NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION CLASS – 12 | POLITICAL SCIENCE PART-A CONTEMPORARY WORLD POLITICS NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION | CHAPTER- 4 | ALTERNATIVE CENTRES OF POWER | EDUGROWN |

In This Post we are  providing  CHAPTER 4 ALTERNATIVE CENTRES OF POWER NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS for Class 12 POLITICAL SCIENCE PART- A CONTEMPORARY WORLD POLITICS which will be beneficial for students. These solutions are updated according to 2021-22 syllabus. These MCQS  can be really helpful in the preparation of Board exams and will provide you with a brief knowledge of the chapter.

NCERT MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE CENTRES OF POWER

Question 1.
How can the Euro pass a danger to the US Dollar?
Answer:
European Union has a great economic influence in the world market including the market of the United States. Euro is the currency of the EU.
Euro can pass a danger to the US dollar through:

1. The EU is the world biggest economy with a GDP of more than $ 12 trillion in 2005 and this was slightly larger than the US.
2. Share of EU in world trade is three times larger than that of the US and this is the reason why the EU can be more assertive in trade disputes with the US and China.
3. The economic power of the EU provides great influence over Asia, Africa and its close neighbours.
4. Many countries have joined the EU who are directly linked with the US and carry dollar as their currency. These countries can take economic programmes which are against the interest of the US.

Question 2.
Describe any two aspects each of cordiality and tension in the relationship between India and China.
Answer:
Two aspects of cordiality in the relationship between India and China are :

1. Bilateral trade between India and China has increased from $ 338 million in 1992 to more than $ 18 billion in 2006.
2. Lately, both countries have agreed upon to cooperate with each other in areas that could otherwise create conflict between both nations.

Two aspects of tension in the relationship between India and China are :

1. When China attacked Tibet in 1950-51, Dalai Lama, a political and religious leader of Tibet took shelter in India. As a result relation between the two countries became bitter.
2. Controversy over MacMohan line, the borderline between India and China and border conflict in 1962, over competing for territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and in the Aksai Chin region of Ladakh.

Question 3.
Describe any two similarities and two differences between the USA and the EU.
Answer:
EU and USA carry similarities as well as differences between them.

Similarities between them are :

• Both have a democratic form of governments.
• Both the USA and the EU are federal structures. USA states whereas the EU is a combination of different states of regional blocs.

Differences between them are :

• USA is a country with the US dollar as its currency, whereas the EU has Euro as its currency.
• Basis of unity in the USA is political and military and EU has econ = nic cooperation as its basis r>l unity.

Question 4.
Give any two reasons why regionally and globally China has become an economic power to reckon with.
Answer:
Regionally and globally China has become an economic power to reckon to believe with as:

• The integration of China’s economy has considerable influence on trade partners.
• Adjustments through economic considerations have been made with Japan, the US, ASEAN and Russia. Its investments and help in American, African and Latin states have helped it to project itself a major global player for developing states.

Question 5.
Evaluate any three major factors responsible for making the European Union a political force from economic forces.
Answer:
The European Union has gradually evolved from an economic union into a political union. It has become more a nation-state. Though it does not have Constitution, it has its own flag, anthem, founding date and currency. It has a common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other states.

The areas of cooperation have been expanded by the European Union through admitting new members from the former Soviet bloc. This shifting of power of the EU from economic to political force has not been easy as people were not very enthusiastic. There are also reservations about including some new countries within the European Union.

A major factor behind this is

1. Its aim was to make Europe politically, economically and culturally strong enough to face powers like the USA, Russia.
2. In order to send grievances of European countries to the UN, two countries i.e. Great Britain and France are members of the Security Council of UNO.
3. Due to the presence of some non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, the EU will be able to influence US policies.

Question 6.
Analyse any two factors responsible for the European Union to be a highly influential regional organisation.

Answer:
European Union is considered highly influential.
For types of influences
Economic influence EU with more than $12 trillion (2005) is the largest economy in the world surpassing even that of the USA. Euro can cause a danger to the US hegemony of the dollar. The share of the EU is three times greater than that of the US and this makes the EU more powerful in trade disputes with the US and China. Its economy is very impressive and thus, it becomes influential to its neighbours and in Asia and Africa. It plays a significant role in the World Trade Organisation.

Military influence EU stands second in combined armed forces and on total spending on defence. Its members France and Britain have over 550 nuclear warheads and arsenals. EU is the second largest source of space and communication technology. Thus, this super national association has been able to intercede in economic, political and social areas. But in certain cases, member states have their own foreign relations and defence policies.

For example, in the Iraqi invasion, where Britain and some other members of the EU joined a US-led coalition of willing, whereas France and Germany opposed the same.

Limitations of the European Union European Union as a supranational association has been able to intercede in economic, political and social areas. But there are certain limitations :

• Member states of EU have their own foreign relation and defence policies, that often odds with each other.
• Presence of deep-seated ‘Euro-skepticism’ in some parts of Europe about the EU’s integrationist agenda.

