuclear weapons on part of the USSR to challenge supremacy of the US.
4. The Cuban Crisis divided the world into two power blocs to expand their own spheres of influence in the world.
10. Who was the key leader of NAM who tried to reduce the Cold War conflicts?
Answer: Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru was the key leader of NAM who played a crucial role in mediating between two Koreas. Nehru appealed for reduction of Cold War conflicts and the establishment of world peace and security through co-operative disarmament.
11. Why were most of the countries categorised as Least Developed Countries?
Answer:1. The economic development of these countries was very low.
2. They were dependent on richer countries for their sustainable development.
3. Their natural resources were being exploited by developed countries.
4. They could not participate in international economic institutions and they had a little say, if participated.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. Why did India distance itself from the two camps led by the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Explain.
Answer: The end of the Second World War was the beginning of the Cold War between the two superpowers of the world, namely the US and the USSR. These two superpowers were keen on expanding their spheres of influence in different parts of the world. Most countries of western Europe sided with the US and those of eastern Europe joined the USSR. But India kept a distance from these superpowers. It means, it became a member of the non-alignment-movement by not joining either alliance. Non-alignment was not a noble international cause which had little to do with India’s real interests. A non-aligned posture also served India’s interests very directly, in at least two ways.
(t) Non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions and stances that served its interests rather than the interests of the superpowers and their allies. .
(ii) India was often able to balance one superpower against the other. If India felt ignored or unduly pressurised by one superpower, it could tilt towards the other. Neither alliance system could take India for granted or bully it.
2. “The drop of bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US was a political game.” Justify the statement.
Answer: The Second World War ended when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 causing Japan to surrender. Moreover, this action was criticised on the ground that the US knew that Japan was about to surrender and dropping of bombs was not necessary. US action was intended to stop Soviet Union from making military and political gains in Asia and elsewhere and to show that the US was supreme.
3. Explain the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Answer: In 1962, Soviet Union decided to convert Cuba into a Russian base as it provided USSR diplomatic and financial aid both. Hence, Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. The US became aware of it and ordered American warships to intercept to Soviet Union to remove missiles to avoid full scale nuclear war. A clash seemed imminent what came to be known as Cuban Missile Crisis.
4. Name any two founders of Non-aligned Movement. The first NAM summit was the culmination of which three factors?
Answer: Two founders of Non-aligned Movement were:
1. Indonesia’s Sukarno and
2. Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah
The first NAM was held in Belgrade in 1961. This was the culmination of following three factors:
1. Cooperation among member countries.
2. Growing cold war tensions and its widening arenas.
3. The dramatic entry of many new decolonised African countries into international arena.
5. What is the rationale of Non-aligned movement after the end of Cold War?
Or
Whmh core values keep non-alignment relevant even after Cold War has ended?
Answer: Non-aligned Movement was based on a recognition that decolonised states shared a historical affiliation and can become powerful force if they come together. It meant that very small and poor countries need not become followers of any big power, instead they could persue an independent foreign policy also. It was based on a resolve to democratise the international system to redress existing inequities also.
6. “ Non-alignment posture was in the interest of India”. How?
Answer: Non-alignment posture was in the interest of India because:
1. Non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions to serve her own interests.
2. India maintained a balance between two superpowers as if India felt ignored by one. India would tilt towards other superpower.
7. How did deterrence relationship prevented war between two superpowers?
Answer: 1. Even if one of them tries to attack and disable the nuclear weapons of its rivals, the other would still be left with enough nuclear weapons to inflict unacceptable destruction.
2. Both sides have capacity to retaliate against an attack and to cause so much destruction that neither can afford to initiate war.
3. Both superpowers were expected to behave more rationally and in responsible manner in the sense that they understood the risks in fighting wars which may create a massive destruction.
Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. Read carefully the passage given below and answer the following questions:
The Cold War was not simply a matter of power rivalries, military alliances and of balance of power. These were accompanied by a real ideological conflict as well, a difference over- the best and most appropriate way of organising political, economic and social life all over the world.
Questions
1. Why is a war like situation called Cold War?
2. Identify one military pact each signed by each of the two super powers to balance the power rivalries.
3. Differentiate between the ideologies represented by the rival blocs.
Answer:
1. The Cold War referred to the competition, the tensions and a series of confrontations between the US and Soviet Union. It never escalated into a hot war, i.e. a full-scale war between these two powers.
2. The US and USSR decided to collaborate in limiting or eliminating certain kinds of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons. A stable balance of weapon, they decided, could be maintained through ‘arms
control’. Starting in the 1960s, the two sides signed significant agreements, namely, Limited Test Ban Treaty and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
3. The Western alliance, headed by the US, represented the ideology of liberal democracy and capitalism while the eastern alliance, headed by the Soviet Union, was committed to the ideology of socialism and communism.
2. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
In April 1961… the Soviet Union were worried that the United States of America would invade communist ruled Cuba and overthrow the Cuban President Fidel Castro…. Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of Soviet Union, decided to convert Cuba into a Russian base. In 1962, placed nuclear missiles… Three weeks after the Soviet Union had placed the nuclear weapons in Cuba, the Americans became aware of it. They became reluctant to do anything that might lead to full scale war between the two countries… A clash seemed imminent in what came to be known as “Cuban Missile Crisis”. The prospects of this clash made the whole world nervous.
Questions
1. Why was the Soviet Union worried about America invading Cuba?
2. In response to the action taken by America, what did Nikita Khrushchev do?
3. Why were the two superpowers reluctant to start nuclear war?
Answer:
1. The Soviet Union was worried about America invading Cuba that the US world overthrew Cuban President Fidel Castro to capture power in Cuba.
2. They became reluctant to do anything that might lead to to full scale war between the two countries.
3. The two superpowers became reluctant because both of them knew that it might lead only a massive destruction and will not justify any gain for them.
3. Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
The Western alliance was formalised into an organisation, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), which came into existence in April 1949. It was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them. Each of these status would be obliged to help each other. The eastern alliance known as the Warsaw Pact was led by Soviet Union, created in 1955 and its principal function was to counter NATO’s forces in Europe.
Questions
1. What does NATO stand for?
2. What was NATO’s policy?
3. What was Warsaw Pact?
4. Mention the main function of Warsaw Pact.
Answer:
1. NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
2. NATO was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of them would be regarded as an attack on all of them and each of them would be obliged to help each other.
3. Warsaw Pact was eastern alliance, led by Soviet Union, created in 1955.
4. Main function of Warsaw Pact was to counter NATO’s forces in Europe.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. Describe any six factors responsible for the disintegration of USSR.
Or
What is meant by New International Economic Order? Mention any four reforms of the global trading system proposed by UNCTAD in 1972.
Answer: Six factors responsible for the disintegration of USSR are—
(i) The internal weaknesses of Soviet political and economic institutions failed to meet the aspirations of the people.
(ii) Economic stagnation for many years led to severe consumer shortages and a large section of Soviet society began to doubt and question the system and to do so openly.
(iii) The Soviet Union had become stagnant in an administrative and political sense as well. The Communist Party that had ruled the Soviet Union for over 70 years was not accountable to the people. Ordinary people were alienated by slow and stifling administration, rampant corruption, the inability of the system to correct mistakes it had made, the unwillingness to allow more openness in government and the centralisation of authority in a-vast land.
(iv) The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal and the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the Soviet system. This led a huge economic burden that the system could not cope with.
(v) When Gorbachev became the President, he carried out reforms and loosened the system. He set in motion forces and expectations that few could have predicted and became virtually impossible to control. There were sections of Soviet society which felt that Gorbachev should have moved much faster and were disappointed and impatient with his methods. Others, especially members of the Communist Party and those who were served by the system, took exactly the opposite view. In this tug of war, Gorbachev lost support on all sides.
(vi) The rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty within various republics including Russia and the Baltic Republics, Ukraine, Georgia, and others proved to be the final and most immediate cause for the disintegration of the USSR.
Or
The non-aligned countries were more than merely mediators during the’ Cold War. The challenge for most of the non-aligned countries — a majority of them were categorised as the Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) — was to be more developed economically and to lift their people out of poverty. Economic development was also vital for the independence of the new countries. Without sustained development, a country could not be truly free. It would remain dependent on the richer countries including the colonial powers from which political freedom had been achieved. The idea of a New International Economic Order (NIEO) originated with this realisation.
The UNCTAD brought out a report in 1972 entitled Towards a New Trade Policy for Development. The report proposed a reform of the global trading system so as to:
(i) give the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) control over their natural resources exploited by the developed western countries.
(ii) obtain access to western markets so that LDCs would sell their products and, therefore, make trade more beneficial for the poorer countries.
(iii) reduce the cost of technology from the western countries, and
(iv) provide the LDCs with a greater role in international economic institutions.
2. What led to the emergence of bipolar world? What were the arenas of Cold War between the two power blocs?
Answer: Emergence of bipolar world:
1. Two superpowers expanded their own spheres of influence in different parts of the world.
2. It divided the world into two alliances namely Western and Eastern alliance headed by the US and Soviet Union respectively.
3. The smaller states in alliances got the promise of protection of weapons and economic aid against their local rivals, hence they remained tied to its protective superpowers to limit influence of other superpower and its allies.
Arenas of Cold War:
1. Crisis and war occurred between alliance systems but did not cross certain limits.
2. Many lives were lost in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan, but world was spared from nuclear war and global hostilities.
3. The Cold War led to several shooting wars but it did not lead to another World War despite direct confrontations in Korea (1950-53), Berlin (1958-62) and the Congo (the early 1960s).
3. How did Europe become main arena of conflict between the superpowers?
Answer: 1. Superpowersusedtheirmilitarypower to bring countries into their respective alliances.
2. Soviet Union used its influence in Eastern Europe so that the eastern half of Europe remained within its sphere of influence.
3. In East and Southeast Asia and in West Asia, the US built an alliance called South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO).
4. The Soviet Union responded by having close relations with regional countries such as North Vietnam, North Korea and Iraq.
4. “India’s policy of non-alignment was criticised on a number of counts.” Explain.
Answer: A non-aligned posture also served India’s interests very directly as well as India intervened in world affairs to soften cold war rivalries by reducing differences between the alliances and from escalating into a full scale war. Though India’s policy of non-alignment was criticised on a number of counts:
1. India’s non-alignment was said to be ‘unprincipled’ in the name of persuing in national interest.
2. India often refused to take firm stand on crucial international issues.
! 3. Sometimes India took contradictory postures, having criticised others for joining alliances, Indian signed the Treaty of friendship in August 1971 with the USSR for 29 years
4. During Bangladesh crisis also India developed good relations even with the US in the name of diplomatic and military support.
5. Explain various arms control treaties.
Or
Define the various treaties to control arms.
Answer: 1. Limited Test Ban Treaty: Banned nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water signed by the US, UK and USSR in Moscow on 5 August 1963 came into force on 10 October, 1963.
2. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty:
It allows only nuclear weapon states to have nuclear weapons and stops others from acquiring them. A nuclear weapon state is one which had manufactured and exploded nuclear explosive device prior to 1 Janaury, 1967. So there are five nuclear weapon states: US, USSR, Britain, France and China.
3. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks I and II (Salt I and II): The first round began in November 1969. The Soviet Union leader Leonid Brezhnev and the US President Kichard Nixon signed the following in Moscow on 26 May 1972— (a) Anti Ballistic Missile System Treaty, (b) Interim Agreement on limitation of strategic offensive arms.
It came into force on 3 October, 1972. The second round started in November 1972. The US President Jimmy Carter and the Soviet leader Brezhnev signed Treaty on limiting strategic offensive arms in Vienna on 18 June, 1979.
4. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I and II (START I and II): Treaty I signed by the USSR president Mikhail Gorbachev and the’ US president George Bush (Senior) on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms in Moscow on 31 July 1991.
Treaty II was signed for same purpose in Moscow on 3 January, 1993 between Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the US President George Bush (Senior).
Map-Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. On the political map of world locate and level the following by giving symbols to them:
Questions
1. Study the given map of the world in which six different countries have been marked 1,2,3,4,5,6. Identify these countries with their names and classify them as first, second, third world countries.
Answer:
2. Study the given map and identify these countries from each of rival blocs. Name and categorise them. These countries have been symbolised as A, B, C, D, E, F.
Answer:
Chapter 2 The End of Bipolarity
1. Which among the following statements that describe the nature of Soviet economy is wrong?
(a) Socialism was the dominant ideology.
(b) State ownership/control existed over the factors of production.
(c) People enjoyed economic freedom.
(d) Every aspect of the economy was planned and contained by the state.
Answer: (c) People enjoyed economic freedom.
2. Arrange the following in chronological order:
(a) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
(b) Fall of the Berlin Wall
(c) Disintegration of Soviet Union
(d) Russian Revolution
Answer: I. (d) Russian Revolution (1917)
II. (a) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979)
III. (b) Fall of the Berlin Wall (Nov 1989)
IV. (c) Disintegration of Soviet Union
3. Which among the following is NOT an outcome of the disintegration of the USSR?
(a) End of the ideological war between the US and USSR
(b) Birth of CIS
(c) Change in the balance of power in the world order
(d) Crises in the Middle East
Answer: (d) Crises in the Middle East
4. Match the following:
Answer: (i)-(c); (ii)-(d); (iti)-(a); (iv)-(e); (v)-(b)
5. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The Soviet Political System was
based on ideology.
(b) was the military alliance
started by the USSR.
(c) party dominated the
Soviet Union’s political system.
(d) initiated the reforms
in the USSR in 1985.
(e) The fall of the symbolised
the end of the Cold War.
Answer: (a) socialist (b) Warsaw Pact
(c) Communist (d) Gorbachev
(e) Berlin wall
6. Mention any three features that distinguish the Soviet economy from that of a capitalist country like the US.
Answer: The three features that distinguish the Soviet economy from that of a capitalist country like the US, can be summed up as follows:
1. Soviet economy experienced a complex communication network, vast energy resources and an efficient transport sector to connect its remotest areas.
2. Soviet Union industries produced every domestic product from pin to cars, whose quality might not match with that of the west technology.
3. Soviet Union ensured a minimum standard of living for all its citizens. Consequently Government subsidised basic necessities including health, education, children and other welfare schemes.
4. There was an absence of unemployment in Soviet Union.
5. Land and productive assets were owned by the state only.
7. What were the factors that forced Gorbachev to initiate the reforms in the USSR?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev was the General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union in 1985. He was forced to initiate the reforms in the USSR due to following reasons:
1. To keep the USSR abreast of information and technological revolutions at par the West.
2. To normalise the relations with that of the West.
3. To democratise the Soviet System.
4. To loosen the administrative system which exempted ordinary people from the privileges.
8. What were the major consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union for countries like India?
Answer: The major consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union for countries like India can be analysed as follows:
1. Disintegration of Soviet Union gave an end to Cold War confrontations and to ideological disputes between two superpowers.
2. Military alliances had been abolished and demand arose for world peace and security.
3. Multipolar system was surpassed to exist where no single power could dominate and a group of countries could play a crucial role in world politics like NAM Countries.
4. The US became the sole superpower and capitalist economy became dominant at international level. World Bank and IMF became powerful advisors due to their economic support to these countries during transitional period.
