Class 12 Political Science Chapter 7 Security in the Contemporary World
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Selected Questions-Answers
1. Very Short Questions and Answers: (Marks: 1 each)
(a) Mention two factors that create threats to global security.
Or
Mention two threats faced by humankind.
Ans: Poverty and terrorism.
(b) When did terrorists attack the Parliament House of India?
Ans: In 2001.
(c) Mention one source of fear that has emerged in the modernworld.
Ans: Terrorism.
(d) What is meant by “security”? H.S. ’16
Ans: “Security” generally refers to the protective measures adopted toprevent threats or disasters.
(e) Mention one component of traditional security strategy.
Ans: Balance of power.
(f) Name two nuclear-powered countries.
Ans: China and India.
(g) When did terrorists attack the World Trade Center of the UnitedStates?
Ans: On 11 September 2001.
(h) Mention one cause of migration.
Ans: Poverty.
(i) When did India conduct its first nuclear test?
Ans: In 1974.
(j) When was the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty signed?
Ans: In 1972.
(k) What is meant by arms control?
Ans: Arms control refers to controlling the development and expansionof weapons.
(l) What is meant by “confidence-building measures”?
Ans: The regular exchange of information among nations on securityrelated matters is called “confidence-building measures.”
(m) What is meant by “alliance”?
Ans: A military alliance formed among nations to resist military aggressionis called an “alliance.”
(n) What is meant by internally displaced persons?
Ans: People who leave their homes due to various reasons or insecuritybut remain within the borders of their own country are called internallydisplaced persons.
(o) What does human security mean?
Ans: Human security refers to providing protection from fear, terror, andwant, and creating a suitable environment for people to live with humandignity.
(p) What was the objective of India in conducting nuclear tests?
Ans: The main objective of India in conducting nuclear tests was tosafeguard national security.
(q) Give one example of a global threat.
Ans: Global warming.
(r) What makes rich nations richer?
Ans: Declining population and an increase in high per capita income makerich nations richer.
(s) Why do people migrate?
Ans: People migrate in search of a better and safer life.
(t) When was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty concluded?
Ans: In 1968.
(u) What is pollution?
Ans: Pollution refers to a condition in which the natural environment becomes harmful to life.
(v) How many countries agreed to the Chemical WeaponsConvention?
Ans: 181 countries.
Note: This figure is outdated. As of recent data, the Chemical WeaponsConvention has 193 States Parties.
(w) Is the concept of security the same in all societies?
Ans: No, the concept of security is not the same in all societies.
(x) Which agency of the United Nations looks after the safe andpeaceful use of nuclear technology? H.S. ’18
Ans: The International Atomic Energy Agency.
(y) Mention any one threat to human security. H.S. ’17
Ans: Poverty.
2. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks: 2 each)
(a) What is the difference between a migrant and a refugee? H.S. ’15, ’17, ’19
Ans: Migration refers to the act of leaving one’s country or region to settlepermanently in another region or foreign country in search of better livingconditions or employment. On the other hand, a refugee is a person who fleesfrom his or her country to another country due to natural disasters, war, orpolitical persecution. The government is not legally bound to provideprotection to migrants. However, refugees generally receive political protection and assistance.
Note: Refugees are protected under international law, particularly the 1951Refugee Convention, though not all countries are signatories.
(b) What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security? H.S. ’14, ’20
Ans: Traditional security refers to the internal and external security of astate, mainly focusing on the military dimension. Non-traditional securitygoes beyond military threats and includes a broader range of dangers andthreats such as environmental, economic, and health-related issues.
(c) Mention two serious health-related epidemics.
Ans: HIV/AIDS and Coronavirus disease.
(d) Give two examples of new sources of threat.
Ans: The two examples of new sources of threat are-
(1) International terrorism and
(2) Global warming.
(e) What are the different categories of human rights?
Ans: The different categories of human rights are:
(1) Political rights,
(2) Economic and social rights,
(3) Rights of vulnerable groups such as children’s rights, refugees’ rights, and minority rights.
(f) What is meant by human rights?
Ans: Human rights refer to the essential opportunities and facilitiesrequired for every person to live as a human being, irrespective of nation, race, religion, community, or gender.
3. Medium-Length Questions and Answers: (Marks: 4 each)
(a) What are the four components of the traditional concept ofsecurity from external threats? Give examples. H.S. ’14
Ans: The four components of the traditional concept of security fromexternal threats are:
(1) Deterrence: It means preventing the possibility of war. India’s nucleartests may be cited as an example.
(2) Defence: It means limiting or ending war. For example, the war betweenIndia and China in 1962.
(3) Balance of power: Each country seeks to maintain a balance of powerwith other countries, for example, India and Bangladesh.
(4) Formation of alliances: By forming alliances among several countriesand coordinating their actions, the occurrence of war can be prevented. Forexample, CENTO and NATO.
(b) Mention four components of India’s security strategy. H.S. ’19
Ans: The four components of India’s security strategy are:
(1) Increasing military capability by acquiring necessary warships, fighteraircraft, strengthening armed forces, and modernizing the military.
(2) Strengthening international institutions to ensure India’s security, andshowing faith in the United Nations from the beginning.
