Key Points
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Key Points: How does the European Union work
- The European Commission
- The European Parliament
- The European Council
- The European Court of Justice
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.
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.
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.
Key Points: Francis Fukuyama
- Francis Fukuyama introduced the concept of the “End of History.”
- Socialism came to an end.
- He believed liberal democracy.
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.
Key Points: Some Examples of American Soft Power
- Educational exchange programs
- Internet
- Food chains
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Important Questions [28]
- The Berlin wall was demolished in the year ______
- The Soviet Union disintegrated in ______.
- One of the important trends in post-1989 international relations was ______.
- Observe the given map and answer the following question: State/mention any 'five' newly created countries after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
- Identify the incorrect pair, correct it, and rewrite: Eretria - Independent from Ethiopia East Timor - Independent from Indonesia Chechnya - Wants independence from Britain
- Find the odd word in the given set and rewrite: unipolarity, bipolarity, globalization, multipolarity.
- State the appropriate concept for the given statement. When a state influences other states without the use of military force.
- Explain your opinion in 25 to 30 words on the following. Liberal Democracy is essential.
- Explain your opinion. Maintaining peace in the world is an important function of the United Nations.
- State whether the following statement is true or false with a reason: The decade of the 1980s is seen as the golden age of humanitarian intervention.
- Explain the correlation between the following. Human Rights - Humanitarian Intervention
- Terrorist organizations are motivated by an abstract ______ ideology.
- State the appropriate concept for the given statement: Use of violence with the intention to create panic in society and pursue political and ideological goals.
- Explain the correlation between the following. Hard Power and Soft Power.
- There was growth in international economic relations, because _______.
- Identify the incorrect pair in the set, correct it and rewrite: (a) Rise of China and India – Emergence of multipolarity (b) Ethnic Nationalism – Principle of self-determination
- Explain the correlation of the following statement. Multipolar and regionalism
- Find the odd word in the given set and rewrite: Members of SAARC - India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China
- Today _______ countries of the European Union are part of the Schengen Area.
- _______ joined BRICS in 2010.
- There was growth of regionalism, because ______.
- Observe the given map. (i) Write the name of three countries of European Union who are members of the Euro zone.
- Find the odd word in the given set and rewrite: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Germany.
- Explain the co-relationship between the following: Economic interest and formation of Trade blocs.
- Maastricht Treaty ______.
- Express your opinion. Regionalism in international politics.
- Find the odd word in the given set and write: BRICS Members: India, Russia, China, America
- The ‘Maastricht’ Treaty is with reference to the ______.
