NCERT Textbook - Contemporary Centres of Power | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Overview After the end of the bipolar 
structure of world politics in 
the early 1990s, it became 
clear that alternative centres of 
political and economic power 
could limit America’s dominance. 
Thus, in Europe, the European 
Union (EU) and, in Asia, the 
Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), have emerged 
as forces to reckon with. While 
evolving regional solutions to 
their historical enmities and 
weaknesses, both the EU and the 
ASEAN have developed alternative 
institutions and conventions 
that build a more peaceful and 
cooperative regional order and 
have transformed the countries 
in the region into prosperous 
economies. The economic rise 
of China has made a dramatic 
impact on world politics. In this 
chapter, we take a look at some 
of these emerging alternative 
centres of power and assess their 
possible role in the future. 
Chapter 2
Contemporary  
Centres of Power
The two images here represent two phases of the history of 
China. The red poster – “The Socialist Road is the Broadest 
of All” – represents the ideology that guided China during its 
early phase after the Revolution. The photograph below is that 
of the city of Shanghai, the symbol of China’s new economic 
power.
Chapter 2.indd   15 14 September 2022   11:02:16
2024-25
Page 2


Overview After the end of the bipolar 
structure of world politics in 
the early 1990s, it became 
clear that alternative centres of 
political and economic power 
could limit America’s dominance. 
Thus, in Europe, the European 
Union (EU) and, in Asia, the 
Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), have emerged 
as forces to reckon with. While 
evolving regional solutions to 
their historical enmities and 
weaknesses, both the EU and the 
ASEAN have developed alternative 
institutions and conventions 
that build a more peaceful and 
cooperative regional order and 
have transformed the countries 
in the region into prosperous 
economies. The economic rise 
of China has made a dramatic 
impact on world politics. In this 
chapter, we take a look at some 
of these emerging alternative 
centres of power and assess their 
possible role in the future. 
Chapter 2
Contemporary  
Centres of Power
The two images here represent two phases of the history of 
China. The red poster – “The Socialist Road is the Broadest 
of All” – represents the ideology that guided China during its 
early phase after the Revolution. The photograph below is that 
of the city of Shanghai, the symbol of China’s new economic 
power.
Chapter 2.indd   15 14 September 2022   11:02:16
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
16
Europ Ean u nion As the Second World War came to 
an end, many of Europe’s leaders 
grappled with the ‘Question 
of Europe’. Should Europe be 
allowed to revert to its old rivalries 
or be reconstructed on principles 
and institutions that would 
contribute to a positive conception 
of international relations? The 
Second World War shattered many 
of the assumptions and structures 
on which the European states had 
based their relations. In 1945, the 
European states confronted the 
ruin of their economies and the 
destruction of the assumptions 
and structures on which Europe 
had been founded.
European integration after 
1945 was aided by the Cold 
War. America extended massive 
financial help for reviving Europe’s 
economy under what was called 
the ‘Marshall Plan’. The US also 
created a new collective security 
structure under NATO. Under the 
Marshall Plan, the Organisation for 
European Economic Cooperation 
(OEEC) was established in 1948 to 
channel aid to the west European 
states. It became a forum where 
the western European states 
began to cooperate on trade and 
economic issues. The Council of 
Europe, established in 1949, was 
another step forward in political 
cooperation. The process of 
economic integration of European 
capitalist countries proceeded 
step by step (see Timeline of 
European Integration) leading to 
the formation of the European 
Economic Community in 1957. 
This process acquired a political 
dimension with the creation 
of the European Parliament. 
The collapse of the Soviet bloc 
put Europe on a fast track and 
resulted in the establishment 
of the European Union in 1992.  
The foundation was thus laid for 
a common foreign and security 
policy, cooperation on justice and 
home affairs, and the creation of 
a single currency. 
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  
The European Union Flag
The circle of gold stars stands for solidarity and harmony between 
the peoples of Europe. It has twelve stars, as the number twelve is 
traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity.
Source: http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm
Chapter 2.indd   16 14 September 2022   11:02:17
2024-25
Page 3


Overview After the end of the bipolar 
structure of world politics in 
the early 1990s, it became 
clear that alternative centres of 
political and economic power 
could limit America’s dominance. 
Thus, in Europe, the European 
Union (EU) and, in Asia, the 
Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), have emerged 
as forces to reckon with. While 
evolving regional solutions to 
their historical enmities and 
weaknesses, both the EU and the 
ASEAN have developed alternative 
institutions and conventions 
that build a more peaceful and 
cooperative regional order and 
have transformed the countries 
in the region into prosperous 
economies. The economic rise 
of China has made a dramatic 
impact on world politics. In this 
chapter, we take a look at some 
of these emerging alternative 
centres of power and assess their 
possible role in the future. 
