Topics
Contemporary World Politics
Cold War Era
- Introduction to the Cold War Era
- The Berlin Blockade (1948-1949)
- Cold War (1945-1991)
- Emergence of Two Power Blocs After the Second World War
- Arenas of the Cold War
- Challenges to Bipolarity
- New International Economic Order
- India and the Cold War
- Disintegration of the Soviet Union and Its Impact Or Consequences on the World Order
The End of Bipolarity
- Introduction to the End of Bipolarity
- What Was the Soviet System?
- Gorbachev and Disintegration
- Why Did the Soviet Union Disintegrate?
- Consequences of Disintegration
- Shock Therapy in Post-communist Regimes
- Shock Therapy and Its Consequenes
- Tensions and Conflicts
- India and Post-communist Countries
- New Entities in World Politics: Russia, Balkan States and Central Asian States
- Introduction of Democratic Politics and Capitalism in Post-communist Regimes
- Overview of The End of Bipolarity
US Hegemony in World Politics
- Introduction of US Hegemony in World Politics
- Ayesha, Jabu and Andrei
- Beginning of the ‘New World Order’
- The Clinton Years
- 9/11 and the ‘Global War on Terror’
- The Iraq Invasion
- Hegemony
- Constraints on American Power
- India's Relationship with the Us
- How Can Hegemony Be Overcome?
- Growth of Unilateralism - Afghanistan, First Gulf War, Response to 9/11 and Attack on Iraq
- Dominance and Challenge to the Us in Economy and Ideology
Alternative Centres of Power
- Introduction to Alternative Centres of Power
- European Union
- Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- The Rise of the Chinese Economy
- India-China Relations
- Overview of Contemporary Centres of Power
Contemporary South Asia in the Post Cold War Era
- Introduction to Contemporary South Asia
- What is South Asia?
- The Military and Democracy in Pakistan
- Democracy in Bangladesh
- Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal
- Ethnic Conflict and Democracy in Sri Lanka
- India-Pakistan Conflicts
- India's Relations with Its Neighbours
- Peace and Cooperation
- Impact of Economic Globalization on the Region
- Conflicts and Efforts for Peace in South Asia
- Overview of Contemporary South Asia
International Organizations
- Introduction to International Organisations
- Why International Organisations?
- Evolution of the UN
- Reform of the UN After the Cold War
- Reform of Structures and Processes
- Jurisdiction of the UN
- India and the UN Reforms
- The UN in a Unipolar World
- Restructuring and the Future of the UN
- India'S Position in the Restructured UN
- Rise of New International Actors - New International Economic Organisations, Ngos
- How Democratic and Accountable Are the New Institutions of Global Governance
- Overview of International Organizations
Security in Contemporary World
- Introduction to Security in the Contemporary World
- What is Security?
- Traditional Notions: External
- Traditional Security and Cooperation
- Non-traditional Notions
- New Sources of Threats
- Cooperative Security
- India’s Security Strategy
- Traditional Concerns of Security and Politics of Disarmament
- Non-traditional Or Human Security - Global Poverty, Health and Education
- Issues of Human Rights and Migration
- Overview of Security in Contemporary World
Environment and Natural Resources
- Introduction to Environment and Natural Resources
- Environmental Concerns in Global Politics
- The Protection of Global Commons
- Common but Differentiated Responsibilities
- Common Property Resources
- India's Stand on Environmental Issues
- Environment Movements: One Or Many?
- Resource Geopolitics
- The Indigenous Peoples and Their Rights
- Rights of Indigenous People
- Overview of Environment and Natural Resources
Globalisation
- Political Consequences
- Economic Consequences
- Cultural Consequences
- India and Resistance to Globalisation
- Economic, Cultural and Political Manifestations
- Debates on the Nature of Consequences of Globalisation
- Anti-globalisation Movements
- India as an Arena of Globalization and Struggle Against It
- Name Or Description
- Overview of Globalisation
- Opportunities and Threats of Globalization
Politics in India since Independence
Challenges of Nation-building
- Nehru's Approach to Nation-building
- Legacy of Partition - Challenge of 'Refugee' Resettlement, the Kashmir Problem
- Organisation and Reorganization of States
- Political Conflicts Overlanguage
- Challenges for the New Nation
- Partition: Displacement and Rehabilitation
- Integration of Princely States
- Overview of Challenges of Nation-building
Era of One-party Dominance
- Introduction of Era of One-party Dominance
- Congress Dominance in the First Three General Elections
- Nature of Congress Dominance at the National Level
- Uneven Dominance at the State Level
- Coalitional Nature of Congress
- Emergence of Opposition Parties
- Challenge of Building Democracy
- Overview of Era of One-party Dominance
Politics of Planned Development
- 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017)
- Expansion of State Sector and the Rise of New Economic Interests
- Famine and Suspension of Five Year Plans
- Green Revolution and Its Political Fallouts
- Introduction of Politics of Planned Development
- The Early Initiatives
- Key Controversies
- Major Outcome
- Overview of Politics of Planned Development
India's External Relations
- Nehru's Foreign Policy
- Sino-Indian War
- Pakistan (1948–49, 1965, 1971)
- India'S Nuclear Programme
- Shifting Alliance in World Politics
- International Context
- The Policy of Non-alignment
- Peace and Conflict with China
- Wars and Peace with Pakistan
- India's Nuclear Policy
- Overview of India's External Relations
Challenges to the Congress System
- Political Succession After Nehru
- Non-congressism and Electoral Upset of 1967
- Congress Split and Reconstitution
- Congress Victory in 1971 Elections
- Politics of Garibi Hatao
- Fourth General Elections, 1967
- Split in the Congress
- The 1971 Election and Restoration of Congress
- Overview of Challenges to the Congress System
Crisis of the Democratic Order
