Class 12 Political Science Notes- Chapter 7: SECURITY IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

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UNIT – 7

SECURITY IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Table of Contents

VERY SHORT ANSWER (1 Mark)

1. What is meant by security?

Ans. Security in simple terms implies freedom from threats. But this does not mean that every single threat counts as a security threat. Security actually relates only to extremely dangerous threats which could endanger the core values that those values would be damaged beyond repair if we did not do something to deal with the situation.

2. What do you understand by internally displaced people?

Ans. People who have fled their homes but remain within national borders are called Internally Displaced People. For example Kashmiri Pandit who fled due to internal violence in Kashmir valley.

3. What is the purpose of conducting nuclear test by India?

Ans. The purpose behind conducting nuclear tests by India was to protect her territory from her enemies who are also nuclear technologically rich countries.

4. What is meant by Human Security?

Ans. Human Security means to the protection of people from any type of threats more than the protection of states.

5. Give an example of global threat.

Ans. Global warming is an example of Global threat.

6. What is international terrorism?

Ans. International terrorism is the situation which involves the citizens or territory of more than one country. Terrorist group seek to change a political context or condition that they do not like by force or threat of force. Some international famous terrorist groups are Al-Qaeda, Hijbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Toiba.

7. What makes rich states get richer?

Ans. Low population growth and high per capita income makes rich states get richer.

8. What is Cooperative Security?

Ans. Cooperative security refers to a form of security dealing with many of the non-traditional threats to security through co-operation rather than military confrontation.

9. Why do people migrate?

Ans. People migrate to seek a better life, especially better economic opportunities and standard able life.

10. What is the full form of NATO?

Ans. North Atlantic Treaty Organization

11. In which year India first tested a nuclear device?

Ans. India tested nuclear device in 1974 for the first time.

12. In which year Global Security has emerged?

Ans. Global security has emerged in 1990’s.

13. Give one example of Arms Control?

Ans. Nuclear-Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed.

14. When Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed?

Ans. In 1968, Nuclear-Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed.

15. Write one component of India’s security strategy?

Ans. The component of India’s security strategy is to strengthen its military power.

16. What is pollution?

Ans. Pollution is defined as the unfavourable alternation of our surroundings.

17. What is meant by social safety nets?

Ans. Social safety nets are protective measure to minimize the negative effects of globalization on those who are economically weak.

18. Fill in the blanks:

(a) Global poverty is another source of ____.

Ans. Insecurity

(b) Security implied ____ from threats.

Ans. Freedom

Ans. Military attacks.

19. How many states acceded to chemical weapons conventions?

Ans. 181 States acceded to chemical weapons conventions.

20. Do all societies have the same conception of Security?

Ans. No, all societies do not have the same conception of security.

Class 12 Political Science Notes (for 2020-21 exam) -CBSE and AHSEC

VERY SHORT ANSWER (2 Mark)

1. Fill in the blanks:

(i) Non-traditional views of security have been called ____ or ____.

Ans. Human security, global security

2. What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security?

Ans. Traditional conceptions of security are principally concerned with the use, or threat of use, of military force. Its traditional security, force is both the principal threat to security and the principal means of achieving security. Non-traditional nations of security go beyond military threat to include a wide range of threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence. In the traditional security conception, the regrant is the state with its territory and governing institutions. In the non-traditional conceptions, the reference is expanded. Proponents of non-traditional security reply “Not just the state but also individuals or communities or indeed all of humankind.” Non-traditional views of security have been called ‘Human Security’ or ‘Global Security’. Creation and substance of alliances belong to the traditional security. An alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to deter or defend against military attack.

3. Write the difference between migrants and refugees. [2013]

Ans. The differences between Migrants and Refugees are –

Migrants are those who voluntarily leave their home countries. Refugees are those who flee for war, natural disaster or political persecution.
Migrants are not accepted by the state. But states are supposed to accept refugees.

4. Give example of two health epidemics.

Ans. Two health epidemics are – Bird flu and Hauta virus.

5. Mention two components of India’s security strategy.

Ans. The two components of India’s security strategy are –

Strengthening its Military capabilities because India has involved in conflicts with its neighbours like – China and Pakistan.
Strengthening international norms and international institution to protect its security interests.

6. Do you think that terrorism is a threat to security? Why?

Ans. Terrorism is rightly a non-traditional threat to security. Secondly, it refers to political violence that threats civilians deliberately and in discriminately. Thirdly, international terrorism relates the citizens or territory of more than one country. Terrorist groups basically seen to change a political index

7. Mention two new sources of threats.

Ans. Two new sources of threats are – Terrorism and Global poverty.

