Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 Alternative Centres of Power
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Selected Questions-Answers
1. Very Short Answer Type Questions (Marks: 1 each)
(a) Who was the leader of the Chinese Communist Revolution?
Ans: Mao Zedong.
(b) What is the ‘Open Door Policy’? H.S. ’16
Ans: The ‘Open Door’ or ‘Open Policy’ was a policy declared in China in1978, the objective of which was to increase productivity by allowing theimport of foreign capital and technology and encouraging investment.
Note: The policy was initiated under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, not Mao Zedong as mentioned later in the text.
(c) In which year was the Single Market created?
Ans: The Single Market was created in 1993.
(d) In which year did India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visitChina?
Ans: Rajiv Gandhi visited China in 1988.
(e) What is the currency of the European Union?
Ans: Euro.
(f) What is the Marshall Plan? H.S. ’13
Ans: The plan undertaken by the United States in 1948 to providesubstantial financial assistance for the economic recovery of Europe is knownas the Marshall Plan.
(g) What is the ‘Bangkok Declaration’?
Ans: In 1967, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore andThailand signed a declaration together in Bangkok, which is known as the‘Bangkok Declaration’.
(h) In which year was the European Council established?
Ans: In 1949.
Note: 1949 refers to the establishment of the Council of Europe. TheEuropean Council as an EU institution developed later and was formalized in1974, gaining official EU status in 1993 under the Maastricht Treaty.
(i) When did China become a member of the World TradeOrganization?
Ans: In 2001.
(j) When was the Maastricht Treaty signed?
Ans: In 1992.
(k) Write one sentence about China’s unemployment problem.
Ans: Population growth is one of the main causes of unemployment inChina.
(l) In 1972, China established bilateral relations with which majorcountry?
Ans: With the United States of America.
(m) Who was the political and religious leader of China in 1950?
Ans: The Dalai Lama.
(n) In which year was the ASEAN Regional Forum formed?
Ans: In 1994.
(o) In which year was ARF established?
Ans: In 1994.
(p) Is India a member of ASEAN?
Ans: No.
(q) What is meant by ‘Four Modernizations’?
Ans: The ‘Four Modernizations’ refer to four areas of development –agriculture, industry, national defence and science and technology.
(r) In which year did China attack India?
Ans: In 1962.
(s) Name one founding member state of ASEAN.
Ans: The Philippines.
(t) Which two countries are separated by the McMahon Line?
Ans: India and China.
(u) What is the full form of SEZ?
Ans: Special Economic Zone.
(v) Which of the following countries is a member of the EuropeanUnion?
(1) France
(2) Belgium
(3) Italy
(4) All of these
Ans: (4) All of these.
(w) What is the present number of ASEAN member countries?
Ans: 10 countries.
Note: As of 2023, ASEAN has 10 full members; however, Timor-Lestehas been granted observer status and is in the process of accession.
(x) In which year was ASEAN formed? H.S. ’18
Ans: In 1967.
(y) China adopted the Open Door Policy. (Write Yes or No) H.S. ’18
Ans: Yes.
(z) Initially, how many member states did ASEAN have? H.S. ’18
Ans: 5 countries.
(aa) Mention two areas of influence of the European Union. H.S.’17
Ans: Economic and military fields.
(ab) The 1962 border dispute between India and China mainly tookplace in ______ and ______. (Fill in the blanks) H.S. ’16
Ans: Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin in Ladakh.
(ac) The Agra Summit was held between India and Pakistan. Namethe Indian Prime Minister who participated in this summit.
Ans: Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
2. Short Answer Type Questions (Marks: 2 each)
(a) Mention two ASEAN countries with which India has signed anFTA. H.S. ’19
Ans: India has signed FTAs with (1) Thailand and (2) Singapore.
(b) Name two European Union member states that are members ofthe United Nations Security Council.
Ans: Britain and France.
Note: Britain refers to the United Kingdom. After Brexit in 2020, the UnitedKingdom is no longer a member of the European Union, though it remains apermanent member of the UN Security Council.
(c) Does the European Union perform the role of a state?
Ans: It is seen that over time the European Union has been performingcertain functions similar to that of a state. Although it does not have a singlewritten constitution like a sovereign state, it has its own flag, anthem, foundation day and currency. It also has some common foreign and defencepolicies.
(d) Name two powerful countries of Asia.
Ans: China and Japan.
(e) Mention two disadvantages of China’s new economic policy.
Ans: The disadvantages of China’s new economic policy are:
(1) Increase in unemployment.
(2) Increase in economic inequality among the people.
(f) How is China’s present economy different from its controlledeconomy?
Ans: China’s present economy is different from its controlled econmoy inthe following ways:
(1) In the controlled economy, importance was given to the public sectorrather than the private sector. But the new economic policy gives importanceto the private sector.
(2) In contrast to the prohibition of foreign investment under the controlledeconomy, the new economic policy allows foreign investment in varioussectors.
(g) What were the major challenges faced by Europe after the SecondWorld War?
Ans: The major challenges faced by Europe after the Second World Warare-
(1) The Second World War destroyed unity and solidarity among Europeancountries.
(2) The war severely damaged the entire European economy.
(h) Briefly discuss the New International Economic Order.
Ans: The Third World countries attempted to establish a new economicorder to reform the global economic and trading system. In 1974, the UnitedNations declared the establishment of a New International Economic Orderto implement the demands of Third World countries. Its objectives were:
(1) Every state would have the right to adopt its own economic and social system according to its choice.
(2) All states would participate equally in solving global economicproblems.
(3) Every state would have sovereignty over its natural resources andeconomic activities.
