Important Questions: The Cold War Era | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: List any four member countries of NATO.
Ans: The U.S.A., Britain, France, Canada.

Q2: Mention any two of the agreements signed between the two superpowers starting in the 1960s.
Ans: Two significant agreements signed between the two superpowers starting in the 1960s were the Partial Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (N.P.T.).

Q3: Mention any two major military features of the Cold War.
Ans: Two major military features of the Cold War were the formation of military alliances by both the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. and their involvement in military interventions in various countries.

Q4: Mention the military alliances formed by the western Block.
Ans: The military alliances formed by the western block during the Cold War were NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), CEATO (Central Treaty Organization), and CENTO (Central Treaty Organization).

Q5: What is meant by ‘Arenas of Cold War’?
Ans: Arenas of cold war mean the areas where crisis and war occurred or threatened to occur between the alliance system but did not cross certain limits. Arenas of the Cold War were Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan.

Q6: Why did different arenas of the Cold War not escalate into a hot war between the two alliances?
Ans:

• Both sides have enough capacity to retaliate against an attack and cause so many destructions.
• Both sides exhibited restraint on their actions to prevent nuclear war.

Q7: Assess the main contribution of the Non- Aligned movement to the newly independent countries.
Ans: The main contribution to the Non-Aligned movement to the newly independent countries is to keep them away from the ‘Cold War’.

Q8: Why did Jawaharlal Nehru say that non-alignment was not a policy of ‘fleeing away’?
Ans: Jawaharlal Nehru says that non-alignment was not a policy of ‘fleeing away rather India was in favor of actively intervening in world matters to reduce Cold War Tension.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q9: Explain the meaning of the term Cold War.
Ans: After the Second World War, the Cold War started between, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. A cold war is a state of tension between countries in which each side adopts policies designed to strengthen itself and weaken the other, a line falling short of an actual war. The term ‘Cold War’ came into use for describing the situation in which war was not actually fought but a warlike hysteria or as Nehru described ‘a brain war, a nerve war and a propaganda war’ was kept in operation. The Cold War has been a predominant factor in determining the conduct of international affairs in the Post-Second World War. It envisaged an area of neither peace nor war between the Soviet Union and its dozen allies on one hand and the United States and a score of its allies on the other hand. The western alliances led by the U.S.A. were committed to liberal democracy and capitalism while the Eastern bloc led by the U.S.S.R. was committed to the ideology of socialism and communalism.

Q10: India’s policy of non-alignment has been criticised for being ‘In¬consistent’ and ‘Unprincipled’. Do you agree? Why?
Ans:

• India’s policy of non-alignment has been criticised for being unprincipled. In the name of pursuing its national interest, it was said that India often refused to take a firm stand on critical international issues.
• India’s Policy of Non-alignment has been also criticised for being inconsistent. India criticised other countries for joining alliances, and itself signed the treaty of Friendship in 1971 with U.S.S.R.

Q11: Why did India distance itself from the two camps led by the U.S. and the Soviet Union? Explain.
Ans:

• First, India had to struggle against colonialism and imperialism. After getting freedom from imperialistic exploitations, faced the problem of economic reconstruction which could be accomplished in a peaceful atmosphere. So, India preferred not to join any group to avoid tension.
• Secondly, India adopted the policy of non-alignment for peaceful co-existence for securing world peace and stability.
• The policy of non-alignment was followed to elevate India’s prestige. If India gives it decision pertaining to international problems in a neutral way, both the power Blocs would respect its ideology, and the tension at the international level will lessen.
• In order to preserve the hard-earned sovereignty, protect the territorial integrity and promote rapid economic development.

Q12: Explain the role played by India in maintaining Afro-Asian unity.
Ans: India is always ready to have friendly relations with other States of the world. India not only improved its friendly ties with Asian countries but with countries of the world also. India tries to unite Asian and African countries to strengthen economic and political relations. India believes that these countries can in unity oppose colonialism and create an atmosphere for the freedom of other Asian and African countries.

Q13: Explain any three reasons each for the ‘arms race’ as well as the ‘arms control’ during the Cold War.
Ans: The following are the main three reasons for the arm-race during the Cold War.

• Both alliances wanted to keep maximum arms in comparison to each other.
• Both alliances wanted to have maximum arms as they were afraid of each other.
• Both alliances wanted to have maximum arms to have control over the opposite alliances.

Following are the three reasons for the arms control between the two alliances during Cold War.