8. How the security challenges faced by the newly independent countries are different from the challenges in Europe?

Ans. The security challenges faced by the newly independent countries are different from the challenges in Europe by like manner:

The newly independent countries had to worry about internal military conflict.
They also had to face the prospect of military conflicts with neighbouring countries.

9. What is the idea of Global Security?

Ans. The idea of Global Security means protection from all the threats which affect the whole world.

10. Mention new source of threats to individual?

Ans. New source of threats to individual are global poverty, health epidemics terrorism.

11. What is military threat? How is it the greatest danger to country?

Ans. Military threat is a threat of military action against a country. Military threat poses dangers the sovereignty and integrity of a country.

12. Write two component of traditional security policy?

Ans. Alliance building and balance of power are two components traditional security policy.

13. Is terrorism a traditional or non-traditional threat to security?

Ans. Terrorism is a non-traditional threat of security. It has been posing a very serious threat to international peace and security.

14. Fill in the blanks:

(a) ____ that fled the violence in the Kashmir valley are an example of an ____.

Ans. Terrorism, organized violence

(b) Human Security is about the protection of ____ more than the protection of ____.

Ans. Individual, nation-states.

Ans. Notion, Military attack.

15. What are the most important securities in a country against freedom from threats?

Ans. Human Security is the most important security in a country against freedom from threats.

16. What are the different types of classification of Human Rights?

Ans. First generation human rights, second generation human rights and third generation human rights

17. Name the three important international organizations?

Ans. UNO, IMF, World Bank is the three important international organizations.

18. What do you mean by ‘Human Right’?

Ans. Human rights are basic claims of every individual to enjoy some basic rights for full development. Human rights are inherent and inalienable.

LONG ANSWER (4 Marks)

1. What are the four components of traditional notion of security from external threats? Give examples.

Ans. The four components of traditional notion of security are the following –

Deterrence: This means preventing an outbreak of major military conflict or war.
Defence: It refers to limiting or ending the war. Defence also means retaliating a war when it breaks out.
Balanced of Power: A country which is bigger and stronger may be seen as a threat in future by another country. Governments are therefore very sensitive to balance of power between their country and other countries. Balance of power reduces military attacks.
Alliance Building: An alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to deter or defend against military attack. Ideologically aligned countries go for alliance building especially military regional organizations like NATO, SEATO, Warsaw Pact to defect their common enemy.9

2. What is meant by human rights? What are the different types of human rights?

Ans. Human Rights are those basic claims and conditions to which every individual is entitled as a human being ensures his/her fullest development. Different types of Human Rights are –

(i) Political Right.

Freedom of speech.
Freedom of assembly.

(ii) Economic Right.

(iii) Social Right.

(iv) Civil Right.

(v) Right of colonized people.

(vi) Right of ethnic and indigenous minorities.

3. What is Balance of Power? How can a state achieve this?

Ans. “Balance of Power” is an important component of traditional Security policy. When countries look around then, they see that some countries are bigger and stronger. This is a clue to who might be a threat in the future. For instance, a neighbouring country may not say it is preparing for attack. There may be no obvious reasons for attack. But the fact that this country is very powerful is a sign that at some point in the future it may choose to be aggressive. Governments are, therefore very sensitive to the balance of power between their countries. They do world hard to maintain favourable balance of power with other countries especially those close by, those with whom they have difference or with those they have had conflicts in the past. A good part of maintaining balance of power is to build up one’s military power, although economic and technological power are also important since they are the basis for military power.

4. What are the four components of the security strategy of India?

Ans. India’s security strategy is a combination of four components which vary from time to time. These include –

Strengthen military capability: The first component was strengthening military capabilities because India has been involved in conflicts with its neighbours – Pakistan in 1947-48, 1965, 1971 and 1999; and China in 1962. Since it is surrounded by nuclear armed countries in the South Asian region, India’s decision to conduct tests in 1998 was justified by the Indian government in terms of safeguarding national security India first tested a nuclear device in 1974.
Internal security: The second component of security strategy of India has been gearing up for challenges within the country several militant outfits in Kashmir, Punjab, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have at several time, threatened to secede from India causing a chaotic problem for internal security. India has tried to stabilize national unity by adopting a democratic political regime, that allows different groups and communities to ventilate their grievances freely and share political power.
Strengthen international norms and international institution: The third component of India’s security strategy has been to strengthen international norms and institutions to protect its security interests. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, supported the cause of Asian solidarity, decolonization, disarmament and the UN as a forum in which international conflicts could settled. India has taken initiative in nuclear non-proliferation. India has agreed for an equitable New International Economic Order. Most importantly, it used non-alignment to help carve out an area of peace outside the bloc politics of the two superpowers. India joined 160 countries that have signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol for reducing the emission of harmful gases. Indian troops have been sent abroad on UN peacekeeping mission in support of cooperative security initiatives.
Economic growth: There has been an increasing attempt to develop the Indian economy so that poverty, misery and inequalities cease to exist and people can uplift their standard of living. Despite several attempts, India is still a poor country, but the democratic system allows even the least advantage to express their voice. Democratic governments are always under pressure to increase the growth. Thus, democracy in India is not only a political ideal, it is a means to ensure greater security.

