Class 12 Political Science – Chapter 1: The Cold War Era
🖊️🖊️Kishur Boruah, Teacher
Dear learners,
Welcome to an exciting journey through history and politics! As you step into Class 12 Political Science, Chapter 1—The Cold War Era, you will explore one of the most intriguing global conflicts that shaped the modern world. This chapter will help you understand the rivalry between the USA and the USSR, the formation of alliances, and how newly independent nations navigated their way through this power struggle.
Studying this chapter will not only boost your knowledge of world politics but also enhance your critical thinking skills. If you want to explore free tools and resources to make your learning journey easier, visit Jnaanangkur The Learning Hub—your go-to platform for insightful content! Keep learning, stay curious, and let's dive into history together!
Class 12 Political Science, The Cold War Era, chapter 1
Section 1: The Cold War and Its MeaningWhat is the Cold War?
After World War II (1939-1945), two superpowers emerged:
The United States of America (USA) – led a group of capitalist countries.
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) – led a group of communist countries.
They did not fight a direct war but engaged in an ideological, political, military, and economic competition.
This indirect conflict was known as the Cold War because it never turned into a full-scale war.
Causes of the Cold War
1. Different Ideologies – The USA promoted capitalism, while the USSR supported communism.
2. Struggle for Influence – Both superpowers wanted to spread their ideologies worldwide.
3. Arms Race – Both countries built large nuclear arsenals to showcase their power.
Section 2: The Cold War AlliancesMilitary Alliances
The world was divided into two blocs:
1. The Western Bloc (led by the USA)
Formed NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union.
Consisted of the USA, Canada, and Western European nations.
2. The Eastern Bloc (led by the USSR)
Created Warsaw Pact (1955) as a response to NATO.
Included the Soviet Union and its allies in Eastern Europe.
Impact of These Alliances
These alliances ensured that if any country was attacked, its allies would support it.
This created tension, making a direct war more dangerous because it could lead to nuclear destruction.
Section 3: The Cold War Crises (Major Conflicts)
During the Cold War, several crises took place:
1. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
The USA discovered that the USSR was placing nuclear missiles in Cuba, near the US coast.
This almost led to a nuclear war but was resolved through diplomatic talks between the US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
2. Korean War (1950-1953)
Korea was divided into North Korea (communist, supported by USSR & China) and South Korea (capitalist, supported by the USA).
A war broke out, and after three years, the division remained the same.
3. Vietnam War (1955-1975)
The USA supported South Vietnam to prevent the spread of communism.
However, after years of fighting, the communist North Vietnam won, and Vietnam became a unified communist country.
Section 4: The End of the Cold War
The Cold War ended in 1991 with the disintegration of the USSR. The reasons for its collapse include:
1. Economic Weakness – The Soviet economy could not keep up with the USA.
2. Internal Problems – People in the USSR wanted political and economic reforms.
3. Reforms by Mikhail Gorbachev – Policies like Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) weakened Soviet control.
4. Fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) – Marked the collapse of communist governments in Eastern Europe.
Section 5: Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)What is NAM?
Some countries did not want to join either the USA-led or USSR-led groups.
These countries formed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961.
Led by India (Jawaharlal Nehru), Yugoslavia (Tito), Egypt (Nasser), Ghana (Nkrumah), and Indonesia (Sukarno).
Objectives of NAM
1. To maintain independence in foreign policy.
2. To avoid getting involved in the power struggles of superpowers.
3. To focus on economic and social development.
India’s Role in NAM
India was a founding member and played a key role in promoting peace and cooperation among developing nations.
It supported disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution.
Dear learners,
In this summery we just informed the key points of the lesson. For more you can read the chapter. But we provide the most important questions and answers of the lesson, which are frequently comes in exam.
NCERT Political Science (Class 12) – Chapter 1: The Cold War Era (Exercise Answers)
Q. Which among the following statements about the Cold War is wrong?
(a) It was a competition between the US and Soviet Union and their respective allies.
