Important Questions: International Organisations | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: In 2003, the United States along with about 40 countries launched its invasion of Iraq in the name of preventing the development of weapons of mass destruction. Since no evidence of it was unearthed, what could be another reason for this invasion?
Ans: The following could be other reasons for this invasion:

• To control the Iraqi oil field.
• To install a regime friendly to the U.S.A.

Q2: Highlight any two objectives of Amnesty International.
Ans:

• The first objective of Amnesty International is to protect human rights all over the world.
• It promotes respect for all human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Q3: Why do we need organizations like the U.N.?
Ans:

• International Organisations were helpful to stop wars and establish law and order in the world.
• International Organisations were helpful in solving the problems, which were not solved by a nation.

Q4: Mention any two agencies of the United Nations.
Ans:

• UNESCO
• ILO is the two agencies of the United Nations.

Q5: Highlight any one benefit of having an international organization.
Ans: An international organization can maintain peace and order in the world.

Q6: Correct the following statement and rewrite.
Ans: Ten temporary members of the U.N. Security Council are elected by the general assembly for a period of two years.

Q7: Highlight any one benefit of having an international organization.
Ans: An international organization can maintain peace and order in the world.

Q8: What is World Health Organisation (WHO)?
Ans: World Health Organisation was established in 1940. Its main aim is to improve the health standard of the people of the world.
It has three organs.

• World Health Council,
• Executive Board and
• Secretariat.

Q9: Who is present Secretary General of the United Nations?
Ans: Ban-Ki-Moon from South Korea.

Q10: Name any two member states of the European Union who are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Ans: Britain and France

Q11: What is the main objective of the United Nations?
Ans: To prevent international conflict and to facilitate cooperation among states.

Q12: Mention any two agencies of the United Nations.
Ans: 

• International Monetary Fund.
• World Health Organisation.

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.

Q13: How many member countries have got veto power in the UN Security Council and why?
Ans: 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.

Q14: Mention any two advantages of having international organisation in the world?
Ans: 

• To help countries in the matters of conflicts and differences.
• To make the countries cooperate and create better living conditions for humanity.

Q15:  State any two objectives of the UN.
Ans: 

• To maintain international peace and security.
• To facilitate cooperation among member countries by avoiding conflicts and war.

Q16: State any two objectives of Human Rights watch.
Ans: 

• To draw global media’s attention to human rights abuses.
• 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.

Q17: What reforms in the UN are required?
Ans: Following reforms are required in the UN:

• Reform of the organisation’s structures and processes.
• A review of the issues that fall within the jurisdiction of the organisation.
• 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.

Q18: Discuss the resolution adopted by General Assembly in 1992 over the reform of the UN Security Council.
Ans: In 1992, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, which reflected three main complaints:

• The UN Security Council no longer represents contemporary political realities.
• Its decisions reflect only western values and interests and are dominated by a few7 powers.
• 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.

Q19: What is the veto power? Should it be modified?
Ans: 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

Q20: What is the full form of W.T.O.? When was it set up? How does it y function?
Ans: The emergence of W.T.O. (World Trade Organisation) is another feature of globalization. W.T.O. came into being on 1 Jan. 1995 at Marrakesh. W.T.O. is an indication of the globalization process. Martin Shaw observes that although “The W.T.O. remains dominated by the west and is partly a forum for resolving into western economic differences, it is not more or less universally accepted as the framework for regulating trade, as China’s admission in 1996 recognized.” At present, it consists of 161 members. W.T.O. is trying to give a shape, order, and direction to the world trade by securing unanimous agreements after deliberating on trade issues as linked to competition, investment, etc.

Q21: ''The U.N. is an imperfect body but without it, the world would be worse off.” Explain the statement.
Ans: There are reasons for the fact that ‘the U.N. is an imperfect body but without it, the world would be worse off’.

• The U.N. provides an arena in which it is possible to modify the attitude and policies of other countries. U.N. does provide a space within which arguments against specific U.S. attitudes and policies are heard.
• Without the U.N. the world would be worse off as there will be more threats of war and conflicts.
• It avoids international wars or chances of the third war of giving balancing through discussions and compromises.
• Terrorism too will get encouragement.

