Worksheet Solutions: Security in the Contemporary World | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: Security is freedom from __________.
Ans: Threats.
Security implies the absence of threats or dangers that could harm an individual, community, or nation, allowing them to live without fear or risk.

Q2: According to the traditional view, most threats to a country's security come from __________ its borders.
Ans: Beyond
Traditional security theories emphasize external threats, focusing on potential dangers originating from other nations and their potential impact on a country's sovereignty.

Q3: Disarmament requires states to give up certain kinds of __________.
Ans: weapons.
Disarmament involves the reduction or elimination of military weaponry, promoting peace and reducing the likelihood of armed conflicts between nations.

Q4: Human security focuses on the protection of __________ more than states.
Ans: individuals
Human security prioritizes safeguarding individual citizens, addressing their basic needs, such as safety from violence, access to healthcare, and protection from hunger, emphasizing human well-being over state security.

Q5: Terrorism refers to political violence that targets __________ deliberately and indiscriminately.
Ans: civilians
Terrorism involves intentional and indiscriminate acts of violence against civilians, often driven by political motives, causing fear and aiming to create social or political change through intimidation.

Q6: Cooperative security may involve international cooperation at __________ levels.
Ans: Various
Cooperative security emphasizes collaboration and joint efforts among nations, whether bilaterally, regionally, or globally, to address common security challenges, fostering diplomatic solutions over military conflict.

Q7: India's first security strategy component involves strengthening its __________ capabilities.
Ans: military
Strengthening military capabilities is crucial for India's defense, enhancing its ability to deter potential adversaries, ensuring national sovereignty, and safeguarding its borders.

Q8: The second component of India's security strategy aims to strengthen __________ norms and institutions.
Ans: International
Strengthening international norms and institutions involves active participation in global agreements and organizations, promoting diplomacy, trade, and adherence to international laws, enhancing India's global reputation and cooperation.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: Traditional notions of security focus primarily on external threats.
Reason: Military threats are considered the most significant danger to a nation's security.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
The assertion is true because traditional security theories primarily emphasize external threats, particularly military threats from other nations, as the main danger to a country's security. The reason is also true because military threats have historically been perceived as the most significant danger to a nation's sovereignty, leading to the development of military strategies and defense mechanisms. The reason explains and supports the assertion, making option (a) the correct choice.

Q2: Assertion: Human security emphasizes protecting individuals over states.
Reason: Proponents of broad human security consider hunger, disease, and natural disasters as threats.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Both the assertion and reason are true. Human security focuses on the well-being and safety of individuals, addressing various threats that can harm people, including hunger, disease, and natural disasters. Proponents of human security argue that these factors, among others, should be considered threats and dealt with to ensure the overall security and welfare of individuals. The reason provides an accurate explanation for the assertion, making option (a) the correct choice.

Q3: Assertion: Cooperative security involves international cooperation at various levels.
Reason: The use of force is the primary strategy in cooperative security.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (c)
The assertion is true as cooperative security emphasizes international cooperation among nations to address common security challenges through diplomacy, dialogue, and collaboration. The reason is false because cooperative security primarily focuses on peaceful means of resolving conflicts and promoting stability. While the use of force can be an option, it is not the primary strategy in cooperative security. Therefore, option (c) is the correct choice as the assertion is true, but the reason is false and does not explain the assertion.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Define security in the given context.
Ans: Security refers to the protection and safety of individuals, communities, or nations from various threats, including physical, political, economic, and social dangers.

Q2: Name the three types of human rights mentioned in the text.
Ans: The three types of human rights mentioned in the text are civil rights, political rights, and social rights.

Q3: What does disarmament require states to do?
Ans: Disarmament requires states to reduce or eliminate their military capabilities, including weapons and armed forces.

Q4: Explain the concept of cooperative security.
Ans: Cooperative security emphasizes the idea that nations should work together to address common security challenges and promote peace and stability through cooperation, dialogue, and collective action.

Q5: What is the focus of human security?
Ans: The focus of human security is on protecting individuals and communities from various threats, such as poverty, disease, environmental degradation, and political violence, and ensuring their well-being and dignity.

Q6: Name two health epidemics mentioned in the text.
Ans: Two health epidemics mentioned in the text are HIV/AIDS and Ebola.

Q7: What are the four components of India's security strategy?
Ans: The four components of India's security strategy are military, economic, political, and social.

Q8: What does terrorism target, according to the text?
Ans: According to the text, terrorism targets civilians and aims to instill fear, disrupt societies, and achieve political or ideological goals through acts of violence.

Q9: What is the main concern for external security during the Cold War era?
Ans: The main concern for external security during the Cold War era was the threat of nuclear war and the potential for military confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Q10: What does internal security focus on, according to the text?
Ans: According to the text, internal security focuses on maintaining law and order within a country, preventing and countering domestic threats such as terrorism, insurgency, organized crime, and civil unrest.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explain the traditional notions of external security mentioned in the text.
Ans:

• Traditional notions of external security focus on military threats from other nations that jeopardize a country's sovereignty and independence.
• Responses to military threats include deterrence, defense, balance of power, and alliance building.

