Class 12 Political Science Chapter 3 Hegemony of the United States in International Politics
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Selected Questions-Answers
1. Very Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 1)
(a) What is meant by a ‘unipolar system’?
Ans: When most of the world’s power and influence become concentratedin a single center or one country, it is called a unipolar system.
(b) Correct the following statement:
‘The roots of world hegemony lie in ancient Rome.’
Ans: The roots of world hegemony lie in ancient Greece.
(c) What is ‘soft power’?
Ans: When a country is able to extend its dominance over other countriesthrough the influence of its ideals and ideas, it is called ‘soft power’.
(d) What is ‘hard power’?
Ans: The strength derived from well-equipped and well-organized armedforces is called ‘hard power’.
(e) What is ‘Operation Desert Storm’?
Ans: In 1991, a coalition of 34 countries with about 660,000 troopslaunched a military campaign against Iraq to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. This campaign is known as ‘Operation Desert Storm’.
(f) Give one example of hegemony as structural power.
Ans: Sea routes used for communication.
(g) Who conducted ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ and againstwhom?
Ans: The United States conducted ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ against terrorism, particularly against the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Al-Qaedaorganization.
(h) Give one example of a global public good.
Ans: The Internet.
(i) What is meant by a ‘global village’?
Ans: The term ‘global village’ refers to the present world that has been compressed through information technology and communication systems.
(j) What was the name of the first commercial business school established in the United States in 1881?
Ans: The Wharton School.
(k) When was the first MBA programme introduced in the UnitedStates?
Ans: The first MBA program was introduced in 1908 at HarvardUniversity.
(l) Who was the President of the United States during the First GulfWar?
Ans: George H. W. Bush.
(m) In which year did the American military research project begin?
Ans: In 1950.
(n) From which year did American hegemony begin in theinternational context?
Ans: In 1991.
(o) In contemporary world politics, what does ‘9/11’ signify? H.S.’19, ’20
Ans: ‘9/11’ refers to the incident on 11 September 2001 when 19 hijackersassociated with the Arab-based Al-Qaeda organization hijacked four airplanesand carried out suicide attacks on important centers in New York City. Nearly3,000 people were killed in these attacks. The incident had a severe impact on world politics. The United States intensified its campaign against terrorismand launched continuous bombing in Afghanistan, considered the base of AlQaeda, and detained many people.
(p) How many people died in the ‘9/11’ attacks?
Ans: About 3,000 people.
(q) What is ‘Al-Qaeda’?
Ans: Al-Qaeda is a terrorist organization based in Afghanistan. Thisorganization carried out the airplane attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001, causing the death of nearly 3,000 people.
(r) In contemporary world politics, what does ‘unipolar’ indicate?
Ans: In the contemporary world, the term ‘unipolar’ indicates theunilateral dominance of the United States.
(s) What is the full form of NATO?
Ans: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(t) The First European War is also known as ‘Gulf War againstIraq’. (Write Yes or No) H.S. ’19
Ans: Yes.
(u) In 1985, reforms were initiated in the Soviet Union by ______. (Fill in the blank) H.S. ’19
Ans: Mikhail Gorbachev.
(v) In which year did Iraq attack Kuwait? H.S. ’20
Ans: In 1990.
(w) What is meant by ‘Operation Desert Storm’? H.S. ’20
Ans: The military campaign launched by the United Nations against Iraqin 1991 is called ‘Operation Desert Storm’.
2. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 2)
(a) What is meant by ‘Operation Infinite Reach’?
Ans: After the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda bombed the U.S. embassiesin Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered missile strikes against Al-Qaeda bases in Sudan and Afghanistan. This campaign isknown as ‘Operation Infinite Reach’.
(b) Mention two soft issues emphasized by President Bill Clinton.
Ans: The two soft issues emphasized by Bill Clinton were:
First, establishment of democracy.
Second, promotion of global trade.
(c) When and where was Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden killed?
Ans: On 2 May 2011, U.S. Navy forces killed Al-Qaeda leader Osamabin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
(d) In how many ways and in what senses is hegemony used inworld politics?
Ans: In world politics, hegemony is used in three senses:
First, as hard or coercive power.
Second, as structural power.
Third, as soft power.
(e) What is meant by ‘strategy of successful engagement’(bandwagoning)?
Ans: Instead of opposing the hegemonic influence of another country, astate may choose to increase its own production, expand trade, improvetechnology, and invest economically in other countries in order to benefit from the hegemonic order. This approach is known as the strategy of successful engagement or bandwagoning.
(f) Give two examples of public goods.
Ans: The two examples of public goods are:
First, sea routes for communication.
Second, the Internet.
(g) Mention two outcomes (fruits) of American hegemony.
Ans: The two outcomes of American hegemony are:
First, the International Monetary Fund.
Second, the World Trade Organization.
Note: These institutions were not created solely as outcomes of Americanhegemony; they are multilateral institutions formed through international agreements, though the U.S. has significant influence in them.
(h) What does Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) mean?
Ans: Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) refers to the comparative value ofcurrencies of two countries in terms of their capacity to purchase goods andservices.
(i) What is meant by hegemony as soft power?
Ans: In world politics, the United States has extended its dominance not only in military and economic fields but also in ideological and cultural spheres. The ability to influence others through culture, lifestyle, dress, andbehavior is known as hegemony as soft power.
(j) When and why did U.S. hegemony begin?