5. The motion of liberal democracy emerged as a way to organise political life.
6. Due to disintegration of Soviet Union many new countries emerged with the independent aspirations and choices.
7. The Baltic and East European states wanted to join European Union and became the part of NATO. The Central Asian countries took the advantage of their geographical location and continued close ties with Russia, West, China and others.
9. What was Shock Therapy? Was this the best way to make a transition from communism to capitalism?
Answer: Shock Therapy was a painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system. This transformation system was influenced by the world bank and the IMF in Russia, Central Asia and East Europe. Though it varies in intensity and speed amongst the former second world countries but its direction and features were quite similar.
This was not the best way to make a transition from communism to capitalism due to following drawbacks:
1. Russia, the large state controlled industrial complex lost about 90 per cent of its industries through sales to private individuals and companies
2. It created “the largest garage sale in history” which led virtual disappearance of entire industries for the restructuring was carried out by market forces in place of government owned policies.
Hence, industries were undervalued and sold at throwaway prices.
3. It systematically destroyed old system of social welfare.
4. The value of ‘ruble’, the Russian currency, declined dramatically due to high rate of inflation and real GDP of Russia also declined between 1989 to 1999.
5. The withdrawal of government subsidies pushed large sections of society into poverty and it emerged mafia to start controlling many economic activities.
6. Privatisation led to new disparities which divided Russia between rich and poor people creating economic inequality.
7. Hence, Shock Therapy brought ruin to economies and disaster upon the people of entire region.
10. Write an essay for or against the following proposition. “With the disintegration of the second world, India should change its foreign policy and focus more on friendship with the US rather than with traditional friends like Russia”.
Answer: India should not change its foreign policy and focus more on friendship with US, but India is required to maintain healthy relations with Russia because India has experienced a long band of mutual trust, interests and popular perceptions with Russia in the following manner:
1. Russia and India share a vision of multipolar world order i.e. co¬existence of several world powers internationally, collective security, greater regionalism, democratisation with the decision-making through bodies like the UN.
2. More than 80 bilateral agreements have been experienced between India and Russia as a part of the Indo- Russia Strategic Agreement of 2001.
3. India has been benefitted from its relationship on the issues like Kashmir, energy supplies, sharing information on international terrorism, access to Central Asia and balancing its relation with China.
4. Russia is also important for India’s nuclear energy plane and assisting India’s space industry by giving cryogenic rocket to India whenever needed.
5. Co-operation with Russia and its republics like Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan in the form of partnership and investment in oil fields has also benefitted India.
6. Russia is also benefitted from India on ground of the second largest arms market for Russia. Indian military gets most of its hardware from Russia.
7. Russia and India have collaborated on various scientific projects also.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]
1. When did Socialist Revolution take place in Russia?
Answer: 1917.
2. What was Shock Therapy?
Answer: Shock Therapy was the transitional form from authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system in Russia, Central Asia and East Europe under the influence of the World Bank and IMF.
3. What was the largest garage sale in history?
Answer: Largest garage sale in history was resulted due to shock therapy to undervalue the valuable industries of the USSR to sell them at throwaway prices.
4. What was the immediate cause of disintegration of USSR?
Answer: The rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty within various republics including Russia and the Baltic Republic (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Ukraine, Georgia and others proved to be the most immediate cause for disintegration of the USSR.
5. What was Socialist Bloc?
Answer: The Second World countries or the group of east European countries who were liberated from fascist forces, followed the model of the USSR, known as Socialist Bloc.
6. What is the new name of former USSR?
Answer: Russia.
7. When did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer: November 1989.
8. Who was the General Secretary of Communist Party of Soviet Union in 1985?
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev.
9. Mention the role of Boris Yeltsin in the disintegration of the USSR.
Answer: Boris Yeltsin had emerged as national hero after popular election in Russian Republic. In Dec 1991, under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus declared themselves independent.
10. What does CIS stand for?
Answer: Commonwealth of Independent States.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. What is meant by Shock Therapy?
Answer: The ‘Shock Therapy’ was the state of affairs which signifies the collapse of communism followed by a painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system-
1. ‘Shock Therapy’ administered in the year 1900 not to lead the people into the promised utopia of mass consumption.
2. It brought ruin to economies and disaster upon the people of entire region.
2. Why is it said that collapse of Berlin wall signified the collapse of bipolar world?
Answer: Collapse of Berlin Wall unified the
divided Germany and eight east European countries of the Soviet Bloc replaced their Communist government resulting into disintegration of Soviet Union. With the disintegration of Soviet Union, military alliances came to an end and the world became unipolar.
3. Mention any two characteristics of Soviet Political System.
Answer: 1. The Soviet Political System central around the Communist Party and no other political party or opposition was allowed.
2. The economy was planned and controlled by the state only.
Or
The one party system had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to people.
3. People locked democracy and were snatched away their right to freedom of speech and expression.
4. “The Soviet Union lagged behind the West”. Comment.
Answer. The Soviet Union lagged behind the West in technology, infrastructure (transport, power etc.) as it could not cope with the political and economic aspirations of people and resulted in:
1. Though wages continued to grow but productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the West.
2. This led to shortage of consumer goods and increased food import every year.
3. The above mentioned reasons made the Soviet economy stagnant.
5. Mention some features of Soviet Society.
Answer: Commonwealth of Independent States.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. What is meant by Shock Therapy?
Answer: The ‘Shock Therapy’ was the state of affairs which signifies the collapse of communism followed by a painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system-
1. ‘Shock Therapy’ administered in the year 1900 not to lead the people into the promised utopia of mass consumption.
2. It brought ruin to economies and disaster upon the people of entire region.
2. Why is it said that collapse of Berlin wall signified the collapse of bipolar world?
Answer: Collapse of Berlin Wall unified the
divided Germany and eight east European countries of the Soviet Bloc replaced their Communist government resulting into disintegration of Soviet Union. With the disintegration of Soviet Union, military alliances came to an end and the world became unipolar.
3. Mention any two characteristics of Soviet Political System.
Answer: 1. The Soviet Political System central around the Communist Party and no other political party or opposition was allowed.
2. The economy was planned and controlled by the state only.
Or
The one party system had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to people.
3. People locked democracy and were snatched away their right to freedom of speech and expression.
4. “The Soviet Union lagged behind the West”. Comment.
Answer. The Soviet Union lagged behind the West in technology, infrastructure (transport, power etc.) as it could not cope with the political and economic aspirations of people and resulted in:
1. Though wages continued to grow but productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the West.
2. This led to shortage of consumer goods and increased food import every year.
3. The above mentioned reasons made the Soviet economy stagnant.
5. Mention some features of Soviet Society.
Answer: Commonwealth of Independent States.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. What is meant by Shock Therapy?
Answer: The ‘Shock Therapy’ was the state of affairs which signifies the collapse of communism followed by a painful process of transition from an authoritarian socialist system to a democratic capitalist system-
1. ‘Shock Therapy’ administered in the year 1900 not to lead the people into the promised utopia of mass consumption.
2. It brought ruin to economies and disaster upon the people of entire region.
2. Why is it said that collapse of Berlin wall signified the collapse of bipolar world?
Answer: Collapse of Berlin Wall unified the
divided Germany and eight east European countries of the Soviet Bloc replaced their Communist government resulting into disintegration of Soviet Union. With the disintegration of Soviet Union, military alliances came to an end and the world became unipolar.
3. Mention any two characteristics of Soviet Political System.
Answer: 1. The Soviet Political System central around the Communist Party and no other political party or opposition was allowed.
2. The economy was planned and controlled by the state only.
Or
The one party system had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to people.
3. People locked democracy and were snatched away their right to freedom of speech and expression.
4. “The Soviet Union lagged behind the West”. Comment.
Answer. The Soviet Union lagged behind the West in technology, infrastructure (transport, power etc.) as it could not cope with the political and economic aspirations of people and resulted in:
1. Though wages continued to grow but productivity and technology fell considerably behind that of the West.
2. This led to shortage of consumer goods and increased food import every year.
3. The above mentioned reasons made the Soviet economy stagnant.
5. Mention some features of Soviet Society.
Answer: 1. Soviet Society gave priority to the state and party institutions only.
2. Only the Communist Party was ruling over there and no opposition was allowed.
3. The economy was planned and controlled by the state only.
4. The Soviet Union became the great power after the Second World War.
6. Write anote onformationof Commonwealth of Independent States.
Answer: Disintegration of the USSR gave birth to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) when under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin Russia, Ukraine and Belarus declared themselves as independent and gave a surprise to other republics especially to central Asian Republics. This issue was resolved quickly by making these republics as founding
members of the CIS and Russia became the successor state who inherited the Soviet sea in the UN and accepted all the international treaties and commitments.
7. Mention any two possibilities which were being presumed in changed scenario of world politics after disintegration of the USSR.
Answer: 1. The US, the only superpower could dominate the world and make a unipolar world.
2. A multipolar world could also exist where no other power could dominate or the group of countries could participate in the international affairs.
8. How did the USSR come into existence?
Answer: The USSR came into existence after the Socialist revolution in Russia in 1917 with the inspiration of socialism and a need of egalitarian society who opposed capitalism. This was considered the biggest attempt in human history to abolish the institution of private property and to design a society based on equality.
9. Who was Gorbachev? Why did he seek to reform Soviet Society?
Answer: Gorbachev was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985. He was forced by the following factors to seek reforms in Soviet Society:
1. To keep the USSR abreast of the
information and technological revolutions.
2. To bring Soviet economy at par with the west.
3. To loosen the administrative system.
4. To democratise Soviet System and to normalise relations with the west.
10. How did Shock Therapy affect trade and commerce of Russia?
Answer. Shock Therapy affected trade and commerce of Russia in the following manner:
1. The value of Ruble, the Russian ’ currency declined.
2. Inflation rose at a very high rate and it lost all savings of people.
3. Lack of productivity and technology created shortage of food which increased food imports every year.
4. The GDP of Russia also declined between 1989 to 1999.
11. When and how did Russia revive its economy?
Answer: Russia revived its economy in 2000 by the export of natural resources like oil, natural gas and minerals. Even other countries have also gained due to crossing of pipelines from their region and they have been paid a rent. Russia has started some manufacturing units also to revive its economy.
12. Write a note on tension and conflicts that occurred in Russia.
Answer: In Russia, two republics—Chechnya and Dagestan—had violent secessionist movements. Moscow’s method of dealing with the Chechen rebels and indiscriminate military bombings have led to many human rights violation but failed to deter the aspirations for ‘independence’.
13. Mention the methods of‘Shock Therapy’ amongst the former Second World countries.
Answer: 1. The newly evolved criterion required to make a total shift to a capitalist economy to root out completely any structures evolved during Soviet period.
2. Shock therapy involved a drastic change in the external orientation.
3. Sudden and complete switch to free trade was considered essential.
4. It also involved openness to foreign investment, financial opening up and currency convertibility.
14. “ The old system of social welfare was systematically destroyed”. With reference to Shock Therapy, justify the statement.
Ans: 1. The Government withdrew subsidies and pushed people into poverty.
2. The middle classes were pushed to the periphery of society and the academic and intellectual manpower migrated.
3. A mafia had been emerged and started controlling many economic activities.
4. Privatisation led to new disparities.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. Describe any four consequences of the disintegration of Soviet Union.
Answer: (i) The disintegration of Soviet Union meant the end of Cold War confrontations which demanded the end of armed race and restoration of possible peace.
(ii) This disintegration created the possibility to bring in a ‘multipolar system’ where no power could dominate.
(iii) The US became the sole superpower and the ‘capitalist economy’ was now dominant economic system at international level.
(iv) This disintegration emerged in many new countries dividing Soviet Union into 15 independent countries alongwith their own aspirations and choices.
2. Explain any two reasons for disintegration of the USSR.
Answer: 1. The internal weaknesses of Soviet political and economic institutions failed to meet the aspirations of the people.
2. Economic stagnation for many years led to severed consumer shortage and a large section of Soviet society began to double the system because Communist Party was not accountable to peoples.
3. What were the political reasons for disintegration of Soviet Union?
Answer: 1. The Communist Party of Soviet Union had ruled for over 70 years but it was not accountable to people.
2. Ordinary people had been alienated and were exempted from enjoying the privileges and to participate actively in political affairs.
3. Due to slow and stifling administration, the inability of system to correct mistakes lost popular support.
4. The centralisation of authority in > vast land.
4. In what manner Gorbachev’s reform policy was protested? Who took the command during these events?
Answer. 1. The East European countries which were the part of the Soviet Bloc, started to protest against their own
government and Soviet control.
2. Boris Yeltsin took the command during these events as he got popular support of people in the elections and began to shake off centralised control.
3. Power began to shift from centre to the republics which declared themselves independent.
4. In December 1991, under the leadership of Boris Yeltsin Russia, Ukraine and Baltics declared themselves as sovereign states.
5. Why did Soviet system become so weak and Soviet economy stagnant?
Answer: Soviet system became so weak and Soviet economy stagnant due to the following reasons:
1. The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining nuclear and military arsenals.
2. Soviet economy concentrated on the development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe especially in the five central Asian Republics.
3. This led to a huge economic burden on people to be coped up with.
4. Ordinary citizens became more knowledgeable about the economic advancement of the West and backwardness of Soviet system.
6. Why did Gorbachev’s reform policy fail in spite of his accurate diagnosis of the problem?
Answer. 1. When Gorbachev carried out his reforms and loosened the system, he set in motion forces and expectations that few could have predicted and became virtually impossible to control.
2. Some sections of Soviet Society felt that Gorbachev should have moved much faster and were disappointed and impatient with him.
3. The members of communist party felt that their power and privileges were eroding and Gorbachev was moving too quickly.
4. In this tug of war, Gorbachev lost support on all sides and divided public opinion with the disillusionment of inadequate dependence.
Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
In eastern Europe, Czechoslovakia split peacefully into two, with the Czechs and the Slovaks forming independent countries. But the most severe conflict took place in the Balkan republics of Yugoslavia. After 1991, it broke apart with several provinces like Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring independence. Ethnic Serbs opposed this, and a massacre of non-Serb Bosnians followed. The NATO intervention and the bombing of Yugoslavia followed interethnic civil war.
Questions
1. In Eastern Europe which republic split into two?
2. Name the republic/place where severe conflict took place.
3. Name various provinces with which Yugoslavia had been broken in 1991?
4. Which incidents resulted into inter-ethnic civil war?
Answer:
1. Czechoslovakia split into two with Czechs and Slovaks.
2. Balkan republics of Yugoslavia.
3. Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina.
4. 1. Ethnic Serbs opposed the breakirigup
of several provinces independently following a massacre of non-serb Bosnians.
2. NATO intervention and bombing on Yugoslavia.
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
The Soviet system, however, became very bureaucratic and authoritarian, making life very difficult for its citizens. Lack of democracy and the absence of freedom of speech stifled people who often expressed their dissent in jokes and cartoons. Most of the institutions of the Soviet state needed reform : the one-party system
represented by the communist party of the Soviet union had tight control over all institutions and was unaccountable to the people. The party refused to recognise the urge of people in the fifteen different republics that formed the Soviet Union to manage their own affairs including their cultural affairs. Although, on paper, Russia was only one of the fifteen republics then together constituted the USSR in reality Russia dominated everything, and people from other regions felt neglected and often suppressed.
