Topics
The World since 1991
Key Concepts and Issues since 1991: Globalisation
Key Concepts and Issues since 1991: Humanitarian Issues
Contemporary India: Challenges to Peace, Stability and National Integration
Contemporary India: Good Governance
India and the World
- Objectives of Indian Foreign Policy
- Principles of Indian Foreign Policy
- Concept of Non-Alignment Movement
- Factors Influencing Indian Foreign Policy
- India’s Relations with the World
- Major Powers in the World
- India as Emerging Power
- Neighbourhood of India
- Africa in the Indian World View
- Indian Ocean Region
- Overview of India and the World
Estimated time: 41 minutes
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Post–Cold War Developments Five Major Consequences
- End of Cold War and rise of new states.
- Emergence of Unipolarity.
- Human Rights and Humanitarian intervention.
- Terrorism.
- Multipolarity and Regionalism.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: End of Cold War and Rise of New States
- The Cold War ended after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
- The end of the USSR marked the end of bipolar world order.
- Two power centres (USA and USSR) were reduced to one major power.
- The 1989 East European revolutions played a key role in these changes.
- Middle classes in East Europe demanded freedom and economic well-being.
- Communist governments collapsed and new democratic states emerged.
- Ethnic nationalism based on self-determination became stronger.
- Many countries demanded independence on the basis of ethnic identity.
- New states emerged in Europe and the former USSR after their breakup.
- Similar ethnic independence movements appeared in other parts of the world.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Towards a Unipolar World
- In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to international intervention.
- The United States led a multinational force against Iraq under the UN.
- Kuwait was freed from Iraqi control, showing US military leadership
- President George H. W. Bush used the term “New World Order.”
- The US action received global support, including from the USSR, China, NATO, and Arab states.
- United States emerged as the dominant global power
- American dominance spread through political influence, economic power, and soft power.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Francis Fukuyama
- Francis Fukuyama introduced the concept of the “End of History.”
- Socialism came to an end.
- He believed liberal democracy.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Joseph Nye
- Concepts of hard power and soft power.
- Hard power means forcing others through threats or inducements.
- Act against their own preferences.
- Soft power means influencing others through attraction, not force.
- Soft power helps achieve goals by making others want the same outcomes.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Some Examples of American Soft Power
- Educational exchange programs
- Internet
- Food chains
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Human Rights and Humanitarian Interventions
- The breakup of states often led to violent conflicts.
- Ethnic wars occurred in places like Yugoslavia, Chechnya, East Timor, and Eritrea.
- These conflicts raised concerns about human rights violations.
- The United Nations intervened to prevent conflicts from escalating.
- UN interventions aimed to maintain peace and protect human rights.
- The 1990s are considered the golden age of humanitarian intervention.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Human Rights in the Post–Cold War World
- After 1990, many countries ratified major human rights conventions.
- 170 countries participated in the 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.
- Protect human rights globally.
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
- NGOs like ICRC, MSF, and Oxfam played a key role.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Terrorism
- The 9/11 attacks (2001) introduced a new form of global terrorism.
- Terrorism means the use or threat of violence to create fear and achieve political, religious, or ideological goals.
- Government institutions and officials are the main targets of terrorism
- Modern terrorism is driven by abstract religious or ideological motives and operates globally.
- After 9/11, major attacks occurred in Bali, Madrid, London, and Mumbai.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: George W. Bush
- War on Terror was launched by US President George W. Bush
- Response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda.
- Included the Afghanistan War (2001) and Iraq War (2003).
- Eliminate terrorist groups worldwide.
- US was supported by countries like Britain, France, Germany, and others.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Multipolarity and Regionalism
- After the Cold War, the United States dominated the world order.
- Superpower status depends on both hard power and soft power.
- US dominance has been challenged economically and regionally
- European Union (EU) emerged as a strong regional power.
- China’s rise challenged US unipolar dominance due to rapid economic growth.
- China expanded influence through projects like One Belt One Road and CPEC.
- Russia regained power as an energy and military power.
- The Indo-Pacific region gained importance with a key role for India.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Regionalism in the Post–Cold War Era
- Regionalism means countries cooperating through regional organisations.
- Regional organisations are formed based on geography or shared political and economic interests.
- Regional cooperation usually begins with political dialogue
- Earlier regionalism focused on political or economic cooperation (e.g., EU, ASEAN).
- In the post–Cold War era, regional organisations focused more on trade and economic blocs.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: European Union (EU)
- The EU was formed to promote peace and economic cooperation after World War II.
- Began with economic bodies like ECSC (1951) and EEC (1957).
- The Maastricht Treaty (1992) formally created the European Union.
- The EU introduced a single market and common currency (Euro).
- The Schengen Area allows free movement without internal borders.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: SAARC
- Formed in 1985 at Dhaka.
- Had seven members; Afghanistan joined in 2007 as the eighth.
- Main aim of SAARC is to promote cooperation and dialogue in South Asia.
- Several countries like China, USA, and EU have observer status in SAARC.
- SAARC introduced SAPTA (1993) and later SAFTA (2006) to promote free trade.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: BIMSTEC
- Established in 1997.
- It includes seven member countries around the Bay of Bengal.
- Members include South Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
- Acts as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- Main aim is economic cooperation and regional development.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS)
- Formed in 2009 as a group of emerging economies.
- Original members were Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
- South Africa joined BRICS in 2010.
- Countries are fast-growing developing economies.
- All BRICS members play an important role in global affairs and the G20.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
- Founded in 2001 at Shanghai by China, Russia, and Central Asian countries.
- India and Pakistan joined SCO in 2016.
- SCO focuses on regional peace, security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: G-20
- G-20 was established in 1999 as an international forum.
- It includes 19 countries and the European Union.
- Discusses issues of global financial stability.
- Since 2008, G-20 summits are attended by heads of state/government.
- India plays an active role.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 12
Key Points: How does the European Union work
- The European Commission
- The European Parliament
- The European Council
- The European Court of Justice