Chapter 2
Contemporary  
Centres of Power
The two images here represent two phases of the history of 
China. The red poster – “The Socialist Road is the Broadest 
of All” – represents the ideology that guided China during its 
early phase after the Revolution. The photograph below is that 
of the city of Shanghai, the symbol of China’s new economic 
power.
Chapter 2.indd   15 14 September 2022   11:02:16
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
16
Europ Ean u nion As the Second World War came to 
an end, many of Europe’s leaders 
grappled with the ‘Question 
of Europe’. Should Europe be 
allowed to revert to its old rivalries 
or be reconstructed on principles 
and institutions that would 
contribute to a positive conception 
of international relations? The 
Second World War shattered many 
of the assumptions and structures 
on which the European states had 
based their relations. In 1945, the 
European states confronted the 
ruin of their economies and the 
destruction of the assumptions 
and structures on which Europe 
had been founded.
European integration after 
1945 was aided by the Cold 
War. America extended massive 
financial help for reviving Europe’s 
economy under what was called 
the ‘Marshall Plan’. The US also 
created a new collective security 
structure under NATO. Under the 
Marshall Plan, the Organisation for 
European Economic Cooperation 
(OEEC) was established in 1948 to 
channel aid to the west European 
states. It became a forum where 
the western European states 
began to cooperate on trade and 
economic issues. The Council of 
Europe, established in 1949, was 
another step forward in political 
cooperation. The process of 
economic integration of European 
capitalist countries proceeded 
step by step (see Timeline of 
European Integration) leading to 
the formation of the European 
Economic Community in 1957. 
This process acquired a political 
dimension with the creation 
of the European Parliament. 
The collapse of the Soviet bloc 
put Europe on a fast track and 
resulted in the establishment 
of the European Union in 1992.  
The foundation was thus laid for 
a common foreign and security 
policy, cooperation on justice and 
home affairs, and the creation of 
a single currency. 
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  
The European Union Flag
The circle of gold stars stands for solidarity and harmony between 
the peoples of Europe. It has twelve stars, as the number twelve is 
traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity.
Source: http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm
Chapter 2.indd   16 14 September 2022   11:02:17
2024-25
17
Contemporary Centres of Power
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 EU.
The EU has economic, 
political and diplomatic, and 
military influence. The European 
Union’s GDP is projected to be 
approximately $19.35 trillion 
in the year 2024. Its currency, 
the euro, can pose a threat to 
the dominance of the US dollar. 
Its share of world trade is much 
larger than that of the United 
States allowing it to be more 
assertive in trade disputes with 
the US and China. Its economic 
power gives it influence over its 
closest neighbours as well as in 
Asia and Africa. It also functions as 
an important bloc in international 
Oh, now I know what a 
Schengen visa means! 
Under the Schengen 
agreement, you have to 
get a visa from just one of 
the EU countries and that 
allows you entry in most 
of the other European 
Union countries.
Europ Ean u nion Map Ireland
United 
Kingdom
Portugal
Spain
France
Luxembourg
Belgium Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Czech 
Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
Austria
Cyprus
Malta
Greece
Older Members
New Members
Croatia
Romania
Bulgaria
Chapter 2.indd   17 15-03-2024   11:47:17
2024-25
Page 4


Overview After the end of the bipolar 
structure of world politics in 
the early 1990s, it became 
clear that alternative centres of 
political and economic power 
could limit America’s dominance. 
Thus, in Europe, the European 
Union (EU) and, in Asia, the 
Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), have emerged 
as forces to reckon with. While 
evolving regional solutions to 
their historical enmities and 
weaknesses, both the EU and the 
ASEAN have developed alternative 
institutions and conventions 
that build a more peaceful and 
cooperative regional order and 
have transformed the countries 
in the region into prosperous 
economies. The economic rise 
of China has made a dramatic 
impact on world politics. In this 
chapter, we take a look at some 
of these emerging alternative 
centres of power and assess their 
possible role in the future. 
Chapter 2
Contemporary  
Centres of Power
The two images here represent two phases of the history of 
China. The red poster – “The Socialist Road is the Broadest 
of All” – represents the ideology that guided China during its 
early phase after the Revolution. The photograph below is that 
of the city of Shanghai, the symbol of China’s new economic 
power.