Questions
1. What was Soviet system?
2. How many republics formed Soviet Union?
3. Which republic dominated in the USSR?
4. Why did people become dissatisfied
with the rule of Communist Party of Soviet Union?
Answer:
1. 1. Soviet system was bureaucratic and
authoritarian making life difficult for citizens.
2. Soviet system lacked democracy and the freedom of speech of people was also snatched away.
2. 15 Republics.
3. Russia.
4. 1. Soviet Union had tight control over
all institutions.
2. Soviet Union was unaccountable to people.
3. Soviet Union refused 15 republics to manage their own affairs.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. What was Soviet system? Assess any four features of Soviet system.
Answer: Soviet system was introduced after Socialist Revolution in Russia in 1917. It was based on the principle of egalitarian society and planned economy controlled by the state. Its four features can be summed up in the following ways:
1. The Soviet system ensured a minimum standard of living for its citizens.
2. The government subsidised basic necessities including health,education, childcare and other welfare schemes.
3. There was no unemployment in the Soviet system.
4. State ownership was the dominant owned and controlled by the Soviet state.
2. Explain six factors which helped Soviet Union becoming superpower after Second World War.
Answe: The following factors helped Soviet Union becoming superpower after Second World War:
1. The east European countries the Soviet army had liberated from the fascist forces came under the control of the USSR.
2. The political and economic systems of all these countries were modelled after the USSR and collectively were called the second world.
3. The WARSAW PACT, a military alliance held them together and the USSR was the leader of the bloc.
4. The Soviet economy was then more developed than the rest of the world except for the US.
5. It had a complex communication network, vast energy resources including oil, iron and steel, (machinery) production and a transport sector that connected its remotest _areas with efficiency.
6. It had a domestic consumer industry that produced everything from pins to cars to make themselves self-dependent.
3. “During the Cold War era India and the USSR enjoyed a special relationship which made critics to say that India was part of Soviet camp”. Examine the statement.
Or
“India and the USSR enjoyed mutual dimensional relationship.” Justify the statement.
Answer: During the Cold War era India and the USSR enjoyed a special relationship which made critics to say that India was part of the Soviet camp. It was a multi-dimensional relationship:
1. Economic:
(a) The Soviet Union assisted India’s public sector companies at a time when such assistance was difficult to get.
(b) It gave aid and technical assistance for steel plants like Bhilai, Bokaro, Vishakhapatnam and machinery plants like Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.
(c) The Soviet Union accepted Indian currency for trade when India was short of foreign exchange.
2. Political:
(а) The Soviet Union supported India’s positions on the Kashmir issue in the WN.
(b) The Soviet Union also supported India during its major conflicts during the war with Pakistan in 1971.
(c) India too supported Soviet foreign policy in some crucial but indirect ways.
3. Military:
(a) India received military hardware from Soviet Union.
(b) India got technological know-how regarding maintenance of military arsenal.
(c) India and Soviet Union got mutual agreements to produce military equipments.
4. Cultural:
(a) Hindi films and Indian culture were popular in the Soviet Union.
(b) A large number of Indian writers and artists visited the USSR.
(c) Indian heroes from Raj Kapoor to Amitabh Bachhan are household names in Russia.
4. Mention the causes of Soviet disintegration.
Answer: The causes of Soviet disintegration can be summed up as follows:
1. Economic Stagnancy:
(a) Economic institutions experienced internal weaknesses to meet the aspirations of people.
(b) Economic stagnation for many years to severe consumer shortages.
2. Political and Administrative Causes:
(a) The only ruling Communist Party was not accountable despite its rule of 70 years.
(b) Theordinaiypeoplewereabstained from taking participation in political riots, hence the system became incapable of correcting its mistakes.
(c) The ordinary citizens were exempted from gaining the privileges.
(d) Due to non-participation of people, the government lost popular support from all sides.
3. Gorbachev’s Reform Policies:
(а) Gorbachev’s reforms aimed at keeping the USSR abreast of information and technological revolutions taking place in the west.
(b) Gorbachev focused to normalise relations with the west.
(c) Gorbachev worked to democratise the Soviet System.
(d) But Society was divided into two sections towards Gorbacheve’s reforms and both of them had contradictory views towards him.
4. Rise of Nationalism and Desire for Sovereignty:
(a) The rise of nationalism in various republics of Soviet Union proved to be immediate cause of revolutions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Georgia.
(b) The nationalist dissatisfaction with the Soviet Union was strongest in European and prosperous part in Russia and the Baltic areas as well as Ukraine and Georgia.
(c) Ordinary people felt alienated from Central Asia.
5. What sot of conflicts had occurred in Soviet Republics? Explain.
Answer: 1. In Russia:
(a) Chechnya and Dagestan had violent secessionist movements.
(b) Moscow’s method to deal with Chechen rebels and indiscriminate military bombings led to many human rights violation but for deter aspirations for independence.
2. In Central Asia:
(a) Tajikistan witnessed a civil war that went on for ten years till 2001.
(b) In Azerbaijan’s provinces of Nagorno-Karobakh, some local Armenians want to secede and join Armenia.
(c) In Georgia, the demand for independence came from two provinces resulting in a civil war.
(d) There are still movements against the existing regimes in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia.
(e) Even countries and provinces are fighting over river water.
3. In Eastern Europe:
(a) Czechoslovakia, split peacefully into two with the Czechs and Slovaks, forming independent countries.
(b) The severe conflict took place in the Balkan republics of Yugoslavia.
(c) After 1991, Yugoslavia broke apart with several provinces like Croatia, Slovania, Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring independence.
(d) Ethnic Serbs opposed this and a massacre of non-Serbs Bosanians followed.
(e) The NATO intervention and the bombing of Yugoslavia followed inter-ethnic Civil war.
Map Based Questions [5 Marks]
On a political map of world locate and label the following by giving symbols to them:
Questions
1. A republic of Eastern Europe split into two independent countries peacefully.
2. Most dominating republic of Soviet Union.
3. Identify two major oil and gas producers of Soviet Union.
members of Commonwealth of Independent States.
Answer:
1. Czechoslovakia Czechs (1) and Slovakia(2).
2. Russia (3).
3. Turkmenistan (4) and Uzbekistan (5).
4. Yugoslavia (6).
5. Ukraine (7) and Belarus (8)
Class 12 Political Science Chapter Alternative Centres of Power
Coaching guidance for Board, NEET, JEE, TBJEE, LAW, CUET, GATE, UGC NET, TET, CTET, NFSU, TPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NETAJI CHOWMUHANI AGARTALA
Coaching guidance for Board, NEET, JEE, TBJEE, LAW, CUET, GATE, UGC NET, TET, CTET, NFSU, TPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NETAJI CHOWMUHANI AGARTALA
1. Arrange the following in chronological order:
(a) China’s accession to WTO
(b) Establishment of the EEC
(c) Establishment of tlr EU
(d) Birth of ARF
Answer: (b) Establishment of the EEC – 1957
(c) Establishment of the EU – 1992
(d) Birth of ARF – 1994
(a) China’s accession to WTO
2. The ASEAN WAY:
(a) Reflects the lifestyle of ASEAN members.
(b) A form of interaction among ASEAN members that is informal and cooperative.
(c) The defence policy followed by the ASEAN members.
(d) The road that connects all the ASEAN members.
Answer: (b) A form of interaction among ASEAN members that is informal and cooperative.
3. Who among the following adopted an ‘open door’ policy?
(a) China (b) EU
(c) Japan (d) USA
Answer: (a) China
4. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The border conflict between China and India in 1962 was principally over……..and……..region.
(b) ARF was established in the year……..
(c) China entered into bilateral relations with ………(a major country) in 1972.
(d) ………..plan influenced the establishment of the organisation for European Economic Cooperation in 1948.
(e)……….. is the organisation of ASEAN that deals with security.
Answer: (a) Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin,
(b) 1994, (c) the US, (d) Marshall,
(e) Asian Regional Forum.
5. What are the objectives of establishing regional organisations?
Answer: The regional organisations are established with the following objectives:
1. To make regional development at par the fast growing global economy.
2. To accelerate economic growth through the social progress and cultural development.
3. To promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of United Nations Charter.
6. How does the geographical proximity influence the formation of regional organisations?
Answer: The geographical proximity influences the formation of regional organisations because:
1. It is influenced by almost some historical enmities and weaknesses.
2. Sometimes the similar interests come together.
3. Even fruitful areas for regional economy are also the result of geographical proximity.
7. Wha.are the components of the ASEAN Visiong020?
Ans: The com10nents of ASEAN Vision 2020 can be summed up as follows:
1. An ou.ward looking role in internatioial community.
2. To encourage negotiations over conflicts in tie region.
3. To mediate tc end the conflicts i.e. Cambodian conflict, East Timor Crisis, annual discussion on East Asian Cooperatioi through meetings.
8. Name the pillars aid objectives of ASEAN community.
Answer: The ASEAN community established the following three pillars:
1. The ASEAN Security Community
2. The ASEAN Economic Community
3. The ASEAN Socio-cultural Community.
The objectives of ASEAN community are as follows:
1. Territorial disputes should not escalate into armed confrontations.
2. To accelerate economic growth through social progress and cultural development.
3. To promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
4. To establish dispute settlement mechanism to resolve economic disputes.
5. To create Free Trade Areas for investments, labour and services.
9. In what ways does the present Chinese economy differ from its command economy?
Answer: The present Chinese economy has adopted the ‘open door policy’ to generate higher productivity by investments of capital and technology. It differed from its command economy in the following manner:
1. It broke stagnancy of command economy.
2.Command economy lagged behind the industrial production but Chinese economy recovered it by privatisation of agriculture and industry.
3. The present Chinese economy established new trading laws and created Special Economic Zones leading higher rise in foreign trade. During Command economy the international trade was minimal and per capita income was very low.
10. How did the European countries resolve their Post Second World War problem? Briefly outline the attempts that led to the formation of the European Union.
Answer: After the end of Second World War in 1945, the European States confronted the ruin of their economies and the destruction of assumptions and structures on which Europe had been founded. European countries resolved their Post Second World War problems in the following manner:
1. Under the ‘Marshall Plan’ the USA provided financial help to revive European economy.
2. The US also created a new collective security structure under NATO.
3. Under the ‘Marshall Plan’ the organisation for European Economic Cooperation was established in 1948 to extend cooperation on trade and economic issues among the Western European States.
4. European Union was founded in 1992 for a common foreign and security policy, cooperation on justice and home affairs and creation of a single currency. It evolved from an economic union to political one over time.
The following attempts led to the formation of European Union:
1. The Council of Europe was established in 1949 for political cooperation.
2. The process of economic integration of European Capitalist countries led to the formation of European Economic Community in 1957.
3. The above mentioned processes acquired a political dimension with the creation of European Parliament.
4. The collapse of Soviet bloc put Europe on a fast track and resulted in the establishment of European Union in 1992.
11. What makes the European Union a highly influential regional organisation?
Answer: As a supernational organisation, the European Union bears economic, political diplomacy and military influence as a regional organisation in the following manner:
1. Economic Influence:
(а) Three times larger share in world trade than the US.
(b) Its currency Euro, can pose a threat to the dominance of the US dollar.
(c) The EU functions as an important bloc in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
2. Political and Diplomatic Influences:
(a) Two members of the EU, Britain and France hold permanent seats in the Security Council to influence the UN policies.
(b) The EU also includes various non-permanent members of the UNSC.
(c) The European Union play an influential role in diplomacy and negotiations except the military force i.e. the EU’s dialogue with China on human rights and environmental degradation is remarkable.
3. Military Influence:
(o) The EU’s combined armed fo^fees are second largest in the world.
(b) Its total expenditure on military is second to the US.
(c) Its two important members— Britain and France also experience nuclear ascends of 550 nuclear warheads.
(d) The EU is world’s second most important source of space and communications technology.
12. The emerging economies of China and India have great potential to challenge the unipolar world. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your arguments.
Answer: The Indo-China relations experience strategically organised as rising economic powers in global politics and to play a major role in Asian economy after the end of Cold War. It can be proved on the following grounds:
1. The new economic policies of India and China have broken their economy from stagnancy.
2. The creation of special economic zones led to a phenomenal rise in foreign trade.
3. China has become the most important destination for foreign direct investment anywhere in the world. Hence, it has large reserves for foreign exchange to allow it to make big investment in other countries.
4. At the global level also, India and China have adopted similar policies in World Trade Organisation to deepen integration with the world economy to challenge unipolar world.
13. The peace and prosperity of countries lay in the establishment and strengthening of regional economic organisations. Justify this statement.
Answer: This statement represents the ASEAN Regional Forum and the European Union, where ASEAN Regional Forum is based on the notion not to escalate territorial disputes into armed confrontation:
1. The ASEAN is rapidly growing as a regional organisation with the Vision 2020 including an outward looking role in international community and to encourage negotiations over conflicts in the region.
2. ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) maintains coordination of security and foreign policy.
3. The EU has also been funded on the ground of common foreign and security policy, cooperation on justice and home affairs.
4. The European Union has also extended cooperation while acquiring new members especially from Soviet bloc.
14. Identify the contentious issues between China and India. How could these be resolved for greater cooperation? Give your suggestions.
Answer: The relations with China experience friendly gestures from India as India signed popular ‘Panchsheel’ to develop Indo-China relations in 1954 and advocated China’s membership to the United Nations. Still, after 1957, various contentious issues arose in Indo-China relations:
1. In 1962, military conflict over a border dispute of MacMohan Line resulted on unwarranted claim by China which now lie in Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region of Ladakh.
2. Differences arose from Chinese take over of Tibet in 1950 which was protested by India against China.
3. After Panchsheel, attack by China on India in 1962, to occupy larger territories of India, created humiliation.
4. China’s assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear programme also created differences.
5. China’s military relations with Bangladesh and Myanmar were viewed as hostile to Indian interests.
All the above mentioned differences/ disputes could be resolved for greater cooperation-
1. Both the countries should make some more efforts to revive harmonious attitude between themselves.
2. Both the countries should move hand-in-hand to fight against terrorism, nuclear race and economic disparities.
3. Both the countries should develop understanding and respect.
4. Hence, both of them have signed agreements on cultural exchange and cooperation in science and technology.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [ 1 Mark]
1. What is meant by ‘ASEAN WAT?
Answer: ‘ASEAN WAY’ is an interaction that is informal, confrontationist and cooperative to promote supernational structures in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
2. Correct the following statement and rewrite ASEAN stands for Association of South East African Nations.
Or
What does ASEAN stand for?
Answer: ASEAN stands for Association of South East Asian Nations.
3. In which year the European Union was established?
Answer: 1992
4. What is the common currency of EU?
Answer: EURO
5. Name any two older members of EU.
Answer: Austria and Denmark
6. Name any two new members of EU.
Answer: Estonia and Poland.
7. What does the circle with golden stars on the European Union flag stand for?
Answer: The circle with golden stars on the European Union flag stands for solidarity and harmony between the people of Europe.
8. Mention the major challenges faced in Europe after Second World War.
Answer: 1. Shattered many assumptions and structures on which European states maintained their relations.
2. The European states confronted the ruin of economies and the destruction on which Europe had been founded.
9. What is European Union?
Answer: European Union is a group of European capitalist countries established in 1992 for common goal of foreign and security policy, cooperation and home affairs.