Q2: Describe the non-traditional notions of security mentioned in the text.
Ans:

• Non-traditional notions of security encompass a wide range of risks and dangers beyond military concerns, referred to as human security or global security.
• Human security emphasizes protecting individuals over states and includes threats like hunger, disease, and natural disasters.
• Global security addresses threats such as global warming, AIDS, terrorism, extreme poverty, migration, and health epidemics.

Q3: Explain the concept of cooperative security and its importance.
Ans:

• Cooperative security involves international cooperation at various levels, including bilateral, regional, continental, or global, to address security challenges.
• It emphasizes collaboration instead of military conflict and may involve multiple international and national players.
• Force can be used as a last resort, especially to deal with threats like dictatorship.

Q4: Describe India's security strategy components.
Ans: India's security strategy consists of four components:

• Strengthening Military Capabilities: Focuses on enhancing military strength due to conflicts with neighboring countries.
• Strengthening International Norms and Institutions: Aims to enhance global norms and institutions to protect India's security interests.
• Addressing Internal Security Challenges: Focuses on dealing with security challenges within the country.
• Economic Development: Aims to develop the economy to lift citizens out of poverty and misery.

Q5: Explain the concept of human security according to the text.
Ans:

• Human security emphasizes the protection of individuals more than states.
• Proponents of human security consider various threats, including violent ones and issues like hunger, disease, and natural disasters.
• It broadens the traditional notion of security to encompass a wider range of risks affecting human well-being.

Q6: Describe the new sources of threats mentioned in the text.
Ans:

• New sources of threats include terrorism, human rights violations, extreme global poverty, migration, and health epidemics.
• Terrorism involves deliberate and indiscriminate political violence targeting civilians.
• Human rights violations encompass political, economic, social rights, and rights of colonized people.
• Global poverty disparities lead to large-scale migration, seeking better economic opportunities.
• Health epidemics like HIV-AIDS, bird flu, and SARS spread through migration, posing global threats.

Q7: Discuss the role of disarmament and arms control in traditional security.
Ans:

• Disarmament: Requires states to give up certain kinds of weapons, reducing the potential for military conflicts.
• Arms Control: Governs the development and acquisition of weapons, ensuring limitations on their proliferation.
• Both strategies aim to prevent wars and maintain a balance of power, essential components of traditional security measures.

Q8: Explain the concept of confidence building in international relations.
Ans:

• Confidence building involves countries sharing ideas and information with rivals, fostering mutual trust.
• It promotes dialogue and transparency, reducing tensions and the likelihood of conflict.
• By enhancing understanding and communication, confidence-building measures contribute to conflict prevention.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Discuss the evolution from traditional notions of security to non-traditional notions.
Ans:

• Traditional Notions: Focused on military threats and external dangers to a nation's sovereignty. Responses included deterrence, defense, balance of power, and alliance building.
• Non-Traditional Notions: Encompass a broader range of risks, emphasizing human security and global concerns. Human security focuses on individual well-being, including protection from violence, hunger, disease, and natural disasters. Global security addresses worldwide threats like global warming, AIDS, terrorism, extreme poverty, migration, and health epidemics. The shift reflects the complex, interconnected challenges of the contemporary world, necessitating a comprehensive approach to security.

Q2: Explain the concept of cooperative security, its advantages, and challenges.
Ans:

• Concept of Cooperative Security: Involves international cooperation at various levels, addressing security challenges through collaboration. It may include bilateral, regional, continental, or global initiatives. Force is a last resort, emphasizing dialogue and cooperation over military conflict.
• Advantages: Promotes peace and stability, fosters diplomatic relations, addresses shared challenges effectively, encourages mutual understanding, and prevents conflicts. Enables collective responses to global threats.
• Challenges: Requires trust among nations, coordination, and adherence to international agreements. National interests may sometimes conflict with cooperative efforts. Challenges in balancing sovereignty with international cooperation. Effectiveness depends on the willingness of states to collaborate and resolve disputes peacefully.

Q3: Describe the impact of new sources of threats on global security.
Ans:

• Terrorism: Causes fear and instability, challenging national security measures. Requires international cooperation for intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.
• Human Rights Violations: Undermine social cohesion, necessitating international condemnation and diplomatic pressure to uphold human rights standards.
• Extreme Global Poverty: Fuels social unrest, leading to migration and potential conflicts. International aid and development initiatives are crucial to address poverty disparities.
• Migration: Poses challenges related to border control, integration, and cultural diversity. Cooperation is essential to manage migration flows and ensure human rights protection.
• Health Epidemics: Spread rapidly across borders, demanding global healthcare collaboration, research, and timely responses. International organizations and joint efforts are vital in pandemic preparedness and response.

Q4: Examine India's security strategy components and their relevance in the contemporary world.
Ans:

• Strengthening Military Capabilities: Essential due to regional conflicts and border disputes. Deters potential aggression, ensuring national sovereignty.
• Strengthening International Norms and Institutions: Important in the context of global cooperation. Upholding international norms fosters diplomatic relations and trade, enhancing India's global standing.
• Addressing Internal Security Challenges: Vital for social stability. Counterterrorism efforts, law enforcement, and addressing domestic threats ensure internal peace and security.
• Economic Development: Crucial for poverty alleviation and social progress. Economic growth provides resources for security measures, enhances citizens' well-being, and reduces social vulnerabilities.