Question Answers Class 11 Chapter 10 Political Science Maharashtra Board

The world since 1945 – II

Exercise

1. (A) Choose the correct alternative and complete the following statements.

1. The Cuban Missile Crisis took place in 1962. (American, Cuban, Russian, Chinese)
2. In 1978, the United States held a conference at Camp David to resolve the Arab-Israel dispute. (Camp David, Helsinki, Paris, Geneva)

(B) Identify the incorrect pair in every set, correct it, and rewrite.

Incorrect pair:
(c) Soviet Union – Richard Nixon

Corrected pair:
(c) Soviet Union – Mikhail Gorbachev

Rewritten set:
(a) Iran – Ayatollah Khomeini
(b) Afghanistan – Babrak Karmal
(c) Soviet Union – Mikhail Gorbachev

(C) Select the appropriate concept for the given statement.

1. Prohibiting ships from entering the port or a country.
Concept: Naval Blockade

2. Reconstruction of the political and economic system established in the Soviet Union.
Concept: Perestroika

2. (A) Complete the concept map.

Answer:
Founder members of Commonwealth of Independent States

• Russia
• Ukraine
• Belarus

(B) Observe the given map and answer the following questions.
Map of East Europe today.
(i) Name any 4 countries formed after the disintegration of Soviet Union.

1. Russia
2. Ukraine
3. Belarus
4. Kazakhstan

(ii) Name two neighbouring countries of Hungary.

1. Austria
2. Slovakia

3. State whether the following statements are true or false with reasons.

1. Non-aligned countries put forth the demand of NAFTA.
False.
Reason: NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was established between Canada, the United States, and Mexico to promote free trade. Non-aligned countries, however, demanded the New International Economic Order (NIEO) to ensure participation of poor countries in global economic decision-making.

2. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the founder of ASEAN.
False.
Reason: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), not ASEAN. ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) was founded by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in 1967.

4. Explain the co-relation between the following.

Cold War and Non-aligned Movement
The Cold War was a period of tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, dividing the world into two power blocs. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) emerged as a response to this division, where countries, led by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and Josip Broz Tito, chose not to align with either superpower. NAM promoted independence, peace, and cooperation among developing nations, allowing them to maintain sovereignty and avoid entanglement in Cold War conflicts. Thus, the Cold War’s ideological divide gave rise to NAM as a platform for neutrality and collective strength.

5. Answer the following.

1. Explain the term – New Cold War.
Answer: The term “New Cold War” refers to the period starting in 1979 when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union resurfaced, ending the era of détente. It was triggered by events like the Iranian Revolution, where Iran became an Islamic state and ended ties with the U.S., and the Soviet-backed government change in Afghanistan. These events revived mistrust and hostility, resembling the earlier Cold War dynamics.

2. What is a trade bloc?
Answer: A trade bloc is a group of countries that agree to reduce or eliminate trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, to promote economic cooperation. Examples include NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), which aim to enhance trade and goodwill among member nations.

6. Express your opinion on the following.

India played an important role in the Cold War.
In my opinion, India played a significant role in the Cold War by championing the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Under Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership, India advocated for neutrality, refusing to align with either the U.S. or the Soviet Union. This stance allowed India to maintain its sovereignty and promote peace, development, and cooperation among newly independent nations. By hosting NAM summits and voicing the concerns of the Third World, India helped shape a balanced global order, reducing the dominance of superpowers in international affairs.

7. Answer the following in detail with reference to the given points.
Elaborate the period of Détente.

(a) Meaning

Détente refers to the reduction of tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, particularly from 1972 to 1979. It was not about friendship but about easing hostilities to avoid direct conflict, especially after the Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted the risk of nuclear war.

(b) Initiatives taken by superpowers to reduce tensions

• Hotline Establishment: A direct telephonic link was set up between U.S. and Soviet leaders to communicate during crises, preventing misunderstandings.
• Nuclear Arms Agreements: The 1972 Moscow Summit between Richard Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev resulted in agreements to limit nuclear missiles, reducing the arms race.
• Vietnam War Negotiations: A 1973 Paris conference aimed to halt the Vietnam War, reducing U.S.-Soviet tensions in Asia.
• Apollo-Soyuz Joint Flight (1975): A symbolic U.S.-Soviet space mission fostered cooperation.
• Helsinki Conference (1975): This involved 35 nations, including the U.S. and Soviet Union, to promote security and reduce tensions in Europe.
• Camp David Conference (1978): The U.S. facilitated talks between Egypt and Israel, indirectly easing broader Cold War-related tensions in the Middle East.