NCERT Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1 Cold War and Non-Aligned Movement

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NCERT Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1 Cold War and Non-Aligned Movement

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Cold War and Non-Aligned Movement

Chapter: 1

POLITICAL SCIENCE

PART – I: CONTEMPORARY WORLD POLITICS

TEXTBOOK QUESTION ANSWER

Q. 1. Which among the following statements about the Cold War is wrong?

(a) It was a competition between the USA 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 USA and USSR were engaged in direct wars.

Ans. (d) The USA and USSR were engaged in direct wars.

Q. 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.

Ans. (d) Focus on elimination of global economic inequalities.

Q. 3. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements that describe the features of the military alliances formed by the superpowers.

(a) Member countries of the alliance are to provide bases in their respective lands for the superpowers.

Ans. Correct.

(b) Member countries support the super- powers both in terms of ideology and military strategy.

Ans. Correct.

(c) When a nation attacks any member country, it is considered as an attack on all the member countries.

Ans. Correct.

(d) Superpowers assist all the member countries to develop their own nuclear weapons.

Ans. Incorrect.

Q. 4. Here is a list of countries. Write against each of these blocs they belonged to during the Cold War.

(a) Poland.

Ans. Poland: Eastern Alliance.

(b) France.

Ans. France: Western Alliance.

(c) Japan.

Ans. Japan: Western Alliance.

(d) Nigeria.

Ans. Nigeria: Non-Aligned.

(e) North Korea.

Ans. North Korea: Eastern Alliance (Warsaw Pact).

(f) Sri Lanka.

Ans. Sri Lanka: Non-Aligned.

Q. 5. The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control. What were the reasons for both these developments?

Ans. Since the cold war did not eliminate rivalries between the two alliances, Western Alliances and Eastern Alliances’, mutual suspicions led them to arm themselves to the teeth and to constantly prepare for war. Huge stocks of arms were considered necessary to prevent wars as disasterous as the World War II.

The two sides understood that war might occur in spite of restraint. Either side might miscalculate the number of weapons in the possession of the other side. They might misunderstand the intentions of the other side. Besides, there was a chance of a nuclear accident. Even after UNO was formed in October, 1945, Allies and Axis Powers had not forgotten or abandoned the animal instinct of retaliation against humiliation they born with the Second World War. They were on the other side; afraid of the another war therefore, they began threatening each other by piling destructive arms and weapons.

Q. 6. Why did the superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries? Give three reasons. 

Ans. The superpowers had formed military alliances with smaller countries for the following reasons:

(i) It was helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to vital resources, such as oil and minerals.

(ii) It was helpful for these powers in gaining access to territory, from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.

(iii) They could gain access to locations for where they could spy on each other.

Q. 7. Sometimes, it is said that the Cold War was a simple struggle for power and ideology had nothing to do with it. Do you agree with this? Give one example to support your position.

Ans. No. I do not agree with this. The Cold War was not simply a matter of power rivalry, of military alliances, and of the balance of power. These were accompanied by a real ideological conflict as well, a difference over the best and the most appropriate way of organising political, economic and social life all over the world. For example, the Western Alliances, headed by the. US represented the ideology of liberal democracy and capitalism while the Eastern Alliances headed by the Soviet Union, was committed to the ideology of socialism and communism.

Q. 8. What was India’s foreign policy towards the US and USSR during the Cold War era? Do you think that this policy helped India’s interests?

Ans. India’s foreign policy towards USA and USSR during the Cold War era was neither negative nor positive. For example:

(i) In spite of being the founder member of NAM, India was in favour of actively intervening in world affairs to soften Cold War rivalries.

(ii) India tried to reduce the differences between the alliances and thereby prevent differences from escalating into a full-scale war. Indian diplomats and leaders often used to communicate and mediate between Cold War rivals such as the Korean War in the early 1950s.

(iii) India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, the key member of NAM, reposed great faith in “a genuine Commonwealth of free and cooperating nations” that would play a positive role in softening, if not ending, the Cold War. 

Yes, this policy of India towards USA and USSR helped India’s interest to take international decisions and stances.

Because of this policy, India was often able to balance one superpower against the other so neither alliance system could take India for granted or bully it.

Q. 9. NAM was considered a ‘third option’ by the Third World countries. How did this option benefit their growth during the peak of the Cold War?

Ans. The cold war tended to divide the world into two rival alliances. It was in this context that non-alignment offered the newly decolonised countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America; a third option not to join either alliance. The first non- aligned summit was held in Belgrade in 1961.

This was the culmination of at least two factors:

(i) Cooperation among these five countries to face growing cold war tensions and its widening arenas. and

(ii) To resist dramatic entry of many newly decolonised African countries into the international arena. By 1960, there were 16 new African members in the UN.

The first summit was attended by 25 member states. Over the years, the membership of NAM has expanded. It increased to 116 member states and 15 observer countries in the 14th summit held in Havana in 2006.

As non-alignment grew into a popular international movement, countries of various different political systems and interests, joined it. This made the movement less homogeneous and also made it more difficult to define in very neat and precise terms. What did it really stand for? Increasingly, NAM was easier to define in terms of what it was not. It was not about a member of an alliance.

Q. 10. What do you think about the statement that NAM has become irrelevant today? Give reasons to support your opinion.

Ans. The statement that NAM has become irrelevant today is not correct. The reasons for it are as given below:

(i) It means that the poor and very small countries need not become followers of any of the big powers and that they could pursue an independent foregin policy.

(ii) NAM is based on a resolve to democratise the international system. It provides an alternative world order to redress the existing inequalities.

(iii) NAM contains some core value and enduring ideas. It is based on a recognition that decolourised states or newly independent states of Asia, Africa and Latin America share a historical affiliation and can become a powerful force if they come together.