Q22: Highlight any four factors which justify India’s claim to a permanent seat in the U.N. security council.
Ans:

• India is the second-most populous country in the world comprising almost one-fifth of the world population.
• India is the largest democratic country in the world.
• India has full faith in the U.N. and it has actively participated in all initiatives of the United Nations.
• India has played an important role in the peace-keeping efforts of the U.N.

Q23: Why can the U.N. not serve as a balance against the U.S. dominance? Explain.
Ans: Following are the reasons for which the U.N. cannot serve as a balance against the U.S. dominance.

• Only U.S. is a big power in the absence of U.S.S.R. and U.S.A. power cannot be easily checked.
• Due to the disappearance of the Soviet Union, the U.S.A becomes the only superpower with its military and economic powers, ignore the U.N. and any other international organization.
• The U.S. has unmatched financial powers is the single largest contributor to the U.N.
• the U.S. has its “Veto’ power and can stop any moves that are against its interests. The U.S. can and does use this power to ‘split’ or reduce opposition to its policies.

Q24: What is Amnesty International? State its mains functions.
Ans: Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization that is working in the international field. It campaigns for the protection of human rights all over the world.

• The first objective of Amnesty International is to protect human rights all over the world.
• It promotes respect for all human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Q25: Critically evaluate the difficulties involved in implementing the suggested reforms to reconstruct the U.N.
Ans: 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?

• India’s nuclear weapon capabilities
• If India is included, some emerging powers (Brazil, Germany, Japan, South Africa) will also be accommodated.
• France and the US advocate that Africa and South America must be represented for they do not have any representation in the present structure.

Q26: What steps should be taken to make the UN more relevant in the changing context?
Ans: 

• Creation of Peace Building Commission.
• Acceptance of responsibility of international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities.
• Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations
•  An agreement to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Q27: 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.
(i) Is this necessary to engage into wars during conflicts among countries?
(ii) Is an international organisation a super state?
(iii) What is the significance of international organisation?
Ans:
(i) No, instead countries can discuss contentious issues to find peaceful solutions.
(ii) No, it is created by and responds to states and comes into being when study agrees to its creation.
(iii) To help member states to resolve problems peacefully without going to war.

Q28: 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.
(i) How many member states were there in the UN 2006?
(ii) Name five permanent members of UN Security Council.
(iii) Why these states were selected as permanent?
Ans:
(i) There were 192 member states in the UN by 2006.
(ii) The UK, US, China, Russia and France are the permanent members.
(iii) Because they were most powerful immediately after the Second World War and constituted the victors in the war.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q29: Describe the composition of the U.N. Security Council. What is the: major difference in privileges given: to its permanent and non-permanent members.
Ans: Security Council is the most important and powerful organ of the United Nations. It is also regarded as the executive of the U.N. Security Council which is mainly responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It consists of 15 members, five of which are permanent members of the Security Council. The permanent members are – U.S.A. Britain, Republic of China, France, and Russia. Ten members are non-permanent. These non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years. No state can be an elected member for two consecutive terms.
The major difference in Privileges given to the permanent and non-permanent members:

• Five members (USA, Russia, England, France, China) are permanent members, while 10 other non-permanent are elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years.
• The five permanent members enjoy Veto Power. But non-permanent members have not these privileges.

Q30: Examine the six reforms proposed as criteria for new permanent and non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Ans: Security Council is the most important and powerful organ of the United Nations. It is also regarded as the executive of the U.N. Security Council which is mainly responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It consists of 15 members, five of which are permanent members of the Security Council. The permanent members are the U.S.A., Britain, the Republic of China, France, and Russia. Ten members are non-permanent. These non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for a period of two years. No state can be an elected member for two consecutive terms.

• Economically Strong: For the permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council, member nations should be economically wealthy and prosperous.
• Militarily Strong: A nation that desires to be a permanent member should be militarily strong so that the nation can play a decisive role while solving international problems.
• The thirdly desirous nation should pay or contribute a maximum budget for the working of U.N.O.
• A big nation in terms of its population.
• A democratic country having great respect for democracy and human rights.
• A country has to make the council more representative of the world’s diversity in terms of geography, economic system, and culture.