Chapter 2.indd   15 14 September 2022   11:02:16
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
16
Europ Ean u nion As the Second World War came to 
an end, many of Europe’s leaders 
grappled with the ‘Question 
of Europe’. Should Europe be 
allowed to revert to its old rivalries 
or be reconstructed on principles 
and institutions that would 
contribute to a positive conception 
of international relations? The 
Second World War shattered many 
of the assumptions and structures 
on which the European states had 
based their relations. In 1945, the 
European states confronted the 
ruin of their economies and the 
destruction of the assumptions 
and structures on which Europe 
had been founded.
European integration after 
1945 was aided by the Cold 
War. America extended massive 
financial help for reviving Europe’s 
economy under what was called 
the ‘Marshall Plan’. The US also 
created a new collective security 
structure under NATO. Under the 
Marshall Plan, the Organisation for 
European Economic Cooperation 
(OEEC) was established in 1948 to 
channel aid to the west European 
states. It became a forum where 
the western European states 
began to cooperate on trade and 
economic issues. The Council of 
Europe, established in 1949, was 
another step forward in political 
cooperation. The process of 
economic integration of European 
capitalist countries proceeded 
step by step (see Timeline of 
European Integration) leading to 
the formation of the European 
Economic Community in 1957. 
This process acquired a political 
dimension with the creation 
of the European Parliament. 
The collapse of the Soviet bloc 
put Europe on a fast track and 
resulted in the establishment 
of the European Union in 1992.  
The foundation was thus laid for 
a common foreign and security 
policy, cooperation on justice and 
home affairs, and the creation of 
a single currency. 
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  
The European Union Flag
The circle of gold stars stands for solidarity and harmony between 
the peoples of Europe. It has twelve stars, as the number twelve is 
traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity.
Source: http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm
Chapter 2.indd   16 14 September 2022   11:02:17
2024-25
17
Contemporary Centres of Power
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 EU.
The EU has economic, 
political and diplomatic, and 
military influence. The European 
Union’s GDP is projected to be 
approximately $19.35 trillion 
in the year 2024. Its currency, 
the euro, can pose a threat to 
the dominance of the US dollar. 
Its share of world trade is much 
larger than that of the United 
States allowing it to be more 
assertive in trade disputes with 
the US and China. Its economic 
power gives it influence over its 
closest neighbours as well as in 
Asia and Africa. It also functions as 
an important bloc in international 
Oh, now I know what a 
Schengen visa means! 
Under the Schengen 
agreement, you have to 
get a visa from just one of 
the EU countries and that 
allows you entry in most 
of the other European 
Union countries.
Europ Ean u nion Map Ireland
United 
Kingdom
Portugal
Spain
France
Luxembourg
Belgium Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Czech 
Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
Austria
Cyprus
Malta
Greece
Older Members
New Members
Croatia
Romania
Bulgaria
Chapter 2.indd   17 15-03-2024   11:47:17
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
18
of the EU, France, holds permanent 
seat on the UN Security Council. 
The EU includes several non-
permanent members of the 
UNSC. This has enabled the EU 
to influence some US policies 
such as the current US position 
on Iran’s nuclear programme. 
Its use of diplomacy, economic 
investments, and negotiations 
rather than coercion and military 
force has been effective as in the 
case of its dialogue with China on 
human rights and environmental 
degradation.
Militarily, the EU’s combined 
armed forces are the second 
largest in the world. Its total 
spending on defence is second 
after the US. One EU member 
state, France, also has nuclear 
arsenals of approximately 
335 nuclear warheads. It is 
also the world’s second most 
important source of space and 
communications technology. 
As a supranational organi-
sation, the EU is able to intervene 
in economic, political and social 
areas. But in many areas its 
member states have their own 
foreign relations and defence 
policies that are often at odds 
with each other. Thus, Britain’s 
Prime Minister Tony Blair was 
America’s partner in the Iraq 
invasion, and many of the EU’s 
newer members made up the 
US-led ‘coalition of the willing’ 
whereas Germany and France 
opposed American policy. There 
is also a deep-seated ‘Euro-
skepticism’ in some parts                           TIMELINE OF EUROPEAN 
INTEGRATION 
1951 April: Six west European countries, France, West 
Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 
sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and 
Steel Community (ECSC).
1957 March 25: These six countries sign the Treaties of Rome 
establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and 
the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). 
1973 January: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom 
join the European Economic Community (EEC). 
1979 June: First direct elections to the European Parliament
1981 January: Greece joins the EEC.
1985 June: The Schengen Agreement abolishes border 
controls among the EEC members.
1986 January: Spain and Portugal join the EEC.
1990 October: Unification of Germany.
1992 February 7: The Treaty of Maastricht was signed 
establishing the European Union (EU).