(b) It was an ideological war between the superpowers.
(c) It triggered off an arms race.
(d) The US and USSR were engaged in direct wars.
Answer: (d) The US and USSR were engaged in direct wars.
(Explanation: The Cold War was an indirect conflict where the superpowers supported different nations but never fought each other directly.)
Q. Identify the correct statements about the Non-Aligned Movement.
(a) NAM was an alliance of third-world countries to support the US and USSR.
(b) NAM tried to maintain distance from both US and USSR.
(c) NAM countries were neutral and did not participate in any world affairs.
(d) NAM countries promoted their own economic and political interests.
Answer: (b) NAM tried to maintain distance from both US and USSR.
(d) NAM countries promoted their own economic and political interests.
(Explanation: NAM was formed by countries that wanted to stay independent from Cold War blocs and focused on their development.)
Q. Why did the superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries? Give three reasons.
Answer:
1. Strategic Locations: Superpowers wanted to control important locations for military and political advantage (e.g., NATO in Europe and Warsaw Pact in Eastern Europe).
2. Access to Resources: Smaller nations provided essential resources like oil, minerals, and agricultural products for their allies.
3. Political Support: Superpowers needed support in international organizations like the United Nations (UN) to justify their policies and actions.
(Example: The USA formed alliances in Western Europe (NATO), while the USSR created the Warsaw Pact with Eastern European countries.)
Q. Name two areas of conflict between the US and USSR during the Cold War.
Answer:
1. Cuban Missile Crisis (1962): The USA opposed the USSR's decision to install nuclear missiles in Cuba, leading to a major confrontation.
2. Vietnam War (1955-1975): The USA supported South Vietnam against the communist North, which was backed by the USSR.
Q. In what ways did the Cold War affect the economies of the superpowers?
Answer:
1. Arms Race: Both the USA and USSR spent enormous amounts on nuclear weapons, diverting resources from social development.
2. Space Race: The competition to dominate space exploration led to increased spending on scientific research.
3. Economic Strain on USSR: The USSR’s economy weakened due to excessive military spending, contributing to its collapse in 1991.
(The USA, however, managed to sustain its economy due to a strong capitalist system.)
Q. Describe any three features of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Answer:
1. Independence from Power Blocs: NAM countries refused to join either the US-led or USSR-led alliances.
2. Focus on Economic Growth: NAM nations worked towards industrial and social development instead of military alliances.
3. Support for Peace & Disarmament: NAM advocated for peaceful resolutions to conflicts and opposed nuclear weapons.
(Example: India, a key member of NAM, promoted diplomatic solutions instead of military action.)
Q. What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Answer:
In 1962, the USA discovered that the USSR was secretly installing nuclear missiles in Cuba (a country close to the USA).
The USA opposed this, and there was a tense 13-day standoff between US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Finally, the USSR agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the USA's promise not to invade Cuba and to remove missiles from Turkey.
(This was the closest the world came to a nuclear war during the Cold War.)
Q. Why did India choose the policy of non-alignment?
Answer:
India adopted Non-Alignment because:
1. Avoiding Military Conflicts: India did not want to get involved in the Cold War rivalry between the USA and USSR.
2. Focus on Development: India needed to focus on economic growth, education, and industrialization.
3. Promoting World Peace: India supported global disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution.
(Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in establishing NAM and maintaining India’s independent foreign policy.)
Q. How did the disintegration of the USSR end the Cold War?
Answer:
The USSR collapsed in 1991 due to economic problems, internal protests, and political reforms by Mikhail Gorbachev.
Without the USSR, the bipolar world (USA vs. USSR) ended, and the USA became the only superpower.
Warsaw Pact was dissolved, and many Eastern European countries became independent.
The Cold War officially ended, leading to a more open and globalized world.