Q31: Describe the three main complaints related to the U.N. Security Council which were reflected in the resolution passed by the U.N. General Assembly in 1992.
Ans: Following three complaints related to the U.N. Security Council were reflected in the resolution passed by the U.N. General Assembly in 1992.

• The U.N. Security Council no longer represented contemporary political realities.
• The decisions take by Security Council reflect only western values and interests.
• The U.N. Security Council lacks equitable representation. Criteria proposed for new Permanent Member of Security Council.
  • A major military power.
  • A big economic power.
  • A major contribution to the budget of U.N.

Q32: Describe the two basic reforms of the U.N. on which almost everyone agrees that they are necessary after the Cold War.
Ans: The United Nations was established in 1945 and now needs reforms in its structure and working. Some scholars are of the opinion that reforming the United Nations means a restructuring of the Security Council. I fully agree with this view. In fact, if we are really interested in reforming the U.N. then we must reform the Security Council. The Security Council is one of the most important organs of the United Nations. The Security Council is mainly responsible for maintaining international peace and security. The Security Council decides issues involving the deployment of armed forces. The Security Council may take such action by air, sea, or land force, as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security.
The Security Council consists of 15 members, five of which are permanent members of the Security Council. The permanent members enjoy Veto power. If we want to reform the U.N. then reforms should be made in the Security Council because it is one of the most powerful organs of the U.N. The Security Council reflects the global power structure of 1945, when many nations of the world were still under colonial rule. Some countries and experts want the organisations to play a greater role in peace and security missions, while others want its role to be confined to development and humanitarian work.

Q33: Describe any six criteria for the new membership of Security Council as suggested after 1997.
Ans: 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.

Q34: Examine the role played by India in the implementation of UN policies and programmes.
Ans: 

• India believes that a strengthened and revitalised UN is desirable in the changing world.
• India also supports an enhanced role for the UN in promoting development and cooperation among states.
• 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.
• India debates more representation in Security Council may enjoy greater support in world community. 
• India has major concern about restructuring of UN Security Council.
• India supports the role of developing countries should be represented in Security Council in decision making.

Q35: How far did the UN perform its role successor fully in maintaining peace in the world? Explain.
Ans: 

• Interdependence and globalisation is not possible without the international organisations such as the UN.
• To enhance cooperation on the issues of poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, crime rate etc.
• To provide financial assistance to developing countries to stabilise economy all over the world, the UN and its specialized agencies are always required.
• The UN works as a forum to solve any international dispute among nations and sort out the best possible.
• 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.

Q36: Suggest any six steps since 2005 to make the United Nations more relevant in the changing context.
Ans: In September 2005, the UN celebrated its 60th anniversary and leaders decided to make it more relevant in the changing context by following steps:

• Creation of Peace Building Commission.
• Acceptance of the responsibility of the international community in case of failures of national governments to protect their own citizens from atrocities.
• Establishment of a Human Rights Council (Operational Since 19 June 2006).
• Agreements to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
• Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
• Creation of a Democracy Fund.
• An agreement to wind up the Trusteeship Council.

Q37: Can the UN serve as a balance against the US dominance?
Ans: No, the UN can not serve against the US dominance in a comfort zone because:

• The US has been the only superpower after 1991 and may ignore international organisations economically and militarily.
• Its veto power can stop any move damaging its interests.
• 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.

Q38: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. Who is the person being commented in the cartoon?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Ans:
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.

Q39: Study the picture  given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What does the cartoon represent?
2. What type of crisis does the cartoon show?
3. What message does the cartoon convey?
Ans:
 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.

Q40: On a political outline map of the world locate and label the following and symbolise them as indicated:   

1. Five permanent members of UN Security Council and symbolise them as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2. Locate and label peace keeping operations.
Ans:
1. (1) France, (2) Russia, (3) The UK, (4) The US, (5) China
2. (a) Cyprus 1964
(b) Lebanon 1978
(b) Israel 1974
(d) Sudan 2005
(e) East Timor 2006