1993 January: European Economic Community (EEC) was 
renamed the European Community (EC).
1995 January: Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU.
2002 January: Euro, the new currency, was introduced in 
the 12 EU members.
2004 May: Ten new members, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, 
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia 
and Slovenia join the EU.
2007 January: Bulgaria and Romania join the EU. Slovenia 
adopts the Euro.
2009 December: The Lisbon Treaty came into force.
2012 : The EU is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2013: Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU.
2016: Referendum in Britain, 51.9 per cent voters decide that 
Britain exit (Brexit) from the EU.
economic organisations such as 
the World Trade Organisation 
(WTO). 
The EU also has political and 
diplomatic influence. One member  
Chapter 2.indd   18 15-03-2024   11:47:18
2024-25
Page 5


Overview After the end of the bipolar 
structure of world politics in 
the early 1990s, it became 
clear that alternative centres of 
political and economic power 
could limit America’s dominance. 
Thus, in Europe, the European 
Union (EU) and, in Asia, the 
Association of South East Asian 
Nations (ASEAN), have emerged 
as forces to reckon with. While 
evolving regional solutions to 
their historical enmities and 
weaknesses, both the EU and the 
ASEAN have developed alternative 
institutions and conventions 
that build a more peaceful and 
cooperative regional order and 
have transformed the countries 
in the region into prosperous 
economies. The economic rise 
of China has made a dramatic 
impact on world politics. In this 
chapter, we take a look at some 
of these emerging alternative 
centres of power and assess their 
possible role in the future. 
Chapter 2
Contemporary  
Centres of Power
The two images here represent two phases of the history of 
China. The red poster – “The Socialist Road is the Broadest 
of All” – represents the ideology that guided China during its 
early phase after the Revolution. The photograph below is that 
of the city of Shanghai, the symbol of China’s new economic 
power.
Chapter 2.indd   15 14 September 2022   11:02:16
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
16
Europ Ean u nion As the Second World War came to 
an end, many of Europe’s leaders 
grappled with the ‘Question 
of Europe’. Should Europe be 
allowed to revert to its old rivalries 
or be reconstructed on principles 
and institutions that would 
contribute to a positive conception 
of international relations? The 
Second World War shattered many 
of the assumptions and structures 
on which the European states had 
based their relations. In 1945, the 
European states confronted the 
ruin of their economies and the 
destruction of the assumptions 
and structures on which Europe 
had been founded.
European integration after 
1945 was aided by the Cold 
War. America extended massive 
financial help for reviving Europe’s 
economy under what was called 
the ‘Marshall Plan’. The US also 
created a new collective security 
structure under NATO. Under the 
Marshall Plan, the Organisation for 
European Economic Cooperation 
(OEEC) was established in 1948 to 
channel aid to the west European 
states. It became a forum where 
the western European states 
began to cooperate on trade and 
economic issues. The Council of 
Europe, established in 1949, was 
another step forward in political 
cooperation. The process of 
economic integration of European 
capitalist countries proceeded 
step by step (see Timeline of 
European Integration) leading to 
the formation of the European 
Economic Community in 1957. 
This process acquired a political 
dimension with the creation 
of the European Parliament. 
The collapse of the Soviet bloc 
put Europe on a fast track and 
resulted in the establishment 
of the European Union in 1992.  
The foundation was thus laid for 
a common foreign and security 
policy, cooperation on justice and 
home affairs, and the creation of 
a single currency. 
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  
The European Union Flag
The circle of gold stars stands for solidarity and harmony between 
the peoples of Europe. It has twelve stars, as the number twelve is 
traditionally the symbol of perfection, completeness and unity.
Source: http://europa.eu/abc/symbols/emblem/index_en.htm
Chapter 2.indd   16 14 September 2022   11:02:17
2024-25
17
Contemporary Centres of Power
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 EU.
The EU has economic, 
political and diplomatic, and 
military influence. The European 
Union’s GDP is projected to be 
approximately $19.35 trillion 
in the year 2024. Its currency, 
the euro, can pose a threat to 
the dominance of the US dollar. 
Its share of world trade is much 
larger than that of the United 
States allowing it to be more 
assertive in trade disputes with 
the US and China. Its economic 
power gives it influence over its 
closest neighbours as well as in 
Asia and Africa. It also functions as 
an important bloc in international 
Oh, now I know what a 
Schengen visa means! 
Under the Schengen 
agreement, you have to 
get a visa from just one of 
the EU countries and that 
allows you entry in most 
of the other European 
Union countries.
