Hello Students. Are you Searching for NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1? If yes then you are in the right place. Here we have provided you with the Question and Answers of Chapter 1: The Cold War Era. These solutions are written by expert teachers and faculties keeping the new curriculum in mind.
| Chapter | 1. The Cold War Era |
| Subject | Political Science |
| Textbook | Contemporary World Politics |
| Class | Twelve |
| Category | NCERT Solutions for Class 12 |
The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1: The Cold War Era provide students with an easy-to-follow study guide. This resource will give students the confidence to take on the difficult subjects. These Solutions are a must-have for all students wishing to score high marks in the Political Science subject. They will also enable students to prepare each topic meticulously. Aside from that, the NCERT solutions for Class 12 Political Science will help them get the highest marks possible.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Chapter 1
The Cold War Era Solutions
Q1) Which among the following statements about the Cold War is wrong?
(а) 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.
Q2) Which among the following statements does not reflect the objectives of NAM?
(a) Enabling newly decolonised countries to pursue independent policies.
(b) No to joining any military alliances.
(c) Following a policy of neutrality on global issues.
(d) Focus on elimination of global economic inequalities.
Answer) (c) Following a policy of neutrality on global issues.
Q3) Mark correct or wrong against each of the following statements that describe the features of military alliances formed by the superpowers.
(a) Member countries of the alliance are to provide bases in their respective lands for superpowers.
Answer) Correct
(b) Member countries to support the superpower both in terms of ideology and military strategy.
Answer) Correct
(c) When a nation attacks any member country, it is considered as an attack on all the member countries.
Answer) Correct
(d) Superpowers assist all the member countries to develop their own nuclear weapons.
Answer) Wrong
Q4) Here is a list of countries. Write against each of these blocs they belonged to during the Cold War.
(a) Poland
(b) France
(c) Japan
(d) Nigeria
(e) North Korea
(f) Sri Lanka
Answer)
a) Eastern Alliance
b) Western Alliance
c) Western Alliance
d) Non-Alignment
e) Eastern Alliance
f) Non-Alignment
Q5) The Cold War produced an arms race as well as arms control. What were the reasons for both these development?
Answer) The Cold War did not eliminate rivalries between the two alliances, mutual suspicions led them to arm themselves to the teeth and to constantly prepare for war. Huge stocks of arms were considered necessary to prevent wars from taking place. This was known as arms race.
Cold war also led to several shooting wars such as Korean Crisis, Berlin Crisis, Congo Crisis and several others. The two sides understood that war might occur in spite of restraint. As both powers have nuclear weapons, there will be vast devastation all over the world and left no single side as the winner. Therefore, the US and USSR decided to collaborate in limiting or eliminating certain kinds of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons. A stable balance of weapons, they decided, could be maintained through ‘arms control’.
Q6) Why did the superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries? Give three reasons.
Answer) The superpowers have military alliances with smaller countries because the smaller states were helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to
- Vital resources as oil and minerals.
- Territory from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.
- Locations from where they could spy on each other.
Q7) Sometimes it is said that the Cold War was a simple struggle for power and that ideology had nothing to do with it. Do you agree with this? Give one example to support your position.
Answer) Sometimes it is said that the Cold War was a simple struggle for power and that ideology had nothing to do with it. Do you agree with this? Give one example to support your position.
- The Cold War led to several shooting wars but this did not lead to another World War.
- Despite direct confrontations in Korea (1950-53), Berlin (1958-62), the Congo (early 1960s), neither alliance system crossed certain limits.
- Many lives have been lost in some of the arenas like Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan but World War spread a nuclear war or global hostilities.
Q8) What was India’s foreign policy towards the US and USSR during the Cold War era? Do you think that this policy helped India’s interests?
Answer) India’s foreign policy towards the US and USSR during the Cold War era was neither negative nor passive.
- Despite being the founder member of NAM, India was in favour of actively intervening in world affairs to soften Cold War rivalries.
- India tried to reduce the differences between the alliances and thereby prevent differences from escalating into a full-scale war.
- Indian diplomats and leaders were often used to communicate and mediate between Cold War rivals such as in the Korea War in the early 1950s.
- During the Cold War, India repeatedly tried to activate those regional and international organisations, which were not a part of the alliances led by the US and USSR.
- India’s Nehru reposed great faith in ‘a genuine commonwealth of free and cooperating nations’ that would play a positive role in softening, if not ending, the Cold War.
This policy of India towards US and USSR helped India’s interest to take international decisions and stances. India was often able to balance one superpower against the other. Neither alliance system could take India for granted or bully it.
Q9) NAM was considered a ‘third option’ by third world countries! How did this option benefit their growth during the peak of the Cold War?
Answer) Non-alignment offered newly decolonised countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, a third option—not to join either alliance. A majority of NAM members was categorised as the Least Development Countries (LDCs), to be developed more economically not to remain dependent on richer countries. A new International Economic Order (NIEO) originated with this realisation. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought out a report in 1972 entitled towards a New Trade Policy for Development which proposed a reform of global trading system:
- LDCs got control over their own natural resources which were being exploited by developed western countries.
- To make western market available for LDCs to make trade more beneficial.
- To reduce cost of-technology from western countries.
- To provide LDCs with a greater role in international economic institutions.
Q10) What do you think about the statement that NAM has become irrelevant today. Give reasons to support your opinion.
Answer) No, I don not think NAM has become irrelevant today. It still contains some core values and enduring ideas.
- After the end of the cold war between superpowers, it started giving more importance to economic issues than political issues.
- After the end of the cold war between superpowers, it started giving more importance to economic issues than political issues.
- NAM is formed by Third World countries in which developmental task is not yet completed. It ensures that these countries liberalise their economies in order to pave way for faster development.
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