10. What was Marshall Plan?
Answer: Marshall Plan was introduced by America to provide financial help for revival of European economy.
11. Name two countries of European Union who opposed America’s Iraq invasion.
Answer: Germany and France.
12. What is ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)?
Answer: ASEAN Regional Forum was established in 1994 to carry out coordination and foreign policy among ASEAN members.
13. What is the significance of ASEAN flag?
Answer: In the ASEAN logo, the ten stellas of paddy (rice) represent the ten South East Asian countries bound together in friendship and solidarity. The circle symbolises the unity of ASEAN.
14. When did China get independence?
Answer: 1949
15. What is SEZs (Special Economic Zones)?
Answer: Special Economic Zones are created to set up their own enterprises by foreign investors.
16. Mention the three pillars formed in ASEAN.
Answer: 1. The ASEAN Security Community
2. The ASEAN Economic Community
3. The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Com-munity.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. Which four common symbols make the European Union look like a nation state?
Answer: The European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency.
2. Mention any two steps taken by China to improve its economy.
Answer: 1. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were created to invite foreign investors to set up their own enterprises.
2. The privatisation of agriculture and industry in 1982 and 1998.
3. Mention the agreements signed between India and ASEAN.
Ans: 1. India signed Free Trade Areas (FTAs) with two ASEAN members, Singapore and Thailand.
2. India is trying to sign on FTA with ASEAN itself.
4. What are the odds which limit the ability of EU?
Answer: European Union is a supernational organisation but in many areas its member states have their own foreign relations and defence policies that are often at odds as-
1. British Prime Minister Tony Blair supported the US’s Iraq invasion and many new members made US led ‘coalition of willing’ while Germany and France opposed it.
2. Denmark and Sweden have resisted the Maastricht treaty and the adoption of the Euro.
5. “The European Union is a nation state more than a Economic Union”. Justify the statement.
Ans: The European Union has now started to act more as a nation state because:
1. European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and common currency.
2. European Union bears common foreign and security policy.
3. The EU has made efforts to expand areas of cooperation while acquiring new members especially from Soviet bloc.
6. How can we say that ASEAN is an economic association?
Answer: To more extent it can be said that ASEAN is an economic association:
1. ASEAN Economic Community aims at to create open market and production based activities within ASEAN states.
2. ASEAN has created Free Trade Areas (FTAs) for investment, labour and services.
3. The current economic strength of ASEAN as a trading and investment partner to the growing Asian economies as India and China make this attractive proposition.
7. What are the objectives of ASEAN Economic Community?
Answer: The objectives of ASEAN Economic Community are as follows:
1. To create common market and production based activities within ASEAN states.
2. To aid social and economic development.
3. To resolve economic disputes, the existing dispute settlement mechanism has been improved.
4. Free Trade Areas for investment, labour and services have also been created.
8. How do ASEAN members commit to uphold peace and neutrality?
Answer: ASEAN members commit to uphold peace and neutrality-
1. ASEAN security community is based on the conviction that territorial disputes should not escalate into armed confrontation.
2. By 2003, ASEAN had several agreements among members states to uphold peace, neutrality, cooperation, non-interference, respect for national differences and sovereign rights.
3. ASEAN Regional Forum was established in 1994 to coordinate security and foreign policy.
9. What are economic challenges of China despite its economic development?
Answer: Though the Chinese economy has improved dramatically, still everyone in China has not been benefitted by the reforms which can be judged by the following facts-
1. Unemployment has risen. About 100 million people are looking for jobs.
2. Female employment and conditions are bad as in Europe of 18th and 19th centuries.
3. Increasing environmental degradation and corruption.
4. Rising economic inequality between rural and urban residents.
10. How did relations improve after the conflict of 1962 between India and China?
Answer: Indo-China war of 1962 had complicated Indo-China relations. After 1976 the relations began to improve slowly because:
1. China’s policy became more pragmatic and less ideological due to change in China’s political leadership in the late 1970s when China got ready to settle the contentious issues.
2. A series of talks to resol ve the border issues were also initiated to develop harmonious relations.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. How has the European Union evolved over time from an economic union to an increasingly political one?
Answer: The European Union has evolved over time from an economic union to an increasingly political one. The EU has started to act more as a nation state. While the attempts to have a constitution for the EU have failed, it has its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency. It also has some form of a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations. The European Union has tried to expand areas of cooperation while acquiring new members, especially from the erstwhile Soviet bloc. The process has not proved easy, for people in many countries are not very enthusiastic in giving the EU powers that were exercised by the government of their country. There are also reservations about including some new countries within the European Union.
2. Explain the political, diplomatic influence of European Union as a supernational organisation.
Answer: Political and Diplomatic Influences:
(a) Two members of the EU — Britain and France hold permanent seats in the Security Council to influence the UN policies.
(b) The EU also includes various non-permanent members of the UNSC.
(c) The European Union plays an influential role in diplomacy and negotiations except the military force
i. e. the EU’s dialogue with China on human rights and environmental degradation is remarkable.
3. What led to the evolution of the EU from an economic union to an increasingly political one?
Answer: The European Union has now started to act more as a nation state because-
(i) European Union has its own flag, anthem, founding date and common currency.
(ii) European Union bears common foreign and security policy.
(iii) The EU has made efforts to expand areas of cooperation while acquiring new members especially from Soviet bloc.
4. What are the objectives behind the formation of ASEAN?
Answer: The objectives behind the formation of ASEAN are as follows:
1. Territorial disputes should not escalate into armed confrontations.
2. To accelerate economic growth through social progress and cultural development.
3. To promote regional peace and stability based on the rule of law and the principles of United Nations
; charter.
4. To establish Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve economic disputes.
5. To create Free Trade Areas for investment, labour and services.
5. Describe any four significant characteristics of ASEAN.
Answer: 1. To create common market and production based activities within ASEAN States.
2. To aid social and economic development.
3. To resolve economic disputes, the existing dispute settlement mechanism has been improved.
4. Free Trade Areas for investment, labour and services have also been created.
6. What role has been played by European Union in solving the problems of the European countries?
Answer: 1. The EU functions as an important bloc in international organisation as World Trade Organisation to intervene in economic areas.
2. The EU has expanded areas of cooperation while acquiring new members especially from Soviet bloc.
3. The EU has an influential role in the UN policies because its two members—Britain and France hold permanent seats in the UN Security Council.
4. The EU is influential in the areas of diplomacy, economic investments and negotiation.
7. Why India and China both view themselves as rising powers in global politics in spite of tensions between them? Substantiate your answer by giving any four events that have brought cordiality in their relationship.
Answer: Due to Indian initiatives, Indo-China relations improved. In 1954, India signed famous Panchsheel starting a new era of Indo-China friendship. But after 1957 some contentious issues had been arisen between them:
(i) Tibet Problem
(ii) Border Issues
(iii) Chinese Attack in 1962
(iv) Chinese Assistance to Pakistan.
Gradually, both the countries came together to develop harmonious relations between themselves:
1. Attempt to normalise relations were restored by exchange of ambassadors.
2. Joint Working Group was set up by both the countries to resolve border dispute.
3. Both of them committed to reduce the forces on Indo-China border.
4. Indian and Chinese leadership and official visits with great frequency.
5. Increasing transportation and communication links, common economic interests and global concerns.
8. Why was European Union founded? What were its objectives and significance?
Answer: The European Union was founded in 1992 for a common foreign and security policy, cooperation on justice and home affairs and to create a single currency. Objectives:
1. The circle of gold stars on the flag stands for solidarity and harmony between European Union States.
2. To expand areas of co-operation while acquiring new members especially from Soviet bloc.
9. Why ASEAN was established?
Answer: ASEAN is the regional association to provide a political forum to discuss political and security concerns-
1. Before and during the Second World War, the southeastern region of Asia suffered the economic and political consequences of repeated colonialism, both European and Japanese.
2. At the end of war it confronted problems of nation building, the progress of poverty and economic backwardness and the pressure to align with one great power or another during cold war.
10. “China has emerged as third alternative to world power”. Examine.
Answer: China emerged as the third alternative to world power since its economic reforms of 1978 as China has been the fastest growing economy since the reforms first began there-
1. China is projected to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by 2040.
2. Its economic integration into the region makes it drive of East Asian growth.
3. Its strength of economy are population, landmass, resources, regional location, political influence, added to its power.
11. How did China end its political and economic isolation?
Answer: China had adopted Soviet model of economy. Despite development, China faced economic crisis as industrial production was not growing fast, international trade was minimal. Under these situations some major pplicy decisions were taken-
1. China established relations with the US in 1972.
2. China proposed four areas of modernisation as agriculture, industry, science and technology in 1973.
3. Open door policy was introduced to generate higher productivity by investment of capital and technology from abroad.
4. Privatisation of agriculture and industry in 1982 and 1998.
5. China set Special Economic Zones to remove trade barriers.
12. “Chinese economy has been recognised at the global level”. Justify.
Answer: China has introduced open market economy which is moving China towards global economy due to following facts-
1. The integration of Chinese-economy and interdependencies has enabled China to have considerable influence with its trade partners.
2. The open door policy has stabilised the ASEAN economy.
3. China’s outward looking for investment and aid policies in Latin America and Africa are protecting China as a global player.
Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
ASEAN was and still remains principally an economic association. While the ASEAN region as a whole is a much smaller economy compared to the US the EU, and Japan, its economy is growing much faster than all these. This accounts for the growth in its influence both in the region and beyond. The objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community are to create a common market and production base within ASEAN States and to aid social and economic development in the region. The Economic Community would also like to improve the existing ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism to resolve economic disputes. ASEAN has focused on creating a Free Trade Area (FTA) for investment, labour, and services. The US and China have already moved fast to negotiate FTAs with ASEAN.
Questions
1. What is the objective of ASEAN Economic Community?
2. Why did ASEAN establish Free Trade Areas (FTAs)?
3. How ASEAN Economic Community would resolve economic disputes?
4. Which countries have already moved fast to negotiate FTAs with ASEAN and why?
Answer:
1. To create common market and production based activities within ASEAN states itself and to aid social and economic development.
2. Free Trade Areas have been established for investment, labour and services.
3. By improving the existing ASEAN Dispute Settlement Mechanism.
4. ASEAN is rapidly growing into areas of regional organisation with its Vision 2020.
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
The conflict of 1962, in which India suffered military reverses, had long-term implications for India-China relations. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were downgraded until 1976. Thereafter, relltions between the two countries began to improve slowly. After the change in China’s political leadership from the mid to late 1970s, China’s policy became more pragmatic and less ideological. So it was prepared to, put off the settlement of contentious issues while improving relations with India. A series of talks to resolve the border issue were also initiated in 1981.
Questions
1. Why did India suffer military reverses as a result of conflict of 1962?
2. When did the relations between India and China begin to improve?
3. What was the change in the policy of China in the seventies?
4. Which efforts were made to resolve the border issues between India and China?
Answer:
1. Due to territorial claims principally in Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region of Ladakh.
2. From the mid to late 1970s.
3. China’s policy became more pragmatic and less ideological in the seventies.
4. 1. It prepared to put off settlements
of contentious issues.
2. A series of talks to resolve the border issues were initiated in 1981.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. How did China rise to be an economic superpower? Assess.
Answer: China had adopted Soviet model of economy. Despite development, China faced economic crisis as industrial production was not growing fast, international trade was minimal. Under these situations some major policy decisions were taken-
1. China established relations with the US in 1972.
2. China proposed four areas of modernisation as agriculture, industry, science and technology in 1973.
3. Open door policy was introduced to generate higher productivity by investment of capital and technology from abroad.
4. Privatisation of agriculture and industry in 1982 and 1998.
5. China set Special Economic Zones to remove trade barriers.
6. The integration of Chinese economy and inter-dependencies has enabled China to have considerable influence with its trade partners.
7. The open door policy has stabilised the ASEAN economy.
8. China’s outward looking for investment and aid policies in Latin America and Africa are projecting China as a global player.
2. Why is the EU considered a highly influential regional organisation in the economic, political and military fields?
Answer: Because-
1. Economic Influence:
(a) Three times larger share in World trade than the US.
(b) Its currency Euro can pose a threat to the dominance of US Dollar.
(c) The EU functions as an important bloc in World Trade Organisation (WTO).
2. Political Influence:
(а) Two members of the EU, Britain and France hold permanent seats in Security Council to influence UN policies.
(b) The EU also includes various non-permanent members of UNSC.
(c) The European Union plays an influential role in diplomacy and negotiations except military force i.e. EU’s dialogue with China on Human Rights and environmental degradation is remarkable.
3. Military Influence:
(a) The EU’s combined armed forces are second largest in world.
(b) Its total military expenditure is second to the US.
(c) Its two important members— Britain and France also experience nuclear arsenals of 550 nuclear warheads.
(d) The EU is world’s second most important source of space and communication technology.
3. Discuss Indo-China relations.
Answer: The relations with China experienced friendly gestures from India as India signed popular ‘Panchsheel’ to develop Indo-China relations in 1954 and advocated China’s membership to the United Nations still, after 1957, various contentious issues arose in Indo-China relations-
1. In 1962, military conflict over a border dispute of MacMohan Line resulted an unwarranted claim by China which lies now in Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin regions of Ladakh.
2. Differences arose from Chinese take over of Tibet in 1950 which was protested by India against China.
3. After Panchsheel, attack by China on India in 1962, to occupy larger territories of India, created a humiliation.
4. China’s assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear programme also created differences.
5. China’s military relations with Bangladesh and Myanmar were viewed as hostile to Indian interests.
All the above mentioned differences/ disputes could be resolved for greater cooperation.
1. Both the countries should make some more efforts to revive harmonious attitude between themselves.
2. Both the countries should move hand-in-hand to fight against terrorism, nuclear race and economic disparities.
3. Both the countries should develop mutual understanding and respect.
4. Hence, both of them have signed agreements on cultural exchange and cooperation in science and technology.
Picture/Map Based Questions [5 Marks]
A1. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Question.
1. The given cartoon is related to which country?
2. Which two symbols in this cartoon helped in identifying the country?
3. What message does this cartoon convey to the world?
Answer:
1. This cartoon is related to China.
2. The Dragon and the Great Wall helped in identifying the country.
3. This cartoon conveys a message to the world that China is emerging as a great economic power.
2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
question.
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Name the policy that is being represented in the cartoon.
3. What does the ‘Competition’ refer to in the cartoon?
4. “We’ll have to get used to it”. What does it denote?
Answer:
1. India’s policy towards ASEAN.
2. ‘Look East’ Policy since 1991 to interact with ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea.
3. Competition among various countries to develop potential relations with ASEAN.
4. It denotes India’s strategy towards using free trade areas with ASEAN
B. On a political outline map of world locate and label the following and symbolise them as indicated:
Questions
1. An older member of EU between Portugal and France. Symbolise (A)
2. An older member near Belgium and Netherlands. Symbolise (B)
3. The four new members of EU. Symbolise 1, 2, 3, 4.
4. Four old members of EU. Symbolise 5, 6, 7, 8.
Answer:
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. 1. Estonia 2. Poland
3. Hungary 4. Lithuania
4. 5. Finland 6. Denmark
7. Austria 8. Ireland
Class 12 Political Science Chapter 5 Contemporary South Asia
Coaching guidance for Board, NEET, JEE, TBJEE, LAW, CUET, GATE, UGC NET, TET, CTET, NFSU, TPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NETAJI CHOWMUHANI AGARTALA
Coaching guidance for Board, NEET, JEE, TBJEE, LAW, CUET, GATE, UGC NET, TET, CTET, NFSU, TPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NETAJI CHOWMUHANI AGARTALA
1. Identify the country:
(a) The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability.
