Previous Year: Long Questions with Answers - Security in the Contemporary World (Part - 1)

Previous Year Questions 2025

Q.1. Explain any three security challenges faced by the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa after the Second World War.  (6 Marks)

Answer: Newly independent states in Asia and Africa faced unique security challenges distinct from those in Europe. First, they faced the prospect of military conflict with neighbors. Unlike European powers who had stabilized their borders, these new states frequently quarreled over territories, borders, and populations, often leading to wars. Second, they had to worry about internal military conflict. Many states were threatened by separatist movements seeking to create independent countries. Civil wars became a major security burden, making up over 95% of armed conflicts worldwide. Third, there was a merger of internal and external threats. Neighbors often instigated or supported internal separatist movements to weaken the state, leading to complex tensions where a domestic rebellion was fueled by foreign interference. These countries also feared imperial wars, worrying that former colonial rulers might attack them again to regain control. Thus, their security landscape was doubly burdened by external border disputes and internal fragility.

Q.2. Explain any three differences between the Non-traditional and Traditional notion of security.   (6 Marks)

Answer: The differences between traditional and non-traditional security are categorized by their referent, nature of threats, and approach.

1. The Referent (Who is being secured): Traditional security is state-centric, focusing on protecting the territory and governing institutions. Non-traditional security expands this to include individuals, communities, and all of humankind, often referred to as 'human' or 'global' security.

2. The Nature of Threats: Traditional security views military force as the principal threat. Non-traditional security includes a wide range of dangers such as poverty, health epidemics, global warming, and human rights violations. It argues that hunger and disease kill far more people than war and terrorism combined.

3. Approach to Security: Traditional security relies on deterrence, defense, and alliances to meet military threats. Non-traditional security emphasizes international cooperation. Since problems like environmental degradation are global, they require the involvement of international organizations, NGOs, and collective global action rather than military confrontation.

Q.3. Explain health epidemics and terrorism as the two new sources of threat under the non-traditional sources of threat to security.  (6 Marks)

Answer: Terrorism and Health Epidemics represent the shifting nature of global insecurity. Terrorism involves political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately. It aims to change a political condition by using force to "terrorise" the public. While terrorism is not new, events like 9/11 have forced governments to treat it as a primary security concern. It creates a borderless threat, as international terrorism involves the citizens or territory of multiple countries. Health Epidemics, such as HIV-AIDS, Bird Flu, and SARS, spread rapidly due to migration, tourism, and business. One country's failure to manage a disease can lead to infections globally, making borders less meaningful. For instance, by 2003, 4 crore people were infected with HIV-AIDS, with poor regions like Africa suffering the most as expensive treatments remained out of reach. These epidemics demonstrate a growing inter-dependence where traditional military security is useless; instead, they require massive international cooperation and drug therapies to ensure human survival.

Q.4. Suggest the type of security that India should prefer to fight the threats like poverty and epidemics.  (6 Marks)

Answer: To effectively fight poverty and epidemics, India should prefer Non-traditional/Human Security with a focus on Cooperative Security. Traditional military strength cannot alleviate poverty or cure a virus; in fact, military spending often diverts funds from social welfare. Instead, India's strategy involves economic development aimed at lifting citizens out of misery and reducing inequalities. By adopting a democratic political system, India allows deprived groups to articulate grievances, pressuring the government to combine growth with human development. Furthermore, India should utilize International Cooperation, as seen in its support for the Kyoto Protocol and UN peacekeeping missions. Dealing with epidemics requires sharing information and participating in global health norms. Since these threats are global, India's security is best served by strengthening international institutions and norms that foster an equitable New International Economic Order (NIEO), ensuring that resources are available for health and development rather than just military hardware.

Q.5. Explain any three new sources of threats to non-traditional security.  (6 Marks)

Answer: Three critical new sources of threat include global poverty, migration, and human rights violations.

1. Global Poverty: High population growth in the "South" combined with low incomes creates a disparity that fuels conflict. In sub-Saharan Africa, poverty is so deep that more people were killed in local wars there than in the rest of the world combined at the start of the 21st century.

2. Migration and Refugees: Poverty and war lead to massive movements of people. States are legally bound to accept refugees fleeing persecution, but not migrants seeking economic improvement, leading to international political friction. Internal displacement, such as the case of Kashmiri Pandits, also creates security burdens within nations.