Q. Explain the meaning of Cold War.
Answer: The Cold War refers to the period of political, ideological, and military tension between the USA (capitalist) and the USSR (communist) from 1945 to 1991. It was called "cold" because it did not lead to direct warfare between the two superpowers, but involved proxy wars, an arms race, and military alliances.
Q. Give two definitions of the Cold War.
Answer: According to Joseph Nye: "The Cold War was a long period of intense rivalry between the USA and the USSR, fought through military alliances, nuclear deterrence, and indirect conflicts."
According to Raymond Aron: "The Cold War is a conflict where both superpowers avoid direct war but constantly prepare for one."
Q. Write a note on the Kharchal scheme.
Answer: There is no widely known Kharchal Scheme in the Cold War context. Could you clarify or provide more details about what you mean?
Q. Write down four reasons for the Cold War.
Answer: Ideological Conflict: USA (Capitalism) vs. USSR (Communism).
Power Struggle: Both superpowers wanted to dominate world politics.
Nuclear Arms Race: Both countries developed atomic weapons, increasing tensions.
Formation of Military Alliances: NATO (USA-led) and Warsaw Pact (USSR-led) deepened divisions.
Q. Name four founders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru (India)
Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia)
Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt)
Sukarno (Indonesia)
Q. When and where was the first conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held?
Answer: The first NAM conference was held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1961.
Q. What is the Bandung Conference? What are its results?
Answer: The Bandung Conference (1955) was a meeting of Asian and African nations in Indonesia to discuss independence, peace, and cooperation.
Results:
Strengthened solidarity among newly independent nations.
Rejected colonialism and racism.
Laid the foundation for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Q. Discuss Nehru's role in the Cold War.
Answer: Founder of NAM: Nehru played a key role in establishing NAM to keep India out of Cold War rivalries.
Support for Peace: He promoted world peace, disarmament, and anti-colonialism.
Independent Foreign Policy: India avoided joining military alliances like NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Mediating Conflicts: Nehru helped in Korean and Vietnam conflicts by promoting peaceful resolutions.
Q. State four realities that changed world politics after the Cold War.
Answer: End of Bipolarity: The USA became the only superpower.
Rise of Globalization: Economic and political interactions increased.
Disintegration of USSR: Led to the formation of 15 new countries.
Terrorism and Regional Conflicts: New security challenges emerged, such as terrorism.
Q. Give three reasons why non-aligned countries are less developed.
Answer: Economic Dependence: Many NAM countries lacked industrial development.
Internal Conflicts: Political instability and corruption slowed progress.
Lack of Investment: Limited access to foreign investments and technology.
Q. Briefly write about different nationalities in the Non-Aligned Movement.
Answer: NAM included developing nations from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Members had diverse cultures, religions, and political systems but shared common goals of peace, economic development, and independence.
Q. Explain four principles of the New International Economic Order (NIEO).
Answer: Control Over Resources: Developing countries should have control over their natural wealth.
Fair Trade Practices: Prices of raw materials should be fair.
Technology Transfer: Rich nations should share technology with poor nations.
Debt Relief: Developing countries should receive financial aid and debt relief.
Q. Write down two principles of the New International Economic Order (NIEO).
Answer: Reducing Dependence on Developed Countries: Encouraging self-reliance.
Economic Equity: Fair pricing for agricultural and raw material exports.
Q. Discuss the role of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) during the Cold War.
Answer: Maintained Neutrality: NAM members did not join Cold War alliances.
Supported Decolonization: Helped many African and Asian nations gain independence.
Promoted Peace: Advocated disarmament and peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
Encouraged Economic Growth: Pushed for fair trade and economic cooperation among developing nations.
Q. Briefly discuss the New International Economic Order (NIEO).
Answer: NIEO was a movement by developing nations in the 1970s to establish a more just global economic system.
It demanded better trade conditions, technology transfer, and reduced economic dependence on Western nations.