(3) Strengthening national unity and integrity.
(4) Emphasizing economic development through Five-Year Plans andvarious developmental schemes such as expansion of education, povertyalleviation, industrial growth, and agricultural development.
(c) Write a note on refugees.
Ans: People who flee their own country and take shelter in another countrydue to natural disasters, war, or political persecution are called refugees. In 1990, due to communal conflict, many Kashmiri Pandits left their homelandand took shelter in other Indian states. These people are referred to as internallydisplaced persons.
Refugees often face severe problems related to livelihood and survival, and many spend their lives in suffering and deprivation. The refugee problemhas become a threat at the international level. For example, refugees fromMyanmar in Bangladesh, and refugees who fled Iraq during the Gulf War toEngland and other countries.
(d) Explain the statement: “Human security means freedom fromfear and want.”
Ans: Human security may be defined as the condition in which thenecessary social, political, cultural, and economic elements required for humanlife are naturally available. Freedom from fear and want is the first conditionof human security, because fear and poverty are major obstacles to enjoyingother forms of security. If a person lives in fear and deprivation, he or shecannot enjoy any rights. Economic development and cultural growth are alsonot possible. Therefore, human security primarily means freedom from fearand want.
(e) Write a note on global poverty. H.S. ’15, ’18
Ans: When there is a lack of employment or no means of earning in acountry, poverty descends upon the lives of the people. Poverty is anundesirable curse for human society. It causes immense suffering. Familiesaffected by poverty often do not get sufficient food, clothing, education forchildren, or medical treatment. Poverty is a burning problem in the present world. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s population is affected by poverty.
It is noteworthy that the rate of population growth is higher in poorercountries. It is feared that the world’s population may triple in the next fiftyyears.
4. Long Answer Questions: (Marks: 6 each)
(a) Discuss how literacy influences human security.
Ans: Literacy influences human security in the following ways:
First, illiteracy brings insecurity into human life. Education plays a direct role in removing insecurity.
Second, education makes it easier to obtain employment, which enhancessecurity.
Third, political leaders may mislead illiterate people more easily, whereaseducated people are less likely to be deceived.
Fourth, education helps women become economically self-reliant. When women are educated, a healthy family environment is created, and peoplebecome more conscious about the factors of security.
(b) Suggest some measures to curb the menace of terrorism in thepresent world.
Ans: Terrorism is a grave problem faced by the contemporary world. Thefollowing measures may be adopted to control it:
First, global public opinion must be built against terrorism. International pressure should be created on states that support terrorism to prevent suchactivities.
Second, security forces should be modernized so that they can effectivelycombat terrorism using modern military techniques.
Third, strict laws should be enacted to control terrorism and violence, andexemplary punishment should be given to terrorists.
Fourth, the root causes of terrorism should be removed from society.
Fifth, the general public should cooperate with the government ineradicating terrorism.
Sixth, harmony, unity, and fraternity should be established among different races, groups, communities, and linguistic groups.
(c) What is meant by non-traditional or human security? Discusstwo threats to human security. H.S. ’13
Ans: Human security means providing protection from fear, terror, andwant, and ensuring a suitable environment for living with human dignity.
The elements mentioned in the original text such as deterrence, allianceformation, defence, and balance of power are actually components oftraditional security, not non-traditional or human security.
(d) Discuss the relationship between migration and human security. H.S. ’16
Ans: Migration refers to leaving one’s country or region permanently tosettle in another region or country in search of better living conditions oremployment. The state is not legally bound to provide security to migrants, which often creates various problems. For example, many people havemigrated to India from Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh in searchof better living conditions. This has created economic, social, and evenpolitical challenges in India.
Since governments are not obligated to provide full protection to migrants, they often suffer from insecurity and other problems. Conflicts sometimesarise between migrants and local people, disturbing social peace. However, migrants are human beings and therefore also have the right to human security.
The state may take initiatives to repatriate migrants or, if possible, grant permanent citizenship and provide employment opportunities.
Generally, people migrate due to better living conditions, natural disasters, war, or political persecution. To control migration, countries of the worldshould work together to create economic and political stability. Otherwise, migration may become a serious threat.
(e) What is the relationship between human security and health? Discuss briefly. H.S. ’17, ’20
Ans: Human security refers to the condition in which the necessary social, political, cultural, and economic elements required for human life areavailable. There is a close relationship between human security and health, because the concept of security includes human health. Without good health, a person cannot live a good life.
Along with food, clothing, and shelter, good health is a basic necessity ofhuman life. Although many diseases have been eradicated due to scientificprogress, new diseases have emerged, such as AIDS, Coronavirus, Swine Flu, Bird Flu, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. Proper vaccines or cures for some ofthese diseases were not available at the time of their outbreak.
Vaccines and treatments have since been developed for several of thesediseases, including COVID-19.
According to a 2003 survey, about 40 million people worldwide were livingwith AIDS.
Recently, the Coronavirus has claimed millions of lives worldwide andhas placed humanity in a critical situation. Therefore, health security is closelylinked with human security. To strengthen human security globally, it isessential for countries and the World Health Organization to take immediateand special measures.