3. Human Rights Violations: There is a global debate on whether the international community should intervene when states abuse their own citizens. Instances of genocide in Rwanda or the Indonesian military's actions in East Timor highlight that the failure to protect human rights constitutes a major threat to human security.

Q.6. Explain any three components of traditional security policy.   (6 Marks)

Answer: Traditional security policy is based on managing military threats through specific strategies.

1. Deterrence and Defense: Deterrence is the primary goal of preventing war by signaling to an aggressor that an attack would result in unacceptable costs. Defense is the secondary goal-if war breaks out, the state must defend itself to deny the attacker their goals and end the conflict quickly.

2. Balance of Power: States are sensitive to the power of neighbors. To prevent a future attack, governments work to maintain a balance by building their own military, economic, and technological power. This ensures no single country becomes strong enough to dominate others.

3. Alliance Building: States form coalitions to coordinate actions against a identified military threat. These alliances are based on national interests and are usually formalised through treaties. For example, the US backed Islamic militants against the USSR in the 1980s, but changed its stance when its interests shifted after the 9/11 attacks.

Previous Year Questions 2024

Q.1. Explain any three security challenges faced by the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa after the Second World War.    [2024]

Answer: Security Challenges:
(i) Military threats from neighbouring states - Many newly independent states faced the prospect of armed conflict with close neighbours. These threats forced them to build and modernise their armed forces to deter or resist possible invasions.
(ii) Greater fear of neighbouring powers than of the superpowers - For most of these countries the immediate insecurity came from nearby states with which they shared borders, historical rivalries or unresolved disputes, rather than from distant superpowers.
(iii) Border and territorial disputes - Disagreements over borders, control of territory or the allegiance of particular populations led to recurring tensions and sometimes open conflict between new states.
(iv) Internal challenges - Several countries confronted separatist movements, communal tensions and sharp socio-economic inequalities. These internal problems threatened state stability, undermined social cohesion and often produced human-rights concerns.

Q.2. Explain any three components of the Indian security strategy.

Answer:
(i) Strengthening military capabilities: Building credible conventional and, later, strategic forces to deter external aggression and protect territorial integrity.
(ii) Supporting international norms and institutions: Working through regional and global organisations, treaties and diplomatic channels to uphold rules that protect India's security interests.
(iii) Managing internal security threats: Addressing insurgencies and separatist movements in regions such as Nagaland, Mizoram and Jammu & Kashmir through a mix of security measures, political dialogue and development initiatives.
(iv) Addressing socio-economic causes of insecurity: Reducing poverty and economic inequality to remove root causes of unrest and to strengthen the resilience of society.

Q.3. Explain any three reasons for spending more on traditional security than on non-traditional security by India. 

Answer: Reasons:
(i) Legacy of interstate wars: India fought wars and skirmishes with Pakistan (1947-48, 1965, 1971, 1999) and with China (1962). These conflicts created a continuing requirement for strong conventional forces.
(ii) Military modernisation after setbacks: The defeat in 1962 exposed gaps in preparedness and led to large investment in updating and strengthening the armed forces.
(iii) Internal insurgencies: Persistent internal security challenges from separatist and insurgent movements required resources for policing, paramilitary forces and counter-insurgency measures.
(iv) Strategic deterrence: India invested in nuclear and strategic capabilities to deter threats from hostile neighbours and to secure a favourable strategic posture in the region.

Q.4. Explain any three new sources of threat to security with examples.

Answer: New sources of threat:
(i) Terrorism: Political violence that deliberately targets civilians to achieve political aims. Terrorist acts seek to coerce governments or public opinion through fear.
Example: Hijacking of aircraft; bombing of crowded public places.
(ii) Violation of human rights: Systematic repression, mass killings or denial of political and civil rights can destabilise states and invite external intervention or severe international criticism.
Example: Large-scale abuses prompting international condemnation or intervention, such as foreign responses to atrocities in occupied territories.
(iii) Health epidemics: Rapidly spreading diseases cross borders through travel and trade and can cause major social and economic disruption. By the early 2000s, around 40 million people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS, illustrating how health crises can become long-term security challenges.
(iv) Global poverty: Widespread poverty undermines state capacity and contributes to instability, migration and conflict.
(v) Migration: Large or sudden population movements can create humanitarian, economic and security pressures on receiving states.