- Search for Committed Bureaucracy and Judiciary
- Navnirman Movement in Gujarat and the Bihar Movement
- Emergency - Context, Constitutional and Extra-constitutional Dimensions, Resistance to Emergency
- 1977 Elections and the Formation of Janata Party
- Rise of Civil Liberties Organisations
- Background to Emergency
- Declaration of Emergency
- Controversies Regarding Emergency
- Politics After Emergency
- Overview of Crisis of the Democratic Order
Rise of Popular Movements
- Farmer's Movements
- Womens’ Movement in India
- Environment and Development - Affected People'S Movements
- Implementation of Mandal Commission Report and Its Aftermath
- Nature of Popular Movements
- Dalit Panthers
- Bharatiya Kisan Union
- Anti Arrack Movement
- Narmada Bachao Aandolan
- Lesson from Popular Movements
Regional Aspirations
- Rise of Regional Parties
- Punjab Crisis and the Anti Sikh Riots of 1984
- The Kashmir Situation
- Challenges and Responses in the North East
- Region and the Nation
- Accommodation and National Integration
- Dravidian Movement
- Overview of Regional Aspirations
Recent Developments in Indian Politics
- Participatory Upsurge in 1990s
- Rise of the JD and the BJP
- Increasing Role of Regional Parties and Coalition Politics
- Coalition Governments - NDA (1998 - 2004) UPA (2004 - 2014) NDA (2014 Onwards)
- Context of the 1990s
- Era of Coalitions
- Political Rise of Other Backward Classes
- Communalism, Secularism, Democracy
- Emergence of a New Consensus
- Overview of Recent Developments in Indian Politics
Estimated time: 20 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: European Union (EU)
- Origin after World War II: European integration began after 1945 to rebuild economies and prevent future wars.
- Marshall Plan & early cooperation: The Marshall Plan led to economic cooperation through bodies like OEEC (1948) and Council of Europe (1949).
- Economic to political integration: Integration moved step-by-step from economic cooperation to political unity, forming the EEC (1957) and later the EU (1992).
- Key features of the EU: The EU has a common market, single currency (euro), European Parliament, and shared policies in many areas.
- Expansion after Soviet collapse: Many East and Central European countries joined the EU after the fall of the Soviet bloc.
- Global economic and political power: The EU is a major trading bloc, influential in WTO, diplomacy, and global negotiations.
- Limits and challenges: National sovereignty concerns, Euroscepticism, uneven integration, and differences in foreign and defence policies limit EU unity.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Timeline of European Integration
- 1951 – Six countries form the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) (Treaty of Paris).
- 1957 – Treaties of Rome create the EEC and Euratom.
- 1973 – Denmark, Ireland, and the UK join the EEC
- 1979 – First direct elections to the European Parliament.
- 1985 – Schengen Agreement abolishes internal border controls.
- 1992–93 – Maastricht Treaty signed; European Union (EU) formally established.
- 2002 – Euro introduced as common currency in many EU states.
- 2016 – Brexit referendum: UK votes to leave the EU.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
- Formation (1967): ASEAN was established by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand through the Bangkok Declaration.
- Main Aim: To promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, and ensure regional peace and stability.
- Expansion: Membership expanded over time to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia (total 10 members).
- ASEAN Way: ASEAN follows an informal, non-confrontational, consensus-based approach, with strong respect for national sovereignty and non-interference.
- ASEAN Community (2003): Decision to create an ASEAN Community with three pillars – ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
- Security Role: Focuses on peaceful resolution of disputes; ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) (1994) coordinates security and foreign policy dialogue.
- Economic Importance: One of the fastest-growing regions; promotes Free Trade Area (FTA), trade, investment, and strong ties with India, China, and the US.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Rise of the Chinese Economy
- Post-1949 – China adopted a Soviet-style socialist economy with state control.
- 1970s Policy Shift – Opened relations (USA, 1972) and adopted Four Modernisations.
- Deng’s Reforms (1978) – Open Door Policy and gradual market reforms.
- SEZs & WTO (2001) – Boosted FDI, exports and global integration.
- Impact – Rapid growth made China a major economic power, but caused inequality and environmental issues.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: India–China Relations
- Background – India and China were ancient powers; modern relations developed mainly in the 20th century.
- Early Friendship – After independence, “Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai” showed friendly ties.
- 1962 War – Border disputes over Tibet, Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh damaged relations.
- Recovery – Relations improved after 1976 with border talks starting from 1981.
- Present Relations – Trade increased, but issues like border tensions, China-Pak ties and rivalry continue.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Japan
- Japan is known for global brands like Sony, Toyota, Honda, Panasonic.
- Japan is the 3rd largest economy (2017).
- After World War II, Japan rebuilt rapidly and joined the OECD in 1964.
- Japan depends on a security alliance with the USA.
- Japan is a major contributor to the UN budget.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: South Korea
- Korea was divided into North and South Korea after WWII along the 38th. parallel; the Korean War.
- South Korea achieved rapid growth known as the “Miracle on the Han River”.
- Member of OECD (1996); by 2017, it became the 11th largest economy.
- Ranked 18th in HDI (2016).
- Home to global brands like Samsung, LG, Hyundai
