How the security challenges facing the newly-independent countries of ...
- The security challenges facing the newly-independent countries of Asia and Africa were different from the challenges in Europe in two ways. For one thing, the new countries faced the prospect of military conflict with neighbouring countries. For another, they had to worry about internal military conflict.
- These countries faced threats not only from outside their borders, mostly from neighbours, but also from within. Many newly independent countries came to fear their neighbours even more than they feared the US or Soviet Union or the former colonial powers. They quarrelled over borders and territories or control of people and populations or all of these simultaneously.
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How the security challenges facing the newly-independent countries of ...
The correct answer is option 'D', neither of them. Both statements are correct in describing the security challenges facing the newly-independent countries of Asia and Africa in comparison to Europe.
1. The prospect of military conflict with neighboring countries:
- The newly-independent countries in Asia and Africa faced significant security challenges due to the potential for military conflict with their neighboring countries. These conflicts often arose from territorial disputes, border tensions, and ethnic or religious rivalries.
- This was particularly true for countries that gained independence along with the partition of colonial territories, such as India and Pakistan, or those with contested borders, like Israel and its Arab neighbors.
- In contrast, Europe did not face the same level of military conflict between neighboring countries after World War II. The establishment of supranational organizations like the European Union and NATO played a crucial role in promoting cooperation and preventing armed conflicts among European nations.
2. Fear of neighbors:
- Many newly-independent countries in Asia and Africa came to fear their neighbors more than they feared the US, Soviet Union, or former colonial powers. This fear stemmed from historical conflicts, territorial disputes, and the perception of their neighbors as potential threats to their sovereignty and national security.
- For example, India and Pakistan have a long history of hostility and have fought multiple wars since their independence. Similarly, several African countries experienced border disputes and conflicts with their neighboring states.
- In Europe, the post-World War II era saw the establishment of mechanisms for collective security, such as NATO, which provided reassurance against external threats. European countries generally did not fear their neighbors to the same extent as the newly-independent countries in Asia and Africa.
In conclusion, the security challenges facing the newly-independent countries of Asia and Africa were different from the challenges in Europe. The prospect of military conflict with neighboring countries and the fear of neighbors were significant challenges faced by these countries, while Europe experienced a more peaceful environment due to supranational organizations and mechanisms for collective security.
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