(b) A landlocked country with multi¬party competition.
(c) The first country to liberalise the economy in the South Asian region.
(d) In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy.
(e) Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian Countries.
(f) Earlier the island had the Sultans as the head of state. Now, it is a republic.
(g) Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty.
( h ) A landlocked country with a monarchy.
Answer: (a) Nepal (b) Bhutan
(c) India (d) Pakistan
(e) India (f) Maldives
(g) India (h) Nepal
2. Which among the following statements about South Asia is wrong?
(a) All the countries in South Asia are democratic.
(b) Bangladesh and India have signed an agreement on river-water sharing.
(c) SAFTA was signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in South Asian politics.
(d) The US and China play an influential role in South Asian politics.
Answer: (a) All the countries in South Asia are democratic.
3. What are some of the commonalities and differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in their democratic experiences?
Answer: Bangladesh has been the part of Pakistan itself. Both of these countries bear some similarities and differences as follows:
Commonalities
1. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan were under a military rule.
2. At both the places, the struggle for democracy took place in their own way.
3. Pakistan’s administration began under the command of General Ayub Khan and gave up due to dissatisfaction among people giving way to Yahya’s military rule and continued with the army rule though elections were held by military rulers to give a democratic shape to their own rule.
4. In the same way, Bangladesh drafted its own constitution to begin with democracy. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formed presidential setup by abolishing all the parties except Awami Legue. But after his assassination the new military ruler Zia-ur-Rahman formed his own party and won elections in 1979. Later on he was also assassinated and another military leader Lt. Gen. H.M. Ershad took over. Differences
1. In Pakistan, military, clergy and land-owning aristocrats dominated socially to overthrow elected government whereas in Bangladesh the leaders and their party members dominated for the same.
2. Pro-military groups have become more powerful due to conflict with India in Pakistan whereas in Bangladesh, pro-military groups are powerful due to friendship and encouragement of India.
4. List three challenges to democracy in Nepal.
Answer: The three challenges to democracy in Nepal were the result of a triangular conflict between-
1. the monarchist forces
2. the democrats
3. the Maoists
These challenges created massive, countrywide, pro-democracy protest in April 2006.
5. Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How do you assess the prospects of the resolution of this conflict?
Answer: The principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka were Sinhala and Sri Lankan Tamils.
After its independence, politics in Sri Lanka was dominated by the interests of Sinhala community who was hostile to Tamils, who migrated from India to be settled there. Sinhalese presumed Sri Lanka to be belonged to them only, hence no concession should be given to Tamils. This created militant Tamil nationalism
i. e. ‘Ethnic conflict’.
Despite the revenges of internal conflict Sri Lanka has maintained democratic political system and registered considerable economic growth and high level of human development.
6. Mention some of the recent agreements between India and Pakistan. Can we be sure that the two countries are well in their way to a friendly relationship?
Answer: Although Indo-Pakistan relations seem to be the story of endemic conflict and violence, there have been a series of efforts to manage tensions and build peace under the various agreements:
1. Agreed to undertake confidence building measures to reduce the risk of war.
2. Social activists and prominent personalities have collaborated to create an atmosphere of friendship.
3. Leaders have met at summits to better understanding.
4. Bus routes have been opened up between these two countries.
5. Trade between the two parts of Punjab has increased substantially in the last five years.
6. Visas have been given more easily. No, despite the above mentioned agreements and initiatives, we can not be sure that both the countries are well in their way to friendship, still some areas of conflict exist there to be sorted out,
7. Mention two areas each of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh.
Answer: Disagreement
1. Differences over the sharing of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river waters.
2. Illegal immigration to India.
3. Refusal to allow Indian troops to move through its territory.
4. Not to export natural gas to India.
Cooperation
1. Economic relations have been improved considerably within last ten years.
2. Bangladesh is the part of India’s ‘Look East’ policy to link up with southeast Asia via Myanmar.
3. Cooperated on the issues of disaster management and environment.
4. Cooperation on identifying common threats and being more sensitive to each other’s needs.
8. How are the external powers influencing bilateral relations in South Asia? Take any one example to illustrate your point.
Answer: The external powers influence bilateral relations in South Asia because no region exists in the vacuum. It is influenced by outside powers and events no matter how much it may try to insulate itself from non-regional powers:
1. China and the US remain key players in South Asian politics.
2. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the last ten years, but China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan remains a major irritant.
3. The demands of development and globalisation have brought the two Asian giants closer and their economic ties have multiplied rapidly since 1991.
4. The US enjoys good relations with both India and Pakistan and works as a moderator in Indo-Pak relations.
5. Economic reforms and liberal economic policies in both the countries have increased the depth of American participation. . _
6. The large South Asian economy remains in the US and the huge size of population and markets of the region give America an added stake in the future of regional security and peace.
9. Write a short note on the role and the limitations of SAARC as a forum for facilitating economic cooperation among the South Asian Countries.
Answer: Role of SAARC: Role of SAARC can be identified as follows:
1. ‘South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation’ (SAARC) is a regional initiative among South Asian states to evolve cooperation since 1985 onwards.
2. It consists of seven members to encourage mutual harmony and understanding.
3. SAARC has initiated SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) to free trade zones for wThole south Asia for collective economic security.
4. SAARC has projected on economic development of its member states to reduce their dependencies on the non-regional powers.
Limitations: SAARC is growing slowly due to political differences among its member states—
1. Only the conflicts led to bilateral issues as Kashmir problem between India and Pak.
2. Some of the India’s neighbours fear that India intends to dominate them by influencing their societies and politics.
3. SAARC members are from among the developing or least developing countries which creates insufficiency of funds.
10. India’s neighbours often think that the Ind
ian government tries to dominate and interfere in the domestic affairs of the smaller countries of the region. Is this a correct impression?
Answer: No, the impression is not correct because India makes efforts to manage its neighbours beyond its size and powers which can be justified on following grounds-
1. India often feels exploited by its neighbours.
2. On the other hand, India’s neighbours fear that India wants to dominate them regionally but India is centrally located who shares borders with other countries geographically, which should be accepted on mutual understanding.
3. India avoids political instability in its neighbouring states so that outsiders should not take advantage of influence in the region.
1. Identify the country:
(a) The struggle among pro-monarchy, pro-democracy groups and extremists created an atmosphere of political instability.
(b) A landlocked country with multi¬party competition.
(c) The first country to liberalise the economy in the South Asian region.
(d) In the conflict between the military and pro-democracy groups, the military has prevailed over democracy.
(e) Centrally located and shares borders with most of the South Asian Countries.
(f) Earlier the island had the Sultans as the head of state. Now, it is a republic.
(g) Small savings and credit cooperatives in the rural areas have helped in reducing poverty.
( h ) A landlocked country with a monarchy.
Answer: (a) Nepal (b) Bhutan
(c) India (d) Pakistan
(e) India (f) Maldives
(g) India (h) Nepal
2. Which among the following statements about South Asia is wrong?
(a) All the countries in South Asia are democratic.
(b) Bangladesh and India have signed an agreement on river-water sharing.
(c) SAFTA was signed at the 12th SAARC Summit in South Asian politics.
(d) The US and China play an influential role in South Asian politics.
Answer: (a) All the countries in South Asia are democratic.
3. What are some of the commonalities and differences between Bangladesh and Pakistan in their democratic experiences?
Answer: Bangladesh has been the part of Pakistan itself. Both of these countries bear some similarities and differences as follows:
Commonalities
1. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan were under a military rule.
2. At both the places, the struggle for democracy took place in their own way.
3. Pakistan’s administration began under the command of General Ayub Khan and gave up due to dissatisfaction among people giving way to Yahya’s military rule and continued with the army rule though elections were held by military rulers to give a democratic shape to their own rule.
4. In the same way, Bangladesh drafted its own constitution to begin with democracy. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formed presidential setup by abolishing all the parties except Awami Legue. But after his assassination the new military ruler Zia-ur-Rahman formed his own party and won elections in 1979. Later on he was also assassinated and another military leader Lt. Gen. H.M. Ershad took over. Differences
1. In Pakistan, military, clergy and land-owning aristocrats dominated socially to overthrow elected government whereas in Bangladesh the leaders and their party members dominated for the same.
2. Pro-military groups have become more powerful due to conflict with India in Pakistan whereas in Bangladesh, pro-military groups are powerful due to friendship and encouragement of India.
4. List three challenges to democracy in Nepal.
Answer: The three challenges to democracy in Nepal were the result of a triangular conflict between-
1. the monarchist forces
2. the democrats
3. the Maoists
These challenges created massive, countrywide, pro-democracy protest in April 2006.
5. Name the principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How do you assess the prospects of the resolution of this conflict?
Answer: The principal players in the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka were Sinhala and Sri Lankan Tamils.
After its independence, politics in Sri Lanka was dominated by the interests of Sinhala community who was hostile to Tamils, who migrated from India to be settled there. Sinhalese presumed Sri Lanka to be belonged to them only, hence no concession should be given to Tamils. This created militant Tamil nationalism
i. e. ‘Ethnic conflict’.
Despite the revenges of internal conflict Sri Lanka has maintained democratic political system and registered considerable economic growth and high level of human development.
6. Mention some of the recent agreements between India and Pakistan. Can we be sure that the two countries are well in their way to a friendly relationship?
Answer: Although Indo-Pakistan relations seem to be the story of endemic conflict and violence, there have been a series of efforts to manage tensions and build peace under the various agreements:
1. Agreed to undertake confidence building measures to reduce the risk of war.
2. Social activists and prominent personalities have collaborated to create an atmosphere of friendship.
3. Leaders have met at summits to better understanding.
4. Bus routes have been opened up between these two countries.
5. Trade between the two parts of Punjab has increased substantially in the last five years.
6. Visas have been given more easily. No, despite the above mentioned agreements and initiatives, we can not be sure that both the countries are well in their way to friendship, still some areas of conflict exist there to be sorted out,
7. Mention two areas each of cooperation and disagreement between India and Bangladesh.
Answer: Disagreement
1. Differences over the sharing of the Ganga and Brahmaputra river waters.
2. Illegal immigration to India.
3. Refusal to allow Indian troops to move through its territory.
4. Not to export natural gas to India.
Cooperation
1. Economic relations have been improved considerably within last ten years.
2. Bangladesh is the part of India’s ‘Look East’ policy to link up with southeast Asia via Myanmar.
3. Cooperated on the issues of disaster management and environment.
4. Cooperation on identifying common threats and being more sensitive to each other’s needs.
8. How are the external powers influencing bilateral relations in South Asia? Take any one example to illustrate your point.
Answer: The external powers influence bilateral relations in South Asia because no region exists in the vacuum. It is influenced by outside powers and events no matter how much it may try to insulate itself from non-regional powers:
1. China and the US remain key players in South Asian politics.
2. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the last ten years, but China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan remains a major irritant.
3. The demands of development and globalisation have brought the two Asian giants closer and their economic ties have multiplied rapidly since 1991.
4. The US enjoys good relations with both India and Pakistan and works as a moderator in Indo-Pak relations.
5. Economic reforms and liberal economic policies in both the countries have increased the depth of American participation. . _
6. The large South Asian economy remains in the US and the huge size of population and markets of the region give America an added stake in the future of regional security and peace.
9. Write a short note on the role and the limitations of SAARC as a forum for facilitating economic cooperation among the South Asian Countries.
Answer: Role of SAARC: Role of SAARC can be identified as follows:
1. ‘South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation’ (SAARC) is a regional initiative among South Asian states to evolve cooperation since 1985 onwards.
2. It consists of seven members to encourage mutual harmony and understanding.
3. SAARC has initiated SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) to free trade zones for wThole south Asia for collective economic security.
4. SAARC has projected on economic development of its member states to reduce their dependencies on the non-regional powers.
Limitations: SAARC is growing slowly due to political differences among its member states—
1. Only the conflicts led to bilateral issues as Kashmir problem between India and Pak.
2. Some of the India’s neighbours fear that India intends to dominate them by influencing their societies and politics.
3. SAARC members are from among the developing or least developing countries which creates insufficiency of funds.
10. India’s neighbours often think that the Ind
ian government tries to dominate and interfere in the domestic affairs of the smaller countries of the region. Is this a correct impression?
Answer: No, the impression is not correct because India makes efforts to manage its neighbours beyond its size and powers which can be justified on following grounds-
1. India often feels exploited by its neighbours.
2. On the other hand, India’s neighbours fear that India wants to dominate them regionally but India is centrally located who shares borders with other countries geographically, which should be accepted on mutual understanding.
3. India avoids political instability in its neighbouring states so that outsiders should not take advantage of influence in the region.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]
1. Fill in the blanks:
The South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed by the members of in the year
Ans: SAARC, 2004.
2. Whose mediation resolved the Indus River water dispute between India and Pakistan?
Answer: The World Bank.
3. How long did East and West Pakistan remain together?
Answer: From 1947 to 1971.
4. What was the reason for the formation of SAARC?
Answer: The states of South Asia recognised cooperation and friendly relations among themselves which gave birth to the formation of SAARC for mutual trust and understanding among its member states.
5. What is the full form of SAARC?
Answer: SAARC: South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation.
6. Mention present status of Sri Lanka.
Answer: Sri Lanka has maintained a democratic political system alongwith a considerable economic growth i.e. Sri Lanka is one of the first developing countries to control population growth rate, liberalised economy and bears highest per capita Gross Domestic Product despite ongoing conflicts.
7. What does the MDP stand for?
Answer: MDP stands for Maldivian Democratic Party.
8. Who took the command over Pakistan after its first constitution was framed?
Answer: General Ayub Khan.
9. What does SPA stand for?
Answer: SPA stands for Seven Party Alliance to protest against monarchy in Nepal.
10. What was the former name of Sri Lanka?
Answer: Ceylon.
11. Mention changes that occurred in Maldives.
Answer: 1. Transformed into a republic with a presidential form of government in 1968.
2. In June 2005, parliament voted unanimously to introduce multiparty system.
3. Democracy strengthened after 2005 elections.
12. What is meant by Geo-politics?
Answer: Geo-politics refers togetherness of countries who are bound with each other geographically and their interests are also interlinked politically and economically.
13. What do you mean by South Asia?
Answer: South Asia signifies a group of seven countries i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Maldives who stand for diversity in every sense but still constitute one geo-political space.
14. How did LTTE emerge?
Answer: LTTE emerged 1983 onwards on the negligence of Tamil interest by Sri Lanka government. Hence, ‘Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam’ (LTTE) took birth demanding a seperate state for Tamil in Sri Lanka.
15. What does SAFTA stand for?
Answer: SAFTA: South Asian Free Trade Area Agreement.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1. Mention the names of member states of SAARC.
Answer: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives.
2. Mention any two objectives of SAARC.
Answer: 1. To provide an integrated programme for regional development.
2. To accelerate economic growth, social progress in the region.
3. “Democracy in South Asia has expanded the global imagination of democracy”. Do you agree? Justify.
