NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science - The Cold War Era

Textbook Questions Solved

Q.1. Which among the following statements about the Cold War is wrong?
(а) It was a competition between the US 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 US and USSR were engaged in direct wars.
Ans. (d) 

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. (c) 

Q.3. Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements that describe the features of Military alliances formed by the superpowers.
(a) Member countries of the alliance are to provide bases in their respective lands for superpowers.
(b) Member countries to support the superpower both in terms of ideology and military strategy.
(c) When a nation attacks any member country, it is considered as an attack on all the member countries.
(d) Superpowers assist all the member countries to develop their own nuclear weapons.
Ans. 
(a) True 
(b) True 
(c) True 
(d) False

Q.4. Here is a list of countries. Write against each of these blocs they belonged to during the Cold War.
Ans. 
(i) Poland: Eastern Alliance (Warsaw Pact)
(ii) France: Western Alliance (NATO)
(iii) Japan: Western Alliance (NATO)
(iv) Nigeria: NAM
(v) North Korea: Eastern Alliance (Warsaw Pact)
(vi) Sri Lanka: NAM

Q.5. The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control. What were the reasons for both this development?
Ans. The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control:

1. Cuban Missile Crisis engaged both of them (superpowers) in the development of nuclear weapons to influence the world.
2. US dropped nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the intention to stop the Soviet Union from making military and political gains in Asia.
3. Both the powers were not ready to initiate a war because they knew that destruction from these will not justify any gain for them.
4. Both the powers were to be rational and responsible being restraint and avoiding the risk of another World War to ensure human survival.
5. Hence, both the superpowers decided to limit certain kinds of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons by signing various significant agreements within a decade i.e. Limited Test Ban Treaty, Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty etc.

Q.6. Why did the superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries? Give three reasons.
Ans. Superpowers have military alliances with smaller states who were helpful for them in gaining access to:

1. Vital resources as oil and minerals.
2. Territory from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.
3. Locations from where they could spy on each other.
4. Economic support to pay their military expenses.

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

1. The Cold War led to several shooting wars but this did not lead to another World War.
2. Despite direct confrontations in Korea (1950-53), Berlin (1958-62), the Congo (early 1960s), neither alliance system crossed certain limits.
3. Many lives have been lost in some of the arenas like Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan but World War spread a nuclear war or global hostilities.

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 the US and USSR was two fold:

• Took particular care in staging away from the two alliances.
• Raised voice against the newly decolonized countries becoming part of these alliances.
• Moreover, India tried to reduce the differences and rivalries between these alliances from escalating into a full-scale war.

Yes, this policy served India’s interests also:

• Non-alignment allowed India to take international decisions that served India’s interests rather than the interests of superpowers and its allies.
• India maintained a balance between two superpowers as if India felt ignored by one superpower it could tilt towards other superpowers.
• Neither the alliance could take India for granted

Q.9. NAM was considered a ‘third option’ by third-world countries. How did this option benefit their growth during the peak of the Cold War?
Ans. Non-alignment offered newly decolonized countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a third option—not to join either alliance. A majority of NAM members were categorized as the Least Development Countries (LDCs), to be developed more economically not to remain dependent on richer countries. A new International Economic Order (NIEO) originated with this realization. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought out a report in 1972 entitled towards a New Trade Policy for Development which proposed reform of the global trading system:

• LDCs got control over their own natural resources which were being exploited by developed western countries. 
• To make western market available for LDCs to make trade more beneficial.
• To reduce cost of technology from western countries.
• To provide LDCs with a greater role in international economic institutions.

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

OR

What is the relevance of non-aligned movement after the end of the Cold War?
Ans. By the mid 1970s, NAM had become an economic pressure group and by late 1980s, the NIEO initiative had faded due to stiff competition from developed countries who acted as a united group while non-aligned countries struggled to maintain their unity in face of this opposition. Non-alignment both as an international movement and as a core of India’s foreign policy lost some of its earlier relevance. Though non-alignment contained some core values and enduring ideas. It was based on a recognition that decolonised states shared a historical affiliation and can become powerful force if they come together, as very small and poor countries need not to become follower of any big powers instead they could pursue an independent foreign policy also.
In nutshell, it can be concluded that NAM has not lost its relevance. It has stood test of adverse circumstances. It has served an important purpose of protecting and preserving interests of third world countries.