Question 7.
Explain the factors responsible for the rise of the Chinese economy.
Answer:
China is the third major alternative centre of power. It is the fastest growing economy. China at one time was based on the Soviet model and at that time, it broke all the links with the capitalist world. Following are the factors responsible for the rising of the Chinese economy :

• Use of Soviet Model China accepted the Soviet model and relied on its resources. China decided to substitute imports by domestic goods and create state-owned heavy industries from capital produced by agriculture.
• Development of Industrial Economy China used all its resources to develop an industrial economy. All citizens were provided with education and health programmes.
• Relationship with USA China established a relationship with the USA in 1972.
• Modernisation Modernisations in the field of agriculture, industry, military, science and technology were proposed.
• Major Policies Announced Open Door Policy was announced by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, which aimed at a generation of high productivity by investments in capital and technology from abroad.
• The era of Privatisation Privatisation of agriculture in 1982 and privatisation of industry in 1998 was done.
• Establishment of SEZ’s Special Economic Zones was set up. The state had a centralised role in setting up of China’s economy.

Question 8.
Explain the vision of the ASEAN for 2020.
Answer:
ASEAN was established in 1967 with the objective to accelerate economic growth and through that ‘social progress and cultural development’.
ASEAN is rapidly growing into a very important regional organisation. It has a certain vision for 2020. The features of the ASEAN vision 2020 are as follows :

1. Its vision 2020 has defined as an outward-looking role for ASEAN in the international community.
2. This builds on the existing ASEAN policy to encourage negotiations over conflicts in the region. Thus, ASEAN has mediated the end of the Cambodian conflict, the East Timor Crisis and meets annually to discuss East Asian cooperation.
3. ASEAN’s strength, lies in its policies of interaction and consultation with member states, with dialogue partners and with other non-regional organisations.
4. It is the only regional association in Asia that provides a political forum where Asian countries and the major powers can discuss political and security concerns.

Question 9.
Examine the changing Indo-China relations.
Answer:
For India-China relationship
The India-China relations examined are as below: Friendly relations

• After the Chinese Revolution in 1949, India was one of the first countries to recognise the communist government.
• Prime Minister Nehru and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai adopted Panchsheel, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence on 29 April 1954.

The Chinese invasion and strained relationship

1. China annexed Tibet in 1950 and thus removed a historical buffer between the two countries.
2. Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had sought asylum in India in 1959. China alleged that India was allowing anti-China activities in India.
3. Boundary disputes arose between the two countries over Aksai-China area in the Ladakh region and NEFA in the Eastern region.
4. The boundary disputes led to a massive Chinese invasion in October 1962. Finally, China declared a unilateral ceasefire but relations between the two countries remained strained.

Conflict of 1962 and Post-Cold Era marked a major change in Indo-China relations. Indo-China Conflict of 1962 In 1962, border dispute regarding territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and in Aksai Chin made India suffer military reverses. This had an impact on relations between both of them.

Till 1976, no progress was seen in the betterment of their relations, but after that, they improved slowly. The change in China’s leadership allowed both countries to improve their relations. Border issues resolution was also started in 1981.

Indo-China Relation After Cold War End of the Cold War marked various changes in the relationship between India and China. Both India and China consider themselves as rising powers in international politics.

After the visit of Rajiv Gandhi in 1988, both governments tried to maintain ‘peace and silence’ on the border.
Agreements regarding cultural exchange and cooperation were signed. Four border posts were also opened. Trade between India and China grew at 30 per cent per year since 1999. An increase in bilateral trade from $ 338 million in 1992 to more than $ 18 billion in 2006 was seen. India and China are following the same policies in international economic institutions like the World Trade Organisation.

The nuclear tests by India in 1998 created tension between the two, but the process of normalisation was continued. No issues created problems between both the countries, be it Pakistan’s nuclear programme being assisted by China.

Leaders from both countries frequently visit each other’s nation and this way, they are becoming familiar with each other. Through an increase in transportation and communication links and working on common economic interests development of sound relationship has been taking place.

Question 10.
Analyse the basis of the projection of China to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by 2040. (Delhi 2008)
Answer:
China is viewed to dominate the US by the year 2040. The basis of the projection are :

1. China is considered as the driver of East Asian growth because of the economic integration into regions.
2. China is considered to be very powerful and factors such as population, land mass, resources, regional location and political influence add to its strength.
3. China announced ‘Open Door Policy’ in 1978 which aimed at a generation of high productivity by investments in capital and technology from abroad.
4. In the economic sector various steps were taken to encourage investment by Western entrepreneurs for modernisation of:
   • Industry
   • Science and technology
   • Agriculture
   • Military
5. In 1980, China became a member of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
6. Privatisation of agriculture and industry helped in growing economy rapidly.
7. Foreign trade grew with the creation of SEZs and new trading plans This resulted in high foreign exchange reserves and this way China became most significant for FDI. The above points show China’s ability to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by 2040.