Europ Ean u nion Map Ireland
United 
Kingdom
Portugal
Spain
France
Luxembourg
Belgium Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Poland
Czech 
Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Slovenia
Austria
Cyprus
Malta
Greece
Older Members
New Members
Croatia
Romania
Bulgaria
Chapter 2.indd   17 15-03-2024   11:47:17
2024-25
Contemporary World Politics
18
of the EU, France, holds permanent 
seat on the UN Security Council. 
The EU includes several non-
permanent members of the 
UNSC. This has enabled the EU 
to influence some US policies 
such as the current US position 
on Iran’s nuclear programme. 
Its use of diplomacy, economic 
investments, and negotiations 
rather than coercion and military 
force has been effective as in the 
case of its dialogue with China on 
human rights and environmental 
degradation.
Militarily, the EU’s combined 
armed forces are the second 
largest in the world. Its total 
spending on defence is second 
after the US. One EU member 
state, France, also has nuclear 
arsenals of approximately 
335 nuclear warheads. It is 
also the world’s second most 
important source of space and 
communications technology. 
As a supranational organi-
sation, the EU is able to intervene 
in economic, political and social 
areas. But in many areas its 
member states have their own 
foreign relations and defence 
policies that are often at odds 
with each other. Thus, Britain’s 
Prime Minister Tony Blair was 
America’s partner in the Iraq 
invasion, and many of the EU’s 
newer members made up the 
US-led ‘coalition of the willing’ 
whereas Germany and France 
opposed American policy. There 
is also a deep-seated ‘Euro-
skepticism’ in some parts                           TIMELINE OF EUROPEAN 
INTEGRATION 
1951 April: Six west European countries, France, West 
Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg 
sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and 
Steel Community (ECSC).
1957 March 25: These six countries sign the Treaties of Rome 
establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and 
the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). 
1973 January: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom 
join the European Economic Community (EEC). 
1979 June: First direct elections to the European Parliament
1981 January: Greece joins the EEC.
1985 June: The Schengen Agreement abolishes border 
controls among the EEC members.
1986 January: Spain and Portugal join the EEC.
1990 October: Unification of Germany.
1992 February 7: The Treaty of Maastricht was signed 
establishing the European Union (EU).
1993 January: European Economic Community (EEC) was 
renamed the European Community (EC).
1995 January: Austria, Finland and Sweden join the EU.
2002 January: Euro, the new currency, was introduced in 
the 12 EU members.
2004 May: Ten new members, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, 
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia 
and Slovenia join the EU.
2007 January: Bulgaria and Romania join the EU. Slovenia 
adopts the Euro.
2009 December: The Lisbon Treaty came into force.
2012 : The EU is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2013: Croatia becomes the 28th member of the EU.
2016: Referendum in Britain, 51.9 per cent voters decide that 
Britain exit (Brexit) from the EU.
economic organisations such as 
the World Trade Organisation 
(WTO). 
The EU also has political and 
diplomatic influence. One member  
Chapter 2.indd   18 15-03-2024   11:47:18
2024-25
19
Contemporary Centres of Power
of Europe about the EU’s 
integrationist agenda. Thus, for 
example, Britain’s former prime 
minister, Margaret Thatcher, 
kept the UK out of the European 
Market. Denmark and Sweden 
have resisted the Maastricht 
Treaty and the adoption of the 
euro, the common European 
currency. This limits the ability of 
the EU to act in matters of foreign 
relations and defence.
a ssociation of s outh 
East a sian n ations 
(as Ean )
Take a look at the political map of 
the world. Which countries would 
you say fall in the southeastern 
Imagine what would 
happen if they have 
a European Union 
football team!
region of Asia? Before and during 
the Second World War, this region 
of Asia suffered the economic and 
political consequences of repeated 
colonialisms, both European and 
Japanese. At the end of the war, 
it confronted problems of nation-
building, the ravages of poverty 
and economic backwardness and 
the pressure to align with one 
great power or another during 
the Cold War. This was a recipe 
for conflict, which the countries 
of Southeast Asia could ill afford. 
Efforts at Asian and Third World 
unity, such as the Bandung 
Conference and the Non-Aligned 
Movement, were ineffective in 
establishing the conventions 
for informal cooperation and 
interaction. Hence, the Southeast 
The cartoon appeared in 2003 when the European Union’s initiative to draft a 
common c onstitution failed. Why does the cartoonist use the image of the ship 
Titanic to represent EU?
© Ares, Cagle Cartoons Inc.
Chapter 2.indd   19 14 September 2022   11:02:19
2024-25