Ans: U.S. hegemony began in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left the United States as the sole superpower.
3. Medium Length Questions& Answers: (Marks for each – 4)(a) What is ‘Guantanamo Bay’? Write its significance.
Ans: Guantanamo Bay is a naval base located in Cuba. After the 9/11terrorist attacks, the United States responded swiftly and harshly. It detainedsuspected terrorists from around the world and imprisoned some of them at the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba.
These detainees were kept in severe conditions.
For example:
They were denied protection under international law.
Even representatives of the United Nations were not allowed to meet themin many cases.
(b) Why did the United States attack Iraq?
Ans: On 20 March 2003, the United States began a military campaignagainst Iraq. Although the United Nations did not explicitly authorize theinvasion, the U.S., with support from more than forty countries, carried out the attack. The stated reason was to prevent Iraq from developing weapons ofmass destruction. However, it is widely argued that the main objectivesincluded control over Iraq’s oil fields and expansion of political dominancein the region.
(c) What is meant by U.S. hegemony in contemporary times?Mention two challenges to U.S. hegemony.
Ans: In contemporary times, U.S. hegemony refers to the dominant influence of the United States in world politics.
Two challenges to U.S. hegemony are:
First, the U.S. Constitution establishes separation of powers among theexecutive, legislature, and judiciary, allowing one branch to check another.
At times, decisions of the executive can be blocked by the legislature.
Second, the American media can shape public opinion regarding domesticand foreign policies, thereby limiting the hegemonic actions of the executivebranch.
(d) Briefly write about the relationship between the United Statesand India. H.S. ’16, ’18
Or
Discuss the recent trends in U.S.–India relations. H.S. ’20
Ans: The relationship between the United States and India cannot bedescribed as entirely good or entirely bad. There are areas of both cooperationand disagreement.
Major areas of cooperation are mainly economic and commercial:
First, about 65 percent of India’s software exports go to the United States.
Second, about 35 percent of Boeing’s technical employees are of Indianorigin.
Third, around 300,000 Indians work in Silicon Valley.
Fourth, about 15 percent of high-technology enterprises are jointlymanaged by Indians and Americans.
Areas of disagreement include:
First, the United States has not always viewed India’s non-alignment policyfavorably.
Second, India views U.S. friendship with Pakistan with suspicion.
In recent times, especially during the tenure of Prime Minister NarendraModi, relations between the two countries have improved, partly due toPakistan’s close ties with China and ongoing tensions over Jammu andKashmir.
4. Essay Type Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 6)
(a) Mention the different types of hegemony. Give examples of each.
Ans: Hegemony can be of four types:
(1) Military hegemony
(2) Economic hegemony
(3) Political hegemony
(4) Cultural hegemony
These forms of hegemony are also applied in three senses:
(i) Hard or coercive hegemony:
In world politics, the United States hasplayed a powerful role in military dominance. Military hegemony enables it to strike enemy targets anywhere in the world at the right time. For example, the massive bombing campaign used during the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
(ii) Structural hegemony:
The United States has framed organized andspecific rules to assert its influence over the global economy. For example, its advocacy of free-market economic policies.
(iii) Hegemony as soft power:
A country exercises influence over othersthrough its social, political, and ideological appeal. For example, during theCold War, American cultural products such as blue jeans symbolized attractiontoward U.S. lifestyle even in rival countries like the Soviet Union.
(b) ‘The greatest constraint on American hegemony lies within itself.’Identify three constraints on U.S. power. H.S. ’16
Or
Discuss the obstacles to U.S. dominance. H.S. ’20
Or
Write two constraints on American hegemony.
Ans: Although the United States has extended its dominance globally, there are constraints:
(1) An international limitation is NATO, whose member states caninfluence or restrain U.S. actions when necessary.
(2) The constitutional separation of powers among executive, legislature, and judiciary may limit executive decisions.
(3) The American media can shape public opinion and thereby checkhegemonic actions.
Thus, the greatest constraint on American hegemony lies within its ownsystem.
(c) Discuss U.S. hegemony as hard power. Is it good for the world? H.S. ’17
Ans: In world politics, the United States has assumed a dominant role inmilitary affairs. It maintains military bases in various countries in Africa andEurope and can strike adversaries anywhere in the world. For example, theheavy bombing during the Iraq invasion.
However, due to U.S. interventions, countries like Iraq and Afghanistanhave faced devastation and loss of lives. Conflicts in Middle Eastern countriessuch as Syria, Yemen, and Libya have also involved U.S. political influence.
Therefore, many argue that U.S. hegemony has not been beneficial forglobal peace, particularly in the Middle East, where instability persists.
(d) Discuss the United States as an economic superpower. H.S. ’19
Ans: After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States emerged as the sole superpower and extended its dominance worldwide.
Economic dominance is one of its major forms of hegemony.
First, the United States has invested in oil resources of Arab countries,
gaining financial benefits and influencing their economic development.
Second, it has established itself as a major producer and exporter of militaryequipment, with the Middle East becoming a profitable market.
Third, by investing in technology in Asia and Africa and signing tradeagreements with countries like India and China, it has exerted significant influence on the global economy.
Fourth, the United States contributes substantially to institutions like theWorld Bank, facilitating loans to developing countries.
Fifth, it provides financial assistance for reconstruction and industrial development in weaker nations.
Overall, as an economic superpower, the United States continues to exerciseconsiderable influence across the world.