Q. 5. What is meant by traditional notion of external security? Describe any two components of this type of security.

Answer: Traditional notion of external security holds that the main danger to a state comes from military threats posed by other states. It focuses on protecting sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity from external military attack. Components of this type of security:
(i) Deterrence and defence against external attacks: Deterrence aims to prevent war by convincing potential attackers that the costs of aggression will be too high. Defence refers to the ability to fight and repel an attack if deterrence fails.
(ii) Avoidance of war: Policies and measures intended to reduce the chances of interstate conflict, such as diplomacy, alliances and confidence-building measures.
(iii) Balance of power: Managing relationships and capabilities so that no single state or coalition becomes so dominant that it can threaten others' survival.
Detailed Answer: Traditional external security addresses threats that arise from other states. Governments combine deterrence (to prevent war) and defence (to limit or win a war) so as to protect national independence and territory. Building military strength, forming alliances and maintaining a favourable balance of power are central to this approach.

Q.6. Explain balance of power as a component of traditional security policy. How could a state achieve this balance?

Answer: The balance of power is the practice by which states prevent any one state or coalition from becoming overwhelmingly powerful and thus threatening others. A state perceives a nearby stronger state as a potential future threat and seeks to ensure that power relations remain roughly equal so that aggression is unattractive or unprofitable.
How a state can achieve this balance:
(i) Build up military capabilities: Strengthening armed forces and defence preparedness to match or deter neighbours' power.
(ii) Form alliances and partnerships: Entering agreements with other states to combine military and political weight against a stronger power.
(iii) Diplomacy and conflict resolution: Reducing tensions through negotiations, treaties and confidence-building measures to avoid escalation and to adjust relative positions peacefully.

Q.7. What is meant by traditional notions of internal and external security? Explain.
Or
What is meant by traditional notions of internal and external security? Describe.

Answer: Traditional notions of security include both internal and external dimensions.
Internal security: Concerned with threats that arise within a state's borders. This includes organised rebellion, separatist movements, communal violence and large-scale disorder. After 1945 many powerful countries enjoyed relative internal stability, but newly independent states often faced internal unrest that threatened state survival.
External security: Concerned with threats from other states, especially military aggression. During the Cold War, for example, states organised alliances and preparedness against the risk of attack from rival blocs. External security measures focused on deterrence, defence and maintaining a favourable balance of power.
In practice, many states need policies that address both kinds of threats simultaneously because internal instability can invite external interference, and external conflict can exacerbate internal divisions.

Q.8. Describe the security challenges faced by the newly independent countries of Asia and Africa after the Second World War. (6 Marks)

Answer: Security challenges faced by newly independent countries:
(i) Dual threat from outside and within: They faced external threats from neighbours and internal threats such as rebellions or communal violence.
(ii) Border disputes and interstate rivalry: Unresolved boundaries and competition over territory produced recurring tensions and wars in some regions.
(iii) Separatist movements: Groups seeking independent states or autonomy created internal instability and often required prolonged security responses.
(iv) Terrorism and cross-border militancy: Non-state violent groups operating across borders posed new security challenges (for example, Islamist militancy in later decades).
(v) Poverty and low development: High population and low per capita income weakened state capacity and made societies vulnerable to unrest and external pressures.
(vi) Social injustice and human-rights problems: Discrimination and exclusion aggravated tensions and could lead to internal conflict, undermining stability.

Q.9. How are the threats faced by the people in the Third World different from those faced by the people living in the First World? Support your answer with examples.
Or 
What are the differences in the threats that people in the Third World faces and those living in the First World?

Answer: 
(i) Internal as well as external threats:  People in Third World countries commonly face threats both from outside their borders (interstate conflicts) and from within (insurgencies, separatism). In contrast, most First World countries tend to confront mainly external military threats or global challenges rather than widespread internal violence.
(ii) Separatism and state fragility: Third World states often face stronger risks from separatist movements and weak state institutions; these are less common in developed First World states.
(iii) Developmental threats: Poverty, health crises and inadequate infrastructure are major security concerns in the Third World, whereas First World countries generally have better resources to manage such problems.
Detailed Answer: (i) Third World countries are more likely to face immediate military conflicts with neighbours and internal military conflicts arising from weak state structures.
(ii) They are more vulnerable to separatist movements that seek new states or autonomy, which can fragment authority and provoke violence.
(iii) People in the Third World also suffer greater risks from poverty, disease and human-rights abuses, which affect daily security and long-term development.
(iv) First World populations, being more economically developed and institutionally strong, are less exposed to these internal and developmental threats and face security problems of a different character, such as strategic rivalry between great powers or cyber and economic vulnerabilities.