Q. Write a note on the success of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Successes:
Answer: Helped newly independent nations establish sovereignty.
Prevented many countries from being dragged into Cold War conflicts.
Promoted South-South cooperation and economic self-reliance.
Became a platform for developing countries to raise their concerns internationally.
Q. Critically discuss the New International Economic Order (NIEO).
Answer: Strengths:
Aimed to correct economic inequalities between developed and developing countries.
Encouraged fair trade and financial aid for poor nations.
Weaknesses:
Developed countries did not fully support it, reducing its impact.
Many NAM nations remained dependent on the West for trade and technology.
Globalization and economic liberalization reduced the relevance of NIEO.
Q. Write briefly about NATO.
Answer: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was formed in 1949 as a military alliance led by the USA to counter the influence of the USSR during the Cold War. It aimed to provide collective defense to its member countries in case of an attack.
Q. Write briefly about SEATO.
Answer: SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization) was formed in 1954 to prevent the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It was led by the USA and included countries like the UK, France, Australia, and the Philippines. It was dissolved in 1977.
Q. Name the two power blocs that emerged after World War II.
Answer:
USA-led Western Bloc (Capitalist Bloc) – Included NATO and other allies.
USSR-led Eastern Bloc (Communist Bloc) – Included the Warsaw Pact countries.
Q. What was the main reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union?
Answer: The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to:
Economic Crisis – High military spending and inefficient economy.
Political Reforms (Glasnost & Perestroika) – Introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev, which weakened communist control.
Independence Movements – Several Soviet republics demanded independence.
Q. Who introduced the floating exchange rate?
Answer: The floating exchange rate was introduced by Richard Nixon (USA) in 1971 when the USA abandoned the gold standard, allowing currency values to fluctuate based on market demand.
Q. Name two leaders involved in the Cold War.
Answer:
John F. Kennedy (USA)
Nikita Khrushchev (USSR)
Q. What were two reasons for the failure of the League of Nations?
Answer:
Lack of Military Power – It had no army to enforce its decisions.
Absence of Major Powers – The USA never joined, and other major countries left.
Q. What is meant by ‘balance of power’?
Answer: The balance of power refers to a situation where no single nation or alliance becomes too powerful, preventing dominance over others. This was a key idea during the Cold War.
Q. Why did the Soviet Union and the USA sign arms control treaties?
Answer:
To prevent nuclear war – Avoid a direct conflict.
To reduce military spending – Both countries had economic problems.
Q. Write briefly about NIEO (New International Economic Order).
Answer: The NIEO was proposed by developing nations in the 1970s to create a fair global economic system. It demanded:
Control over natural resources for developing countries.
Fair trade practices and better terms of trade.
Debt relief and economic aid.
Q. Write the names of two military alliances formed during the Cold War.
Answer:
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) – 1949
Warsaw Pact – 1955
Q. What does CENTO stand for?
Answer: CENTO stands for Central Treaty Organization (also called the Baghdad Pact), formed in 1955 to prevent Soviet expansion in the Middle East. It was dissolved in 1979.
Q. Write briefly about the Warsaw Pact.
Answer: The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance formed in 1955 by the USSR and its Eastern European allies as a response to NATO. It ensured collective defense among communist nations. It was dissolved in 1991.
Q. Write four points about the impact of globalization on world politics.
Answer:
Increased Economic Interdependence – Countries rely on each other for trade.
Spread of Technology – Rapid advancements in communication and industry.
Cultural Exchange – More interaction between different cultures.
Rise of International Organizations – Institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF became influential.
Q. Why was the division of all nations into two blocs necessary? Write two reasons.
Answer:
Military and Political Alliances – Countries joined either the USA-led or USSR-led bloc for security.
Ideological Conflict – The world was divided between capitalism and communism.
Q. Name two countries that contributed to the military rivalry during the Cold War.
Answer:
United States of America (USA)
Soviet Union (USSR)
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