Answer: The various countries in South Asia have experienced mixed record of democracies and the people also share an aspiration for democracy to be flourished not only in rich or developed countries but in developing and underdeveloped countries also which can be drawn from the examples of Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives, because—
1. Every ordinary citizen, rich or poor belonging to different religions view the idea of democracy positively and support the institutions of representative democracy.
2. They prefer democracy over any other form of democracy and think that democracy is suitable for their country.
4. Explain the problems that India have with Pakistan.
Answer: India have following problems with Pakistan:
1. The problem of Kashmir on the issues of Pak occupied Kashmir (Pok) and Line of Control (LOC). India claims Kashmir to be its integral part and Pakistan refuses to accept it. Hence, wars took place in 1965 and 1971, but issue remained unsettled.
2. Problems over starting issues like control of Siachin glacier and over acquisition of arms involved both the states acquiring nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver such arms against each other in 1990s.
3. Pakistan government has been blamed for using a strategy of low key violence by helping Kashmiri militants with arms, training, money and protection to carry out terrorist strikes against India.
4. Pak’s spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is alleged to involve in various anti India campaigns.
5. “Military rule and democracy are the two sides of a coin in Pakistan”. Examine the statement.
Answer: Military rule and democracy co-exist or are the two sides of a coin can be examined with the following facts:
1. After the implementation of first constitution in Pakistan, General Ayub Khan took the command, but was overthrown by military general Yahya Khan due to dissatisfaction of rule.
2. Again in 1971, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto formed an elected government which was later removed by General Zia-ul- Haq in 1977.
3. 1982 onwards, pro-democracy movements took place resulting an elected democratic government in 1988 under leadership of Benazir Bhutto, replaced by Nawaz Sharif.
4. Nawaz Sharif was again removed by General Pervez Musharraf in 1999 and in 2005, he got himself elected as president but was later dethroned by the court.
6. What is Indus River Water Treaty? Mention its significance also.
Answer: India and Pakistan signed Indus River Water Treaty by the mediation of the world bank in 1960 over the issue of sharing of rivers of the Indus basin. This treaty has been survived despite many military conflicts between these two countries. .
7. Why did India help Bangladesh to get independence and how?
Answer: Bangladesh was created by the support of India because:
1. West Pakistan did not allow Awami League, an East Pakistani Party to form government despite winning all the seats.
2. East Pakistanis rebelled against and were suppressed by the army of West Pakistan, resulting large scale migration into India.
3. This created huge refugee problem for India.
4. Hence, India supported the demand of East Pakistanis financially and militarily.
5. In December 1971, a war took place between India and Pakistan and ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces by forming Bangladesh as an independent country.
8. Mention some points of agreement between India and Nepal.
Answer: India and Nepal enjoy the following agreements:
1. Allow their citizens to travel and work without visas and passport.
2. India is the largest aid giver to Nepal to provide financial and technical assistance in areas of trade, scientific cooperation, common natural resources and electricity generation.
9. Mention the features of SAFTA.
Answer: South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed by SAARC members in 2004 with the following features:
1. Formation of Free Trade Zone for whole south Asia.
2. To sustain mutual trade and cooperation among SAARC members.
10. Mention some other conflicts in South Asia except with that of India.
Answer: 1. Nepal and Bhutan as well as Bangladesh and Myanmar have disagreement over the migration of ethnic Nepalese into Bhutan and Rohingyas into Myanmar.
2. Bangladesh and Nepal bear some differences over the future of Himalayan river water.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. Despite the mixed record of democratic experience, the people of all the countries of South Asia share the aspiration of democracy.
Answer: The various countries in South Asia have experienced mixed record of democracies and the people also share an aspiration for democracy to be flourished not only in rich or developed countries but in developing and underdeveloped countries also which can be drawn from the examples of Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives, because:
1. Every ordinary citizen, rich or poor and belonging to different religions view the idea of democracy positively and support the institutions of representative democracy.
2. They prefer democracy over any other form of democracy and think that democracy is suitable for their country.
2. Describe any two major issues of conflicts between India and Pakistan leading to the war of 1971.
Answer: The 1947-48 war resulted in the division of the province into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (Pok) and the Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control (LOC). Pakistan claims Kashmir to be its part but India presumes it to be its integral part. Hence, these conflicts led to war in 1971 and India won but the issues remain unsettled.
3. Describe any four consequences of Bangladesh war of 1971.
Ans: 1. India supported the demand of East Pakistan financially and militarily.
2. The war of 1971 made Pakistani forces to surrender in East Pakistan.
3. Bangladesh was formed as an independent country.
4. Bangladesh drafted its constitution declaring faith in secularism, democracy and socialism.
4. Explain India’s changing relationship with Pakistan.
Answer: Although Indo-Pakistan relations seem to be story of endemic conflict and violence, there have been a series of efforts to manage tensions and build peace under the various agreements:
1. Agreed to undertake confidence building measures to reduce the risk of war.
2. Social activists and prominent personalities have collaborated to create an atmosphere of friendship.
3. Leaders have met at summits to create better understanding.
4. Bus routes have been opened up between these two countries.
5. Trade between the two parts of Punjab has increased substantially in the last five years.
6. Visas have been given more easily. Despite above mentioned agreements and initiatives, we cannot be sure that both the countries are well on their way to friendship, still some areas of conflict exist there to be sorted out.
5. Highlight any two issues of cooperation as well as confrontation each between India and Bangladesh.
Or
Explain any two points of conflict between India and Bangladesh.
Answer: Co-operation:
1. Economic relations have been improved considerably in last ten years.
2. Bangladesh is the part of India’s ‘Look East’ policy to link up South East Asia via Myanmar.
3. Both the countries have cooperated regularly on the issues of disaster management and environment.
Confrontation:
1. Bear differences over several issues including the sharing of Ganga and Brahmaputra river water.
2. India is unhappy on the issues of denial of illegal immigration, refusal to allow Indian troops and not to export natural gas to India.
6. What is meant by SAARC? How can peace and cooperation be enhanced through it?
Answer: SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation for mutual trust and understanding among states of South Asia.
Role of SAARC:
1. SAARC is a regional initiative among South Asian states to evolve cooperation since 1985 onwards.
2. It consists of seven member’s to encourage mutual harmony and understanding.
3. SAARC has initiated SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) to form free trade zones for whole South Asia for collective economic security.
4. SAARC has projected on economic development of its member states to reduce their dependencies on the non-regional powers.
7. Name the countries included in South Asia. How can peace and cooperation be enhanced in this region?
Answer: Countries included in South Asia are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. South Asian countries are diverse in every sense, still constitute one geo¬political space by enhancing peace and cooperation in the following way-
1. People in all these countries share an aspiration of fair democracy.
2. South Asian members recognise the importance of cooperation and friendly relations among themselves.
3. SAARC is the regional initiative to evolve cooperation among member states.
4. SAARC members have signed South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) to free trade for the whole of south Asia.
8. How was democracy restored in Nepal over monarchy? Explain
Answer: Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in the past and then a constitutional monarchy in the modern period for many years-
1. Throughout this period, the political parties and common people wanted to establish democracy, but the king retained full control with the help of army and restricted expansion of democracy.
2. The king accepted new democratic constitution in 1990 due. to pro-democracy movement but again in 2007, due to triangular conflict of monarchists, democrats and maoists, king abolished the parliament.
3. A massive countrywide prodemocracy protest took place and achieved first major victory to force king to restore the house of representatives.
4. But Nepal’s transition to democracy is not complete. It is moving towards the framing of constituent assembly to France and its constitution.
9. Why did India and Nepal experience differences between themselves?
Ans: India and Nepal experience differences between themselves due to the following reasons-
1. Indian government expressed displeasure at the warm relationship between Nepal and China.
2. India is unhappy on inaction of Nepal government against anti-Indian elements.
3. The Maoist movement in Nepal is a security threat to India giving rise to Naxalite groups in various states of India from Bihar in the North to Andhra Pradesh in the South.
10. Mention some features of Indo-Bhutan relationship.
Answer: India does not have any major conflict with the Bhutanese government.
1. The efforts made by Bhutanese monarch to weed out the gurillas and militants from north-eastern India that operate in the country have been helpful to India.
2. India is involved in big hydroelectric projects in Bhutan and remains the Himalayan Kingdom’s biggest source of development aid.
Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
Pakistan and Bangladesh have experienced both civilian and military rulers, with Bangladesh remaining democracy, in the Post Cold War period. Pakistan began the post cold war period with successive democratic governments under Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif respectively. But it suffered a military coup in 1999 and-has been run by a military regime since then. Till 2006, Nepal was a constitutional monarchy with the danger of the king taking over executive powers. In 2006, a successful uprising led to restoration of democracy and reduced the king to a nominal position, from the experience of Bangladesh and Nepal, we can say that democracy is becoming an accepted norm in the entire region of South Asia.
Questions
1. How did Pakistan begin with Post Cold War period?
2. Mention two reasons for the aspiration of democracy in South Asia.
3. Why these findings are significant?
Answer:
1. Pakistan began with post cold war period with successive democratic government under Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
2. Ordinary citizens rich or poor or belonging to different religions or institutions view democracy more suitable and support them.
3. Because it was earlier believed that democracy could flourish and find support only in prosperous countries of the world.
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
No region exists in a vacuum. It is influenced by outside powers and events, no matter how much it may try to insulate itself from non-regional powers. China and the United States remain key players in South Asian politics. Sino-Indian relations have improved significantly in the last ten years, but China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan remains a major irritant. The demands of development and globalisation have brought the two Asian giants closer and their economic ties have multiplied rapidly since 1991.
Questions
1. Which two countries have been referred to as outside powers?
2. Which are the two Asian giants and why they have been called so?
3. China’s strategic partnership with Pakistan is a major irritant for which country and why?
Answer:
1. The US and China.
2. India and China, because both of them have been considered as rising economic powers in the world.
3. India, because China has been seen as a contributor to Pakistan’s nuclear programme.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. Assess the positive and negative aspects of India’s relations with Bangladesh.
Answer: Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971. It consisted of the partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British India. The people of this region resented the domination of Western Pakistan and the imposition of Urdu language. Soon after the partition, they began protests against the unfair treatment meted out to the Bengali culture and language. They demanded autonomy for the eastern region. But the government dominated by the West Pakistan leadership refused their demand. The Pakistan army tried to suppress the mass movement of the Bengali people. Thousands were killed by the Pakistan army. This led a large scale migration into India, creating a huge refugee problem for India. The government of India supported the demand of the people of East Pakistan for their independence and helped them financially and militarily. This resulted in a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 that ended in surrender of the Pakistan forces in East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh as an independent country.
2. How is the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a major regional initiative by South Asian States to evolve co-operation through multilateral means? Assess.
Answer: Role of SAARC:
Role of SAARC can be identified in the following ways:
1. ‘South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation’ (SAARC) is a regional initiative among South Asian States to evolve cooperation since 1985 onwards.
2. It consists of seven members to encourage mutual harmony and understanding.
3. SAARC has initiated SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Agreement) to form free trade zones for whole South Asia for collective economic security.
4. SAARC has projected economic development of its member states to reduce their dependencies on the non-regional powers.
South Asian free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed by SAARC members in 2004 with the following features:
1. Formation of free trade zone for whole South Asia.
2. To lower trade tarrifs by 20%.
3. To sustain mutual trade and cooperation among SAARC members.
3. Like India why could democracy not take roots in Pakistan despite the fact that both the countries share a common part?
Or
Explain the factors responsible for Pak’s failure in building a stable democracy.
Or
Describe any two pro-democracy factors present in Pakistan which can pave the way for establishing a lasting democratic setup over there?
Or
“Since 1947 Pakistan has been experimenting with democratic system and the military rule”. In the light of above statement explain any two reasons why democratic system has not been stable there?
Answer: The following factors are responsible for Pakistan’s failure in building a stable democracy:
1. The lack of genuine international support for a democratic rule in Pakistan has encouraged to military to continue its dominance. The US and other countries have also supported military rule due to fulfilling their own interests.
2. Pakistan’s conflict with India has made paramilitary groups more powerful which have often said that political parties and democracy in Pakistan are flawed, that Pakistan’s security would be harmed by selfish minded parties and chaotic democracy, hence army stay in power is justified.
3. The social dominance of military, clergy, and owning aristocracy has led to frequent overthrow of elected governments and the establishing of military governments.
4. Global Islamic Terrorism and their apprehension that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal might fall into hands
of these terrorist groups, the military regime in Pakistan was seen as the protector of western interests in West Asia and South Asia.
The two pro-democracy factors present in Pakistan that can pave the way for establishing a lasting democratic set up over there are:
1. Pakistan bears a courageous and entirely free press.
2. Pakistan enjoys strong human rights movement.
4. What are the major differences between SAARC and European Union as an alternative centres of poor?
Answer: 1. The European Union bears economic political-diplomatic and military influence all over the region and its closest neighbours whereas SAARC is limited towards its South Asian Region only.
2. The member states of European Union are maximum from among the developed countries while SAARC members are from among least developed countries (LOCs)
3. The EU behaves like a nation state by having its own anthem and currency but SARRC does not enjoy these.
4. The EU performance as an important bloc in international economic organisations such as WTO but SAARC has initiated SAFTA only to cooperate economically among its member states.
Picture/Map Based Questions [5 Marks]
A1. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. What does the equations speak about?
3. “I’m always good at calculations”. What does this represent?
Answer:
1. Dual role of Pakistan’s ruler Pervez
Musharraf as the president and as army General. ,
2. These equations speak about dominance of one person militarily more rather than only president.
3. It shows the nation that Musharraf wants to command the country militarily and administratively both to strengthen his power because president’s survival is not easy without military support.
2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Which animals do represent Sinhala and LTTE?
3. What does Sri Lankan leadership speak in the cartoon?
Answer:
1. Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict between LTTE and Sinhala.
2. Sinhala by Lion, LTTE by Tiger.
3. Sri Lankan leadership is supposed to balance both Sinhala hardliners and Tamil militants while negotiating peace.
B. On a political outline map of world locate and label the following and symbolise them as indicated:
Questions
1. A landlocked country with multi-party competition.
2. Centrally located and shares borders with most South Asian Countries.
3. Earlier the island had Sultan as head, now its a republic.
4. A landlocked country with a monarchy.
5. Country, where military has prevailed over democracy
Answer:
1. Bhutan
2. India
3. Maldives
4. Nepal
5. Pakistan
Class 12 Political Science International Organisations
1. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the veto power:
(a) Only the permanent members of the Security Council possess the veto power.
(b) It’s a kind of negative power.
(c) The Secretary General uses this power when not satisfied with any decision.
(d) One veto can stall a Security Council resolution.
Answer: (a) Correct (b) Correct
(c) Wrong (d) Correct
(e) India (f) Maldives
(g) India (h) Nepal
2. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements about the way the UN functions:
(a) All security and peace related issues are dealt within the Security Council.
(b) Humanitarian policies are implemented by the main organs and specialised agencies spread across the globe.
(c) Having consensus among five permanent members on security issues is vital for its implementation.
(d) The members of the General Assembly are automatically the members of all other principal organs and specialised agencies of the UN.
Answer: (a) Correct (b) Wrong
(c) Correct (d) Wrong
3. Which among the following would give more weightage to India’s proposal for permanent membership in the Security Council?