3. Medium Length Answer Questions (Marks: 4 each)
(a) Write four causes of conflict between India and China.
Ans: The causes of conflict between India and China.are-
(1) India’s granting of asylum to the Dalai Lama, the political and religiousleader of Tibet.
(2) The international border dispute between India and China.
(3) China’s supply of arms to Pakistan during the Indo-Pak wars of 1965and 1971.
(4) China’s assistance in Pakistan’s nuclear tests completed in 1998.
(b) Write four reasons for the formation of ASEAN.
Ans: The four reasons for the formation of ASEAN are-
(1) The intervention of the capitalist Western power, the United States, inVietnam and the crisis created there.
(2) The resolution of conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia, leading toa spirit of unity.
(3) The need for unity to address political crises in Cambodia, Laos andMalaysia.
(4) The strict anti-China stance adopted by Indonesia’s military rulers.
(c) “The European Union has emerged as a political organizationrather than merely an economic organization.” Explain.
Ans: After 1945, European countries faced economic devastation. Underthe Marshall Plan, the United States provided significant financial aid forEuropean recovery. In 1948, the Organization for European EconomicCooperation was established to manage this aid. Thus, the European Union, formally established in 1992, began primarily as an economic organization.
However, over time, it has increasingly developed political characteristics.
Although it does not have a single formal constitution, it has its own flag, anthem, foundation day and common currency. It also has certain commonforeign and defence policies. Therefore, the European Union has emergednot merely as an economic organization but also as a political one.
(d) Who are the members of the ASEAN Regional Forum?
Ans: The ASEAN Regional Forum was formed in 1994 to coordinatesecurity and foreign policy among member states.
The founding members were Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Later, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos (PDR), Myanmar and Cambodia joined.
(e) Briefly discuss China’s rise as an economic power. H.S. ’15
Ans: Until 1978, China remained largely isolated from the world. In 1978, China adopted the Open Door Policy to reform its economy. Under this policy, China opened its economy to foreign investment andindustrial development. It became a major destination for
foreign capital. Thepolicy proved beneficial for the country. The new economic policy freedChina’s economy from stagnation. The privatization of agriculture improvedagricultural production and the rural economy. Today, in both agriculture andindustry, China is regarded as one of the world’s leading developed economies.
Note: China is more accurately described as a major developing economy oremerging superpower rather than a fully developed country.
(f) What is ASEAN? What are its three pillars? H.S. ’17, ’19
Ans: ASEAN is an organization of Southeast Asian countries. It wasestablished in Bangkok in 1967.
ASEAN has three pillars:
(1) ASEAN Political-Security Community
(2) ASEAN Economic Community
(3) ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
4. Essay Type Answers Questions (Marks: 6 each
(a) Briefly write about three alternative centres of power.
Ans: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United Statesemerged as the sole superpower in the world. Although no single country hasyet emerged as a complete alternative to this unipolar power, some political analysts consider the European Union, ASEAN countries and China asalternative centres of power.
European Union: The European Union possesses one of the richest economies in the world. Its common currency, the Euro, poses a challenge tothe dominance of the US Dollar. Its influence extends not only to neighbouringcountries but also to Asia and Africa. The combined military strength of theEU is considered the second largest in the world. Two of its principal members,
Britain and France, are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Note: The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the EU after Brexit in 2020.
ASEAN Countries: The Southeast Asian countries formed ASEAN in1967. They adopted an informal, non-confrontational and cooperativeapproach in maintaining mutual relations. In 2003, ASEAN moved forwardon the path of integration with three pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. It is gradually emerging as a strong regional grouping and may develop as an alternativecentre of power in the future.
China: China’s economic development and industrialization areremarkable. Through coordination of geographical advantages, humanresources and its political system, China has become a driving force ofeconomic growth in Asia. Along with its economic progress and growinginfluence, China can be regarded as a third alternative centre of global power.
(b) Write a note on India–China relations.
Ans: India and China have had relations since ancient times. At the timeof India’s independence from British rule, both countries were expected toshape the future of the developing world, especially Asia. In 1954, India signedthe Panchsheel Agreement with China, which initially strengthened bilateral relations. However, from the late 1950s onward, relations began to deteriorate.
The reasons include:
(1) India’s granting of asylum to the Dalai Lama.
(2) The international border dispute between India and China.
(3) China’s supply of arms to Pakistan during the Indo-Pak wars.
(4) China’s assistance in Pakistan’s nuclear tests in 1998.
In recent times, it is essential for both countries to build cordial relations.
If strong relations are established, both nations can play a significant rolein maintaining world peace.
(c) Discuss the areas of influence of the European Union. H.S. ’16
Or
Examine the political and diplomatic influence of the EuropeanUnion. H.S. ’20
Ans: The European Union, formed in 1992, exerts influence mainly inthree areas: economic, political and military.
Economic field: The Euro has challenged the long-standing dominanceof the US Dollar in the global economy. Moreover, the EU accounts for asignificant share of global trade, often exceeding that of the United States. Itseconomic power extends influence into Asia and Africa.
Political and diplomatic field: The EU has expanded its influence inglobal politics and diplomacy. Two of its member states, France and (formerly)the United Kingdom, are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
This provides the EU indirect influence in global decision-making. The EUprefers resolving disputes through diplomacy and negotiation rather thanmilitary force.
Military field: The European Union collectively possesses one of the largest military capacities in the world. France (and formerly the UK within the EUframework) are nuclear-armed states.
The EU is also advanced in space and information technology. Thus, as aninternational organization, the European Union maintains a significant positionin global economic, political and social spheres.