5. Write a note on ‘Traditional Security’.

Ans. Traditional Security are primarily concerned with the use, or threat of use of military force. In traditional security force are both the principal threat to security and the principal means of achieving security. The states protect its territory and institutions by employing force.

6. “Human Security signifies freedom from want and freedom from fear” – Explain.

Ans. It is rightly said that the human security signifies freedom from want and freedom from fear. Threats like hunger, disease and natural disasters kill many people that war, genocide and terrorism. Human security policy should aim to protect people from these threats as well as violence. We can call it like this “human security means freedom from want and freedom from fear”.

VERY LONG ANSWER (6 Marks)

1. ‘The non-traditional conception of security focuses on the changing nature of threats to security’. What are these new threats? [2013]

Ans. The non-traditional conceptions both Human Security and Global Security focus on the changing nature f threats to security. We will discussed some of these new threats in the section below –

Global Poverty: One of the causes of insecurity is global poverty. The disparities between the developed and developing nations are ever-increasing. Growth of population is the prime factor for poverty in the Third world countries. It is estimated that world’s population will increase by 50% due to expansion of population in global south. High growth rate, high per capita income, high literacy level and low population makes rich states richer while low per capita, low literacy rate, slow growth, high populations is likely to make states poorer.
Health epidemics: Another modern source of threats is the health epidemic like stars, Hauta virus, Ebola, bird flu etc. These diseases spread across continents within minutes creating health hazards. It is estimated that by 2003 over 4 crore people were affected by HIV-AIDS throughout the world. Inability to control these disease affects other nations badly.
Human Rights: Denial of human rights to different sections of people and its violation is also a non-traditional theat. It is seen that there is huge violation of human rights during ethnic clashes and in some state sponsored terrorism. There is a broad concern on human rights, but there is no unanimity on which set of rights should be treated as universal or what should be global community do when rights are violated.
Terrorism: It is also a non-traditional threat. Terrorism is organized political violence targeting civilians deliberately and indiscriminately. Global terrorism involves people or territory of more than one state. Terrorist groups use terror as a potent weapon against national governments opposing with the terrorists.

2. Suggest some measures to avoid violence.

Ans. Following measures can be suggested to avoid violence –

International cooperation: Along with bilateral cooperation, international cooperation is also a strong ground to reduce violence. Nations at conflict should organize meetings and conventions at regular interval to reduce violence. “Jaw-Jaw is better than war-war”, is a proven fact and therefore this fact should be utilized to eradicate all sorts of violence and differences that exists between countries.
Arm and Ammunitions: The possession of arms and ammunitions of modern technology can avert violence. The enemies are always at a chance to attack a nation. But the presence of high tech weapons will definitely reduce the chances of attack as it will act as deterrence.
Surrender: surrendering sometimes in front of enemies might reduce violence. If both groups and nations continues to fight then the level of violence increases leading to loss of life and property. But surrendering by one party will prohibit the level of violence thereby allowing peace to return soon.
Talk and Discussion: Talks and discussions can also prevent violence. Peace talks by the warring groups must sit together and find out a solution to their problems. This action will prevent the outbreak of war and violence. Even the United Nations organization believes this policy and exerts nations to execute this policy.

3. What is Confidence Building? Is it a means of avoiding violence?

Ans. Confidence Building is a process in which countries share ideas and information with even their rivals. It is a means of avoiding violence. The countries tell each other about their military intentions and upto a point, their military plans. This is a way of demonstrating that they are not planning a surprise attack. They also tell each other about the kind of forces they possess and they may share information on where those forces are deployed. In short, confidence building is a process designed to ensure that rivals do not go to war through misunderstanding or misperception.