(a) Nuclear capability
(b) It has been a member of the UN since its inception.
(c) It is located in Asia.
(d) India’s growing economic power and stable political system.
Answer: (d) India’s growing economic power and stable political system.
4. The UN agency concerned with the safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology is:
(a) The UN Committee on Disarmament
(b) International Atomic Energy Agency
(c) UN International Safeguard Committee
(d) None of the above.
Answer: (b) International Atomic Energy Agency
5. WTO is serving as the successor to which of the following organisations:
(a) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs
(b) General Arrangement on Trade and Tariffs
(c) World Health Organisation
(d) UN Development Programme
Answer: (a) General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs
6. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The prime objective of UN is
(b) The highest functionary of the UN is called
(c) The UN Security Council has permanent and non permanent members.
(d) is the present UN Secretary General.
Answer: (a) to maintain peace and security
(b) Secretariat
(c) 5, 10
(d) Ban-ki-Moon
7. Match the principal organs and agencies of the UN with their functions:
A. 1. Economic and Social Council
2. International Court of Justice
3. International Atomic Energy Agency
4. Security Council
5. UN High Commission for Refugees
6. World Trade Organisation
7. International Monetary Fund
8. General Assembly
9. World Health Organisation
10. Secretariat
B. (a) Oversees the global financial system.
(b) Reservation of international peace and security.
(c) Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member countries.
(d) Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
(e) Resolves disputes between and among member countries.
(f) Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies.
(g) Debates and discusses global issues.
(h) Administration and coordination of UN affairs.
(i) Providing good health for all.
(j) Facilitates free trade among member countries.
Answer: 1. Economic and Social Council—
(c) Looks into the economic and social welfare of the member
countries.
2. International Court of Justice—
(e) Resolves disputes between and among member countries.
3. International Atomic Energy Agency—
(d) Safety and peaceful use of nuclear technology
4. Security Council—
(b) Reservation of international peace and security
5. UN High Commission for Refugees—
(f) Provides shelter and medical help during emergencies.
6. World Trade Organisations—
(j) Facilitates free trade among member countries.
7. International Monetary Fund—
(a) Overseas the global financial system.
8. General Assembly—
(g) Debates and discusses global issues.
9. World Health Organisation—
(j) Providing good health for all.
10. Secretariat—
(h) Administration and coordination of UN affairs.
8. What are the functions of Security Council?
Answer: Its main function is to maintain peace and security in the world and the other functions are as follows:
1. The Security Council recommends methods to adjust disputes among nations.
2. Security Council can take military action if required.
3. Security Council elects the judges of International Court of Justice and appoints the Secretary General by recommending to the General Assembly.
4. Security Council can apply economic sanction also to stop any aggression.
5. The Security Council can investigate the disputes in case a friction arises.
9. As a citizen of India, how would you support India’s candidature for the permanent membership of Security Council? Justify your proposal.
Answer: As a citizen of India, we may support India’s candidature for the permanent membership of Security Council in the following manner:
1. India is the most populous country in the world with one-fifth of world population.
2. India is world’s largest democracy.
3. India’s economic emergence on the World Stage.
4. India is a regular financial contributor to the UN.
5. India signifies a growing importance in world affairs in conduct of its foreign policy.
6. India participated in all the initiatives of the UN.
10. Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN.
Answer: The following are the question marks in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the UN:
1. How big an economic and military power may qualify to become UNSC membership?
2. What level of budget contribution should be enabled?
3. No guarantee to be effective as Council Member in respect for democracy and human rights.
4. Why should the issue of equitable representation decided by geography? Why not by levels of economic development?
5. Why not to give more seats to members of developing world?
All the above mentioned criteria which were adopted bud not universally accepted. Hence, the difficulties were involved.
11. Though the UN has failed in preventing wars and related miseries, nations prefer its continuation. What makes the UN an indispensable organisation?
Answer: 1. Interdependence and globalisation is not possible without the international organisations such as the UN.
2. To enforce cooperation on the issues of poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, crime rate etc.
3. To provide financial assistance to developing countries to stabilise economy all over the world,, the UN and its specialised agencies are always required.
4. The UN works as a forum to solve any international dispute among nations and sort out the best possible way.
5. Hence, though the UN has failed in preventing related wars and miseries, despite the nations require its continuation due to above mentioned reasons to promote international peace and understanding.
12. “Reforming the UN means restructuring of the Security Council”. Do you agree with this statement? Give arguments for or against this position.
Answer: Yes, we agree with the statement because Security Council plays a crucial role in functioning of the UN. In today’s scenario power equations have been changed with the disintegration of USSR and many new countries are entering into the UN:
1. The UN charter has given a privileged position to permanent members to bring stability all over the world. This position remains the same and no one is allowed to enter.
2. Except permanent members enjoy veto power to be placed in a valuable position.
3. Permanent members category is from industrialised developed country which should be balanced by enhancing representation from developing countries to become either permanent or non-permanent members.
4. Hence, Security Council should reform and improve its working to make the UN more effective i.e., inclusion of member states should be judged on the basis of contribution to peace keeping initiatives.
MORE QUESTIONS
Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]
1. Who is present Secretary General of the United Nations?
Answer: Ban-Ki-Moon from South Korea.
2. Name any two member states of the European Union who are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Answer: Britain and France
3. What is the main objective of the United Nations?
Answer: To prevent international conflict and to facilitate cooperation among states.
4. Mention any two agencies of the United Nations.
Answer: 1. International Monetary Fund.
2. World Health Organisation.
Ans. Amnesty International is an NGO, which was established to campaign for protection of human rights all over the world. Its objective is to promote respect for all the human beings and human rights in the universal declaration of Human Rights.
5. How many member countries have got veto power in the UN Security Council and why?
Answer: Five permanent member countries i.e France, Russia, UK, the US, China got veto power because they have been emerged as industrialised developed countries to stall any decision.
6. Mention any two advantages of having international organisation in the world?
Answer: 1. To help countries in the matters of conflicts and differences.
2. To make the countries cooperate and create better living conditions for humanity.
7. State any two objectives of the UN.
Answer: 1. To maintain international peace and security.
2. To facilitate cooperation among member countries by avoiding conflicts and war.
8. State any two objectives of Human Rights watch.
Answer: 1. To draw global media’s attention to human rights abuses.
2. To help in building international coalitions like the campaigns to ban land-mines, to stop the use of child soldier, and to establish international criminal court.
9. What reforms in the UN are required?
Answer: Following reforms are required in the UN:
1. Reform of the organisation’s structures and processes.
2. A review of the issues that fall within the jurisdiction of the organisation.
3. Reforms are required due to certain limitations to the UN i.e. only five members on permanent basis in the UN Security Council and their veto power, dominance of few powerful countries etc.
10. Discuss the resolution adopted by General Assembly in 1992 over the reform of the UN Security Council.
Answer: In 1992, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, which reflected three main complaints:
1. The UN Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities.
2. Its decisions reflect only western values and interests and are dominated by a few7 powers.
3. It lacks equitable representation. Considering above mentioned demands for restructuring of the UN on 01 January 1997, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan initiated an enquiry into how the UN should be reformed.
11. What is the veto power? Should it be modified?
Answer: The veto power is a negative vote to stall any decision by five permanent members of UN Security Council. Sometimes the moves have been made to modify this but it is presumed to have a danger to lose interest by great powers, and without their support and involvement such organisation would become ineffective.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the U.N.
Answer: In 1992, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which reflected three main complaints—
• The Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities.
• Its decisions reflect only Western values and interests and are dominated by a few powers.
• It lacks equitable representation. In view of these growing demands for the restructuring of the UN, on 1 January, 1997, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan initiated an inquiry into how the UN should be reformed. How for instance, should new Security Council members be chosen?
1. India’s nuclear weapon capabilities
2. If India is included, some emerging powers (Brazil, Germany, Japan, South Africa) will also be accommodated.
3. France and the US advocate that Africa and South America must be represented for they do not have any representation in the present structure.
2. What steps should be taken to make the UN more relevant in the changing context?
Answer: (a) Creation of Peace Building Commission.
(b) Acceptance of responsibility of international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities.
(c) Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
(d) An agreement to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Passage Based Questions [5 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
Countries have conflicteand differences with each other. That does not necessarily mean they must go to war to deal with their antagonisms. They can instead discuss contentious issues and find peaceful solutions, indeed, even though this is rarely noticed most conflicts and differences are resolved without going to war. The role of an international organisation is not a super-state with authority over its members. It is created by and responds to states. It comes into being when states agree to its creation. Once created, it can help member states resolve their problems peacefully.
Questions
1. Is this necessary to engage into wars during conflicts among countries?
2. Is an international organisation a super state?
3. What is the significance of international organisation?
Answer:
1. No, instead countries can discuss contentious issues to find peaceful solutions.
2. No, it is created by and responds to states and comes into being when study agrees to its creation.
3. To help member states to resolve problems peacefully without going to war.
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
By 2006, the UN had 192 member states. These included almost all independent states. In the UN General Assembly, all members have one vote each. In the UN Security Council, there are five permanent members. These are the US, UK, Russia, France, China. These states were selected as permanent members as they were most powerful immediately after the Second World War and because they constituted the victors in the war.
Questions
1. How many member states were there in the UN 2006?
2. Name five permanent members of UN Security Council.
3. Why these states were selected as permanent?
Answer:
1. There were 192 member states in the UN by 2006.
2. The UK, US, China, Russia and France are the permanent members.
3. Because they were most powerful immediately after the Second World War and constituted the victors in the war.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. Describe any six criteria for the new membership of Security Council as suggested after 1997.
Answer: A new member, as suggested after 1997, should be
(i ) A major economic power
(ii) A major military power.
(iii) A substantial contributor to the UN budget.
(iv) A big nation in terms of its populations.
(v) A nation that respects democracy and human rights
(vi) A country that would make the Council more representative of the world’s diversity in terms of geography, economic system, and culture.
2. Examine the role played by India in the implementation of UN policies and programmes.
Answer: 1. India believes that a strengthened and revitalised UN is desirable in the changing world.
2. India also supports an enhanced role for the UN in promoting development and cooperation among states.
3. India believes that the development
should be central to the UN’s agenda as it is a vital precondition for the maintenance of international peace and security.
4. India debates more representation in Security Council may enjoy greater support in world community.
5. India has major concern about restructuring of UN Security Council.
6. India supports the role of developing countries should be represented in Security Council in decision making.
3. How far did the UN perform its role successor fully in maintaining peace in the world? Explain.
Answer: 1. Interdependence and globalisation is not possible without the international organisations such as the UN.
2. To enhance cooperation on the issues of poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, crime rate etc.
3. To provide financial assistance to developing countries to stabilise economy all over the world, the UN and its specialized agencies are always required.
4. The UN works as a forum to solve any international dispute among nations and sort out the best possible.
5. Hence, though the UN has failed in preventing any related wars and miseries, despite the nations require its continuation due to above mentioned reasons to promote international peace and understanding.
4. Suggest any six steps since 2005 to make the United Nations more relevant in the changing context.
Answer: In September 2005, the UN celebrated its 60th anniversary and leaders decided to make it more relevant in the changing context by following steps:
1. Creation of Peace Building Commission.
2. Acceptance of the responsibility of the international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities.
3. Establishment of a Human Rights Council (Operational Since 19 June 2006).
4. Agreements to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
5. Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
6. Creation of a Democracy Fund.
7. An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council.
5. Can the UN serve as a balance against the US dominance?
Answer: No, the UN can not serve against the US dominance in a comfort zone because:
1. The US has been the only superpower after 1991 and may ignore international organisations economically and militarily.
2. Its veto power can stop any move damaging its interests.
3. The US enjoys a considerable degree of say in the selection of the UN Secretary General.
Besides the above mentioned grounds, the UN is playing an effective role to argument against the US attitudes and policies and makes compromises and concessions even or the part of the US. The EU performs as an important bloc in International Economic Organisations such as WTO but SAARC has initiated SAFTA only to cooperate economically among its member states.
Picture/Map Based Questions[5 Marks]
A1. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Who is the person being commented in the cartoon?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Answer:
1. It represents role of the UN on attack on Lebanan by Israeli forces.
2. The UN Secretary General.
3. It conveys message on relevance of the UN as immediate follow-up was not there by Israeli forces despite passing a resolution from the UN.
2. Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions
1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. What type of crisis does the cartoon show?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Answer:
1. A humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.
2. Starvation, genocide, horror etc.
3. ‘A Big Helping of Words’ only because during these crises, the international organisations performed debates, speeches on these but no actual aid or support was reached to peoples.
B. On a political outline map of the world locate and label the following and symbolise them as indicated:
Questions
1. Five permanent members of UN Security Council and symbolise them as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2. Locate and label peace keeping operations.
Answer:
1. 1. France 2. Russia
3. The UK
4. The US
5. China
2. (A) Cyprus 1964
(B) Lebanon 1978
(C) Israel 1974
(D) Sudan 2005
(E) East Timor 2006
Class 12 Political Science Globalisation
1.Which of the st atements are ‘True’ about
globalisation?
(a) Globalisation is purely an economic phenomenon.
(b) Globalisation began in 1991.
(c) Globalisation is the same thing as westernisation.
(d) Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon.
Answer: (d) Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon.
2.Which of the statements are ‘True’ about
the impact of globalisation?
(a) Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.
(ib) Globalisation has had a uniform impact on all states and societies.
(c) The impact of globalisation has been confined to the political sphere.
(d) Globalisation inevitably results in cultural homogeneity.
Answer: (a) Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.
(b) Globalisation inevitably results in cultural homogeneity.
3. Which of the statem ents are ‘True’ about
causes of globalisation?
(a) Technology is an important cause of globalisation.
(b) Globalisation is caused by a particular community of people.
(c) Globalisation originated in the US.
(d) Economic interdependence alone causes globalisation.
Answer: (a) Technology is an important cause of globalisation.
(b) It originated in the US.
4. Which statements are ‘true’ about
globalisation?
(a) Globalisation is only about movement of commodities.
(b) Globalisation does not involve a conflict of values.
(c) Services are an insignificant part of globalisation.
(d) Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.
Answer: (b) Globalisation does not involve a conflict of values.
(d) Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.
5. Which of the statements are False about globalisation?
(a) Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic growth.
(b) Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic disparity.
(c) Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisa¬tion.
(d) Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.
Answer: The statements (b) and (d) are false about globalisation.
6. What is worldwide interconnectedness? What are its components?
Answer: The worldwide interconnectedness implies to interlink the world through free flow of goods and services, technology, ideas and people across the globe to extend globalisation. This contains three components:
1. Capital Flow: It is the flow of resources through loans or business investments among the countries.
2. Trade Flows of Goods: It refers to exchange of goods among countries.
3. Labour Flow: It refers to ‘Brain drain’ by creating favourable conditions for employment.
7. How has technology contributed to globalisation?
Answer: Technical equipments as cell phone, internet, telephone and microchip have contributed to globalisation by exchanging ideas, capitals and people to make convenient to move from one place to another at a fast pace to stimulate the process of globalisation.
8. Critically evaluate the impact of the changing role of state in the developing countries in the light of globalisation?
Answer: The impact of changing role of state in the developing countries in the light of globalisation can be summed up as follows:
1. Globalisation reduces the state capacity i.e. the ability of governments to do what they do.
2. Market becomes the prime concern to set down economic and social priorities.
3. Multinational companies effect on the decisions taken by government because their own interest fulfillment also depends on government policies.
