Security in the Contemporary World
Political Science • NCERT Solutions • Chapter 7
Matching
1. Match the terms with their meaning:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| i. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) | b. A process of exchanging information on defence matters between nations on a regular basis |
| ii. Arms Control | d. Regulates the acquisition or development of weapons |
| iii. Alliance | c. A coalition of nations meant to deter or defend against military attacks |
| iv. Disarmament | a. Giving up certain types of weapons |
Security Threat Classification
2. Which among the following would you consider as a traditional security concern / non-traditional security concern / not a threat?
- a. The spread of chikungunya / dengue fever: Non-traditional security concern (Health security).
- b. Inflow of workers from a neighbouring nation: Non-traditional security concern (Migration/Human security) or Not a threat (depending on scale).
- c. Emergence of a group demanding nationhood for their region: Traditional security concern (Threat to territorial integrity).
- d. Emergence of a group demanding autonomy for their region: Not a threat (Political issue within democracy) or Traditional (if armed insurgency).
- e. A newspaper that is critical of the armed forces in the country: Not a threat (Freedom of speech).
Short Answer Questions
3. What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security? Which category would the creation and sustenance of alliances belong to?
- Traditional Security: Focuses on external military threats to the state, involving national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Non-Traditional Security: Focuses on threats to human existence, including hunger, disease, natural disasters, and terrorism. It protects “people” rather than just the “state.”
4. What are the differences in the threats that people in the Third World face and those living in the First World face?
- First World (Developed): Primarily face non-traditional threats like terrorism or global issues like climate change. Their borders are generally secure.
- Third World (Developing): Face both external threats (neighbours) and internal threats (separatist movements, civil war). They also face acute non-traditional threats like poverty, epidemics, and displacement.
5. Is terrorism a traditional or non-traditional threat to security?
Terrorism is generally classified as a Non-Traditional Threat because it involves non-state actors targeting civilians to create fear, rather than a state military attacking another state. However, it affects traditional security (state stability) as well.
6. What are the choices available to a state when its security is threatened, according to the traditional security perspective?
A state has three choices:
- Surrender: To yield to the attacking power.
- Deterrence: To prevent the other side from attacking by raising the costs of war to an unacceptable level.
- Defence: To fight war when it breaks out, in order to defeat the attacking power.
7. What is ‘Balance of Power’? How could a state achieve this?
Balance of Power is a situation where nations have roughly equal power, ensuring no single nation is strong enough to dominate the others.
Achieved by:
Achieved by:
- Building up military strength (arms race).
- Economic development to support the military.
- Forming alliances with other nations to counter a powerful adversary.
Long Answer Questions
8. What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of a functioning military alliance with its specific objectives.
Objectives:
Established in 1949, its objective is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means. It was originally formed to counter the Soviet Union in Europe.
- To deter potential aggressors through collective strength.
- To increase effective power relative to another country or alliance.
- To defend member nations in case of an attack (“An attack on one is an attack on all”).
Established in 1949, its objective is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means. It was originally formed to counter the Soviet Union in Europe.
9. Rapid environmental degradation is causing a serious threat to security. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your arguments.
Yes, I agree. Environmental degradation acts as a “threat multiplier.”
- Rising Sea Levels: Threatens the existence of island nations (like Maldives) and coastal cities (like Mumbai), potentially displacing millions.
- Resource Conflicts: Scarcity of water and arable land due to climate change can lead to wars between states (e.g., potential water wars in the Middle East or South Asia).
- Natural Disasters: Increased frequency of floods and droughts disrupts economies and causes massive migration (environmental refugees), destabilizing regions.
10. Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defence have limited usage against contemporary security threats to states. Explain the statement.
Nuclear weapons are designed for traditional state-vs-state warfare. They are ineffective against contemporary non-traditional threats because:
- Terrorism: You cannot use a nuclear bomb against a terrorist group hiding within a civilian population or spread across multiple countries.
- Cyber Warfare: Nuclear deterrence cannot stop a cyber-attack on banking or power grids.
- Pandemics/Climate Change: Military might, including nuclear arsenals, is useless against viruses or global warming.
- Therefore, while they deter major wars between great powers, they offer no solution to modern human security challenges.
11. Looking at the Indian scenario, what type of security has been given priority in India, traditional or non-traditional? What examples could you cite to substantiate the argument?
India has had to balance both, but historically, Traditional Security has been given higher priority due to hostile neighbours.
Traditional Priority:
Traditional Priority:
- Wars: India has fought wars with Pakistan (1947, 1965, 1971, 1999) and China (1962).
- Nuclear Program: Testing nuclear weapons in 1998 was a strategic move for traditional deterrence.
- Recently, focus is shifting to energy security, climate change (International Solar Alliance), and counter-terrorism, acknowledging that military might alone cannot secure the nation.
12. Read the cartoon below and write a short note in favour or against the connection between war and terrorism depicted in this cartoon.
(Note: Assuming the cartoon depicts the “War on Terror” leading to more terrorism).
Note (In favour of the connection): The cartoon accurately suggests that waging conventional war to fight terrorism often backfires. Large-scale military interventions (like in Iraq or Afghanistan) often result in civilian casualties and political instability. This resentment fuels radicalization, creating a breeding ground for new terrorists. Thus, “War on Terror” can become a self-perpetuating cycle where war feeds terrorism rather than ending it.
Note (In favour of the connection): The cartoon accurately suggests that waging conventional war to fight terrorism often backfires. Large-scale military interventions (like in Iraq or Afghanistan) often result in civilian casualties and political instability. This resentment fuels radicalization, creating a breeding ground for new terrorists. Thus, “War on Terror” can become a self-perpetuating cycle where war feeds terrorism rather than ending it.