4. What is non-traditional notion of security? List old its areas of operation.

Global Poverty: One of the causes of insecurity is global poverty. The disparities between the developed and developing nations are ever-increasing. Growth of population is the prime factor for poverty in the Third world countries. It is estimated that world’s population will increase by 50% due to expansion of population in global south. High growth rate, high per capita income, high literacy level and low population makes rich states richer while low per capita, low literacy rate, slow growth, high populations is likely to make states poorer.
Health epidemics: Another modern source of threats is the health epidemic like stars, Hauta virus, Ebola, bird flu etc. These diseases spread across continents within minutes creating health hazards. It is estimated that by 2003 over 4 crore people were affected by HIV-AIDS throughout the world. Inability to control these disease affects other nations badly.
Human Rights: Denial of human rights to different sections of people and its violation is also a non-traditional theat. It is seen that there is huge violation of human rights during ethnic clashes and in some state sponsored terrorism. There is a broad concern on human rights, but there is no unanimity on which set of rights should be treated as universal or what should be global community do when rights are violated.
Terrorism: It is also a non-traditional threat. Terrorism is organized political violence targeting civilians deliberately and indiscriminately. Global terrorism involves people or territory of more than one state. Terrorist groups use terror as a potent weapon against national governments opposing with the terrorists.

5. What are the differences in the threats face by the people living in the Third World and in the First World?

Ans. After the end of Second World War in 1945, U.S.A. Soviet Union and most of the European states appeared to be united and could expect peace within their borders. They faced no serious threats from groups or communities living within their borders. Thus, these countries focused primarily on threats from outside their borders. On the other hand, the security challenges facing the newly independent countries of the Third World were different from the challenges faced by those living in the First World (U.S.A), Soviet Union and other Western European countries. In the first place, these countries faced threats not from outside their borders, mainly from neighbouring countries, but also from within their countries. They feared their neighbours even more than they feared the U.S.A. or the Soviet Union or other former colonial powers. They quarreled over boundaries and territories, of people and population or all of these simultaneously for control. Besides the newly independently states of the Third World were worried about threats from separatist movement which wanted to secede from the main land from their own independent states. A neighbour might instigate or even help such a separatist movement leading to tension between the two neighbouring countries. Thus, for the Third World, external wars with neighbours and internal Wars also posed a serious challenge to their security.

6. What is a Global Poverty? List out its complex nature in the Global arena?

Ans. Global poverty is one traditional threat to security. The disparity between the developed and develop nations are ever-increasing. Growth of over population is the primary factor for increasing poverty in the third world countries. Global poverty has created some complex problem like illiteracy, under-development under nourishment gap between the rich and poor etc.

7. Distinguish between Traditional Security and Non-Traditional Security.

Traditional Security

Non-Traditional Security

Traditional conceptions of security are principally concerned with the use or treat of use of military force. In Traditional Security conception the referent is the state with its territory and governing institutions. The scope of Traditional notions of security is confined to internal and external threats to the state. In Traditional Security, “force” is both the principal threat to security and principal means of achieving security.

Non-traditional notions of security go beyond military threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence. In the non-traditional conception, the referent is expanded and covers wide areas of security. On the other hand, the scope of non-traditional notions of security covers not just the state but also individuals or indeed all of human kind. While in non-traditional security, cooperation is the principal means of achieving security, i.e. co-operative security to all the humankind. Non-traditional views thus have been called human security or global security.

8. Write a note on alliance building.

Ans. Alliance building is another traditional component of security. An alliance is a coalition of states that co-ordinate their actions to defer or defend against military attack. Actually, it deals with the alliance or agreement between states or nations. In this policy, most alliances are formalized in written treaties and are based on a fairly clear identification of who constitutes the threats.

9. Explain the concept of arms control.

Ans. ‘Arms Control’ is one of the important strategies of traditional notions of security. It regulates the acquisition or development of weapons. ‘Arms Control’ adopted the following measures to regulate the development of weapons:

The Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 1972 tried to stop the United States and Soviet Union from using ballistic missiles as a defensive shield to launch a nuclear attack.
It allowed both countries to develop a very limited number of defensive systems, but it stopped them from large-scale production of these systems.
US and Soviet Union signed a number of other arms control treaties like, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT) and Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was introduced in 1968. It was an arms control treaty in the sense that it regulated the acquisition of nuclear weapons.

10. Explain the concept of human security.

Ans. The concept of human security has received sufficient attention only after the end of the Cold War. It means safety of the people or communities from both violent and non-violent threats and should be seen from the perspective of the security of the individual rather than that of nation-state. It is an effort to create a global society where safety of the individual is the priority and institutions are build to enhance human security.

11. Write a note on terrorism.

Ans. Terrorism is unlawful activities to achieve the desired objectives. Terrorism refers to violence which targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately. Bomb blasts, hijacking, human bomb, killing etc. are all act of terrorism.

Following are the main characteristics of terrorism –

Terrorism is an organized, planned and deliberate act of violence.
Terrorism is unlawful, inhuman and unconstitutional.
Terrorism has no faith in democratic and human values.
Terrorism is directed against civilians and armed personnel.
Terrorism is a politically motivated violence, i.e. against the government.