4. The old welfare state is now giving way to more minimalist state to perform certain core functions as maintenance of law and order and the security.
5. State also withdraws from many of its welfare functions taken place at the level of economic and social well¬being.
6. To some extent developing countries have received a boost as a result of globalisation and became more strong and powerful clue to emergence of new technology.
9. What are the economic implications of globalisation? How has globalisation impacted on India with regard to this particular dimension?
Answer: (A) Economic Implications of Globalisation (Positive)
1. It involves greater economic flows among various countries.
2. It has enhanced trade in commodities among countries.
3. The restrictions on the imports and movement of capital have also been reduced.
4. This has spread internet and computer related services across national boundaries.
(B) Negative Economic Implications
1. Economic globalisation has created diverse opinion all over the world as to benefit only a small section of society.
2. It does not have equality at par the movement of people across the globe i.e. developed countries
have carefully guarded their borders with visa policies to ensure job security to their own citizens.
3. It has created disparities among states also by making the rich more richer and the poor more poorer.
Impact of Globalisation on India
1. More new jobs have been created in the MNCs like cell phones, fast food etc.
2. India is playing a crucial role among developing countries in trade and commerce by making some companies multinational themselves
i. e. Tata Motors, Ranbaxy etc.
3. Foreign Direct Investment have also been increased.
4. It has invited inflow of private foreign capital and export oriented activities.
10. Do you agree with the argument that globalisation leads to cultural heterogeneity?
Answer: Cultural consequences do not assume to lead to cultural heterogeneity only. All cultures accept outside influences all the time. Some external influences may be negative even to reduce our choices. Sometime external influences enlarge the choices or modify our culture without overwhelming the traditions
i. e. the burger is not a substitute for a masala dosa, blue jeans can go well with a homespun Khadi-Kurta (a nique new combination by external influences). Hence, it can be said that globalisation does not lead cultural heterogeneity every time but it is supportive to promote cultural outlook and cultural homogenisation.
11. How has globalisation impacted on India and how is India in turn impacting on globalisation?
Answer: Impact of Globalisation on India:
1. More new jobs have been created in the MNCs like cell phones, fast food etc.
2. India is playing a crucial role among developing countries in trade and commerce by making some companies multinational themselves
i. e. Tata Motors, Ranbaxy etc.
3. Foreign Direct Investments have also been increased.
4. It has invited inflow of private foreign capital and export oriented activities. India in turn impacting:
1. Through responding to 1991 financial crisis, Indian economy was liberalised to attract foreign direct investment.
2. India introduced new trade policy reforms to remove tariffs and restrictions imposed on imports.
3. Under industries, it abolished licensing system exempting few specified industries only.
4. Banking operations by private sectors were permitted to expand in the country.
5. To promote globalisation, India has adopted an open economy.
Very Short Answer Type Questions [1 Mark]
1. To what extent does globalisation provide opportunities as well as challenges?
Answer: Globalisation creates new jobs in industries and MNCs and increases the volume of trade in goods and services. As a challenge it reduces the capacity of state to take decisions on their own.
2. Define Globalisation.
Answer: Globalisation refers to integration of an economy with the other country based on interdependence.
3. What is WSF?
Answer: WSF is the World Social Forum, a global platform to bring together a wide coalition of human rights activists, environmentalists and women activists .
Very Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks]
1 .“Welfare State is getting replaced by market.” Analyse the reason for this change.
Answer: Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity. All over the world, the old welfare state is now giving way to a more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens. However, it withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well¬being. In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes prime determinant of economic and social priorities. The entry and the increased role of MNCs all over the world leads to reduction in the capacity of government to take decisions on their own.
2. How far is it correct to say that powers of states have actually increased due to globalisation?
Answer: To some extent globalisation increases the activities of state to help in development of economy as well as state capacity has received a boost also with enhanced technologies available at the disposal of state to collect information about its citizens.
3. What are two thrust areas of Globalisation?
Answer: Globalisation has two thrust areas:
1. Liberalisation provides freedom of trade and investment, eliminate restrictions imposed on external trade and payments and expand technological progress to globalise faster.
2. Privatisation permits MNCs to produce goods and services inside the country to attract FDI.
4. Which factors have contributed to the process of globalisation?
Answer: Process of globalisation is the result of:
1. Historical factors.
2. Role of international organisations like JMF and WTO.
3. Liberalisation and privatisation.
4. Technological innovations.
5. Mention positive impact of globalisation.
Answer: 1. Increase in the volume of trade in goods and services.
2. It attracts private foreign capital ‘investment’.
3. It creates new job opportunities.
4. It raises standard of living.
5. It increases production efficiency and healthy competition.
6. It attracts Foreign Direct Investment also.
6. Mention negative impact of globalisation.
Answer: 1. Globalisation has not generated much more employment opportunities because it needs highly skilled people only.
2. The foreign companies focus on their profit orientation projects only in place of social welfare.
3. It has widened income disparities by making the rich richer and the poor more poorer.
4. Gradually, globalisation is also a reason for depletion of flora and fauna in country.
5. Even farmers are supposed to be well educated if they want to use modern methods of cultivation.
7. Can we say that Globalisation is only an economic dimension?
Answer: No, globalisation is not only an economic dimension because it is a multi¬dimensional concept having political, economic and cultural manifestations. Globalisation is the process of exchange of ideas, capital, commodities and people.
8. “ Globalisation is a multidimensional concept”. Justify the statement.
Answer: Globalisation refers to integration of an economy with the other countries based on interdependence. It is a multidimensional concept having political, economic, cultural manifestations. It is the process of exchange of ideas, capital commodities and people.
Short Answer Type Questions [4 Marks]
1. Mention any four political consequences of globalisation.
Answer: Political consequences are positive and negative both as:
Negative Aspects
1. Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity, that is the ability of government to do what they do.
2. The old welfare state is now giving way to more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens.
3. Sometimes state withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well being.
4. Market becomes prime determinant to settle down social and economic priorities in place of welfare.
Positive Aspects
1. The primary status remains unchallenged basis of political community.
2. To some extent developing countries have received a boost to become more powerful and strong.
2. Explain any two economic consequences of globalisation.
Answer: 1. Positive Economic Consequences
(a) It involves greater economic flows among various countries.
(b) It has enhanced trade in commodities among countries,
(c) The restrictions on the imports and movement of capital have also been reduced.
2. Negative Economic Consequences
(а) It has created diverse opinion all over the world so as to benefit only a small section of society.
(b) It does not have equality at par the movement of people across the globe i.e. Developed countries have carefully guarded their borders with visa policies to ensure job security to their own citizens.
3. What is globalisation? Highlight any three causes of globalisation.
Answer: Globalisation is integration of an economy with other economies alongwith the free flow of trade and capital. Process of globalisation is the result of:
1. Historical factors
2. Role of International Organisations like IMF and WTO.
3. Liberalisation and Privatisation
4. Technological innovations.
4. Explain any two positive and two negative effects of globalisation.
Answer: I. Positive Effects (Any two).
1. Increase in the volume of trade in goods and services.
2. It attracts private foreign capital investment.
3. It creates new job opportunities.
4. It raises standard of living.
5. It increases production efficiency and healthy competition.
6. It attracts foreign Direct Investment also.
2. Negative Effects:
1. It has widened income disparities by making the rich richer and the poor more poorer.
2. Gradually, globalisation is also a reason for depletion of flora and fauna in country.
5. Explain any four consequences of globalisation.
Answer: 1. Economic Consequences
(a) It has involved greater trade in commodities across the globe.
(b) The restrictions imposed by other countries on allowing imports have beenreduced.
2. Cultural Consequences
(a) The rise of uniform culture called as cultural homogenisation.
(b) Global culture is the imposition of western culture on rest of the world.
3. Political Consequences
(а) In place of welfare state it is the market to become the prime determinant of economic and social priorities.
(b) The entry and increased role of MNCs all over the world leads to reduction in capacity of governments to take decisions on their own.
4. Others
(а) The left wing protests against economic liberalisation.
(b) Indian social forum also raised voices against globalisation.
6. “Globalisation has shifted power from nation states to global consumers.” Justify the statement.
Or
What is the impact of globalisation on state’s sovereignty?
Answer: The impact of changing role of state in developing countries in the light of globalisation can be summed up as follows:
1. Globalisation reduces state capacity i. e. the ability of governments to do what they do.
2. Market becomes the prime determinant to down economic and social priorities.
3. Multinational companies effect on decision taken by governments because their own interest fulfillment depends on government policies.
4. The old Welfare state is now giving way to more minimalist state to perform certain core functions as maintenance of law and order and the security.
7. What is meant by globalisation? Explain any three cultural consequences of globalisation.
Answer: Globalisation is integration of an economy with the other economies alongwith the free flow of trade and capital. Its cultural consequences can be summed up as follows:
1. The rise of uniform culture as cultural homogenisation.
2. Global culture is imposition of western culture of rest of the world.
3. Sometimes, external influences enlarge the choices or modify over culture without overwhelming the traditions.
8. Does globalisation lead to ‘cultural ho-mogenisation’ or ‘cultural heterogeniza- tion’ or both? Justify.
Answer: Globalisation leads to both:
1. Though cultural homogenisation is an arena of globalisation the same process generates the opposite effect also which prompts each culture to dominate over other culture resulting into heterogenisation.
2. Globalisation leads to the rise of uniform culture known as cultural homogenisation i.e. the influence of western culture.
3. The differences among powers remain the same despite the exchange of cultures. Hence it may be said that cultural exchange is only one of many processes.
9. A militant group issued a statement threatening college girls who wear western clothes’. Analyse.
Answer: This statement refers to the cultural implications of globalisation in the form of fear of a defence group about the imposition of western culture to lead a shrinkage of rich cultural heritage.
Passage Based Questions[5 Marks]
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
At the most simple level, globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity, that is, the ability of government to do what they do. All over the world, the old ‘welfare state’ is now giving way to a more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as the maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens. However, it withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well-being. In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes the prime determinant of economic and social priorities. The entry and the increased role of multinational companies all over the world leads to a reduction in the capacity of governments to take decisions on their own. At the same time, globalisation does not always reduce state capacity. The primacy of the state continues to be the unchallenged basis of political community. The old jealousies and rivalries between countries have not ceased to matter in world politics. The state continues to discharge its essential functions (law and order, national security) and consciously withdraws from certain domains from which it wishes to. States continue to be important. Indeed, in some respects state capacity has received a boost as a consequence of globalisation, with enhanced technologies available at the disposal of the state to collect information about its citizens. With this information, the state is better able to rule, not less able. Thus, states become more powerful than they were earlier as an outcome of the new technology.
Questions
1. How does globalisation effect on state capacity?
2. How have multinational companies effected the states?
3. How does the old welfare state react to globalisation?
Answer:
1. It reduces state’s capacity and ability of government to do what they do.
2. The entry and increased role of MNCs all over the world leads to reduction in the capacity of government to take decision on their own.
3. The old welfare state is now giving way to a more minimalist state that performs certain core functions i.e. maintenance of law and order and security of its own citizens.
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
Advocates of economic globalisation argue that it generates greater economic growth and well-being for larger sections of the population when there is de-regulation. Greater trade among countries allows each economy to do what it does best. This would benefit the whole world. They also argue that economic globalisation is inevitable and it is not wise to resist the march of history. More moderate supporters of globalisation say that globalisation provides a challenge that can be responded to intelligently without accepting it uncritically. What, however, cannot be denied is the increased momentum towards inter-dependence and integration between governments, businesses, and ordinary people in different parts of the world as a result of globalisation.
Questions
1. What is economic globalisation?
2. How does economic globalisation benefit the whole world?
3. How does the moderate supporters of globalisation view it?
Answer:
1. Economic globalisation generates great or economic growth and well being for larger section of population when there is deregulation.
2. Economic globalisation gives opportunities to countries to do best in their economy.
3. Moderate supporters of globalisation view it as a challenge to be responded intelligently without accepting it uncritically.
Long Answer Type Questions [6 Marks]
1. Explain globalisation. How has technology contributed in promoting globalisation?
Answer: Globalisation as a concept fundamentally deals with flows. These flows could be of various kinds — ideas moving from one part of the world to another, capital shunted between two or more places, commodities being traded across borders, and people moving in search of better livelihoods to different parts of the world. The crucial element is the ‘worldwide interconnectedness’ that is created and sustained as a consequence of these constant flows.
While globalisation is not caused by any single factor, technology remains a critical element. There is no doubt that the invention of the telegraph, the telephone and the microchip in more recent years has revolutionised communication between different parts of the world. When printing initially came into being it laid the basis for the creation of nationalism. So also today we should expect that technology will affect the way we think of our personal but also our collective lives.
The ability of ideas, capital, commodities and people to move more easily from one part of the world to another has been made possible largely by technological advances. The pace of these flow may vary.
2. Explain any three benefits of globalisation with examples.
Answer: 1. Economic Benefits
1. It involves greater economic flows among various countries.
2. It has enhanced trade in commodities among countries.
3. The restrictions on the imports and movement of capital have also been reduced.
4. This has spread internet and computer related services across national boundaries.
2. Technological Benefits
Technical equipments as telephone, internet, telephone and microchip have contributed to globalisation by exchanging ideas, capitals and people to make convenient to move from one place to another at a fast pace to stimulate the process of globalisation.
3. Political Benefits
1. The primary status remains unchallenged on the basis of political community.
2. To some extent developing countries have received a boost to become more powerful and strong.
3. Assess any three basics on which globalisation is being resisted in India.
Answer: Resistance to globalisation in India has come from different quarters:
1. Left using protests to economic liberalisation was voiced through political parties as well as through forum like the Indian Social Forum.
2. Trade Unions and farmer’s interests have also organised protests against MNCs.
3. The patenting of certain plants like Neem by American and European firms has also generated protests.
4. Resistance has come from political parties also in the form of objecting to various cultural influences like availability of foreign T.V. channels provided by cable networks, celebration of Valentine’s Day and Westernisation of dress code.
4. How do the critics view the process of globalistion?
Answer: Globalisation has invited some strong criticisms also despite its positive impacts. Its critical arguments can be categorized as:
1. Economic 2. Political
3. Cultural
1. Economic:
(a) Reduction in subsidies on mass consumption goods to make foreign creditors powerful.
(b) It has grown disparity between the rich and the poor nations by making the rich more richer and the poor more poorer.
(c) Even states have also created the same disparities between developed and developing nations.
2. Political:
(a) Welfare functions of the state has been reduced.
Picture Based Questions
(b) Sovereignty of states has been affected.
(c) States have become weak to take their own decisions.
3. Cultural:
(a) People lose their age old values and traditions.
(b) The world begins to look more like the dominant power over less powerful society.
(c) It leads to shrinking of rich cultural heritage of the entire globe.
Picture Based Questions[5 Marks]
1.Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
Questions
1. What does the cartoon comment?
2. What is referred under the title ‘Yesterday’?
3. What message does the title ‘Today’ convey?
Answer:
1. Cartoon comments on the changing scenario due to globalisation.
2. It refers to earlier conditions of developing countries who were starving due to less growth in their economy.
3. Globalisation opened doors for new entrants from developing nations and resulted into brain drain.
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