• Both alliances realized that there can be any dangerous war in spite of keeping discipline and self-control.
• Atomic war will cause a big loss to both alliances.
• War equipment, armaments, and ammunition are costing sufficient to the economic resources of the nations.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q14: Describe the role played by India in keeping the Non-Aligned movement alive and relevant.
Ans: India is one of the founding fathers of NAM. India has always played an effective role in strengthening NAM. For the survival of NAM, India has played a vigorous and active role. Non-aligned continues to be a major principle of India’s foreign policy. Our Prime Ministers like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Smt. Indira Gandhi has always supported and strengthened the policies of NAM.
The Indian Stewardship during 1983-86, made the NAM more respectable than before. As the chairman of the NAM, India gave strength to the movement by promoting consensus on international issues and problems and by securing the interest of the non-aligned countries. Smt. Indira Gandhi provided dynamism and cohesion to the Non-Aligned Movement. From the early days of NAM to nowadays, India presented a significant initiative for mobilizing wider support for the NAM.
Role of India in every meeting of NAM assumes significance. It has played a key role in the survival of NAM. After the dissolution of the American bloc and Russian bloc, the critics of NAM started arguing about the existence of NAM. But India always supported NAM and during the meeting of the tenth Summit, our then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao asserted that a unipolar world cannot reduce the NAM to a mere bagatelle.
In his address to the meet, he gave a call for a new charter of the NAM for carving out a changed role in NAM. India played a leadership role in the deliberations and decisions of the tenth NAM Summit. During the eleventh NAM Summit, India continued to remain a major NAM exponent.
India continued its faith and support to NAM and has always tried to achieve the aims of NAM. Non-alignment continues to be a major principle of Indian foreign policy. In Feb. 1995, the then Minister of External Affairs Mr Pranab Mukherjee declared India’s full and continued faith in the NAM. In 1996, the short-lived B.J.P. government lost no time in starting India’s continued faith in NAM and its resolve to remain as an active participant in NAM. In June 1996 the United Front government also announced its commitment to NAM. In April 1997 Prime Minister I.K. Gujral also committed the same. In 1998, the twelfth Non-aligned summit accepted India’s key proposals for a global summit on combating terrorism.
In July 2009, addressing the opening session of the 15th NAM Summit, the Indian Prime Minister described the Non-Aligned Movement as a moral force for the equitable transformation of a world going through the worst economic crisis in living memory. In August 2012, addressing the 16th NAM Summit then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, strongly pitching for coordinated global actions against international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, asked NAM to take a lead in this and also take a stand based on universally accepted principles on Syria. In Sept. 2016, 17th, and in Oct 2018, addressing the 18th NAM summit, India, strongly criticized terrorism.
No doubt, India is a motivating spirit behind NAM. It has always supported NAM, its policies, and plans. Every political party that came to rule India bows before NAM and fully supports it. India has played and is still playing an appreciable role in the survival of NAM.

Q15: How did the two power blocs of the world form their own alliances to become superpowers? Explain with the help of examples.
Ans: The world during the Cold War was sharply divided between two blocs.

• These two superpowers were keen on expanding their spheres of influence in different parts of the world. The smaller states as compare to big powers were more interested to link themselves to the superpower for their own interests, protection, weapons, economic aids etc. During the cold-war period, Europe too was divided into two groups. Most countries of Western Europe sided with the US and of eastern Europe sided with the Soviet Union and they are given the name Western and eastern alliances.
• International alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpowers and the calculations of the smaller states. In many cases, these superpowers used their military power to bring smaller countries into their respective alliances NATO, SEATO, and CENTO – military and mutual treaties or alliances were made by the United States of America, whereas the Soviet Union used its influence in eastern Europe known as the Warsaw Pact and also the Soviet Union and communist China made close relations with North Korea, Iraq, and North Vietnam, etc.

Q16: How far is it correct to say the international alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpower and? the calculations of the smaller states?
Ans: The international alliances during the Cold War era were determined by the requirements of the superpower.

For examples:

• The smaller countries were helpful to the superpowers in gaining access to natural resources such as oil and minerals.
• The smaller countries were helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to territory, from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.
• The superpowers could gain access to locations from where they could spy on each other.
• The smaller countries together could help pay for military expenses.

Thus, the smaller countries were helpful to the superpowers in gaining their personal benefits. For example:

• The smaller countries got security from the superpowers against their local territorial opposing nations.
• The smaller countries got weapons and economic-help from these superpowers also.