Q.10. Describe any three components of the traditional notion of external security.

Answer: Three components of traditional external security:
(i) Deterrence: Policies and capabilities designed to prevent an adversary from initiating aggression by raising the expected costs of attack.
(ii) Defence: The military and civil measures taken to resist and defeat an attack if deterrence fails, thereby protecting territory and national independence.
(iii) Balance of power: Diplomatic and military efforts to ensure that no single state or coalition becomes dominant enough to threaten others; this can involve alliances, armament and strategic diplomacy.

Q.11. What is a 'Balance of Power'? How could a state achieve this?

Answer: Balance of power means maintaining a distribution of military and political strength so that no single state or alliance can dominate others and threaten their survival. It is a central idea of traditional security policy and is used to reduce the likelihood of aggression.
How a state can achieve this:
(i) Enhance its own military strength: Investing in armed forces and defence technologies to match potential rivals.
(ii) Form alliances: Joining with other states to combine capabilities against a stronger power.
(iii) Use diplomacy and economic measures: Negotiating treaties, engaging in trade and using economic leverage to shape the strategic environment and reduce threats.

Q.12. What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of a functioning military alliance with its specific objectives.

Answer: Objectives of military alliances:
(i) Increase collective power: Alliances combine the military strength of members to balance or deter another state or coalition.
(ii) Protect shared interests: Safeguard the political, economic and security interests of member states.
(iii) Establish bases and influence: Powerful allies may obtain strategic facilities or influence in weaker partner states.
(iv) Provide security for states lacking sufficient military capability: Smaller or weaker states seek the protection of stronger allies.
(v) Flexibility with national interest: Alliances are formed on the basis of national interests and can change if those interests change.
Example: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) - A functioning military alliance whose principal objective is collective defence. Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all, so the alliance deters aggression against members and seeks to maintain stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Q.13. Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defence have limited usage against contemporary security threats to states. Explain this statement.

Answer: Although nuclear weapons provided a major deterrent during and after the Second World War, their practical usefulness is limited against many contemporary threats. Nuclear arms are primarily suited to deterring large-scale interstate aggression. 
However:
(i) Non-state threats such as terrorism, insurgency and cyber attacks cannot be deterred effectively by nuclear weapons.
(ii) Humanitarian and environmental costs of nuclear use are catastrophic, which constrains any realistic employment of such weapons.
(iii) Arms control regimes such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT, 1968) have limited the spread of nuclear weapons and aimed to regulate their possession and prevent proliferation. As a result, nuclear weapons remain mainly instruments of strategic deterrence rather than practical tools for addressing most modern security challenges.

Q. 14. What is meant by non-traditional notion of security? Differentiate between the narrow and broad concept of human security.

Answer: Non-traditional security expands the idea of security beyond military threats to include threats that affect people's everyday lives and well-being, such as disease, hunger, environmental degradation, poverty and natural disasters. It asks what is to be secured (people rather than only states) and from which kinds of dangers.
Difference between narrow and broad human security:
(i) Narrow concept: Focuses mainly on protection from direct physical violence and threats to personal safety, such as crime, communal violence and armed conflict. Its emphasis is on immediate physical security of individuals and communities.
(ii) Broad concept: Includes economic, food, health, environmental and political security as well as protection from violence. This approach argues that problems such as disease and natural disasters, which cause more deaths in peacetime than wars, should also be central to the security agenda.

Q.15. Which among the following would you consider as traditional security concern/non-traditional security concern/ not a threat:
(i) The spread of chikungunya dengue fever
(ii) Inflow of workers from a neighbouring nation
(iii) Emergence of a group demanding nationhood for their region
(iv) Emergence of a group demanding autonomy for their region
(v) A newspaper that is critical of the armed forces in the country

Answer: (i) non-traditional,
(ii) non-traditional,
(iii) traditional,
(iv) traditional,
(v) not a threat.