Q17: Explain the formation and importance of NATO, Warsaw Pact and SEATO during the Cold War period.
Ans:

• NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was established in April 1949. It bound the U.S.A. to the defense of Western Europe. It also called the Atlantic Alliance or Western Alliance 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. NATO was a U.S. sponsored military alliance and at present consists of 26 countries including the U.S.A. and European countries.
• Warsaw Pact: The Warsaw Treaty Organisation came into existence nine days after West Germany’s entry as a full member into the NATO. The U.S.S.R. took the initiative in the establishment of Warsaw Pact which came into existence in May 1955. Warsaw Pact was a treaty of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance. The treaty was signed for a period of 20 years. Its doors were open to all European states. The main aim of the Warsaw Pact was to counter the impact and influence of NATO.
• SEATO: Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) was established in 1954. It was a military organization and its members are Australia, France, Britain, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand, and the U.S.A, etc. main aim of this organization to prevent the U.S.S.R is an expansion in this area.

Q18: How did India play a crucial role in the Non-aligned Movement during the Cold War period? Explain.
Ans: India is one of the founding fathers of NAM. India has always played an effective role in strengthening NAM. For the survival of NAM, India has played a vigorous and active role. Non-aligned continues to be a major principle of India’s foreign policy. Our Prime Ministers like Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Smt. Indira Gandhi has always supported and strengthened the policies of NAM. The Indian Stewardship during 1983-86, made the NAM more respectable than before. As the chairman of the NAM, India gave strength to the movement by promoting consensus on international issues and problems and by securing the interest of the non-aligned countries. Smt. Indira Gandhi provided dynamism and cohesion to the Non-Aligned Movement. From the early days of NAM to nowadays, India presented a significant initiative for mobilizing wider support for the NAM.
Role of India in every meeting of NAM assumes significance. It has played a key role in the survival of NAM. After the dissolution of the American bloc and Russian bloc, the critics of NAM started arguing about the existence of NAM. But India always supported NAM and during the meeting of the tenth Summit, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao asserted that a unipolar world cannot reduce the NAM to a mere bagatelle. In his address to the meet, he gave a call for a new charter of the NAM for carving out a changed role in NAM. India played a leadership role in the deliberations and decisions of the tenth NAM Summit. During the eleventh NAM Summit, and there on India continued to remain a major NAM exponent. India continued its faith and support to NAM and has always tried to achieve the aims of NAM. Non¬alignment continues to be a major principle of Indian foreign policy.

Q19: Describe briefly the Cuban missile crisis.
Ans: Cuba was an ally of the Soviet Union. In April 1961, the leaders of U.S.S.R. were worried that the U.S.A. would invade Communist-ruled Cuba and overthrow Fidel Castro, the President of Cuba. Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of U.S.S.R. placed nuclear missiles in Cuba. America was threatened by Soviet Union missiles and therefore President John F. Kennedy and his advisers were determined to get Khrushchev to remove the missiles and nuclear weapons from Cuba. President Kennedy ordered American warships to intercept any Soviet Union ships heading to Cuba. A conflict between two big powers was imminent and this crisis was known as Cuba Missile Crisis.
During the time the member states of OAS were readying their support for the naval quarantine, there took place an exchange of letters between President Kennedy and Khrushchev, Kennedy and U. Thant, the acting Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ultimately, the threat of a nuclear war was averted. In this crisis. President Kennedy and Soviet leader Khrushchev played an effective role.

Q20: Suppose there had been no Cold N War, how would that situation have affected India’s Foreign Policy?
Ans: India’s foreign policy is based on four major principles i.e., the policy of Non-alignment, Panchsheel, opposition to imperialists and colonialists, and full faith in the principle of the United Nations. In case the Cold War had not taken place and there would have emerged several major powers at the end of Second World War, India’s foreign policy had been affected in the following way:

• Effect on Policy of Non-alignment. India adopted the policy of non-alignment because, after Second World War, the world was divided into two blocs. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of India’s foreign policy, clearly pointed out that India could not afford to snap its relation with either of the two blocs. So, the policy of Non-alignment was adopted. If there had been no Cold War, there would have been no need of adopting the policy of Non-alignment.
• Friendly Relations with All States. If there had been no bloc and no Cold War then India would have adopted more friendly relations with all the countries of the world.
• No Kashmir Problem. Kashmir issue is a major problem between India and Pakistan and this problem became a pending issue due to the Cold War. This problem could have been solved by the United Nations if there had been no Cold War. Due to the Cold War, America always sided with Pakistan.
• Active Participation in International Politics. If there had been no indifference in the attitude of Pakistan due to the Cold War, India would have more actively participated in International politics.