Social Science 2 Marks Each

Cuba, situated on the south-west of the USA, is a communist country.
→ The cold war between the USA and the USSR was at its peak in the 1960's.
→ Under the pretext of the defence of Cuba, the USSR had dispatched a ship carrying nuclear missiles to Cuba in 1961.
→ The USA responded with a blockade of Cuba and threatened the USSR with retaliatory action.
→ The world was on the brink of a nuclear war between the two superpowers.
→ After a lot of heated verbal exchanges, the USSR agreed to call back its ship.
→ It was realised by the two superpowers that any misunderstanding could lead to disasterous consequences and decided to install a 'hot line' between the heads of the two countries.

The 20th century had witnessed two most destructive World Wars which had affected the humanity all over the world.
→ With a view to ensure the world peace and save the future generations from the destruction caused by war, the representatives of 50 countries in the world had come together and formed the United Nations when the Second World War had just ended.
→ President Truman of the United States, while addressing the delegates at the San Francisco Conference had observed that hereafter the conflicts among the nations will be resolved not by war but by negotiations and other peaceful means.
→ President Truman had thus expressed hope that the establishment of the United Nations is the starting point of the new world.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India was the architect of India's foreign policy of Non-Alignment.
→ Nehru believed that the newly independent countries like India did not have luxury to spend funds on armaments.
→ It was in the national interest of India to focus on development and development required world peace and international co-operation.
→ India could contribute to world peace by not aligning with either power blocs or military alliances.
→ The presence of the non-aligned nations will reduce international tension.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed by the USA, the USSR and the other nuclear powers in 1967. It was meant to prevent proliferation of nuclear arms among the states that were non-nuclear.
→ In other words. It meant that the nuclear nations will continue to retain nuclear weapons: whereas the non-nuclear nations will be prohibited from acquiring nuclear capability.
→ Although India welcome this treaty as one step in the direction of disarmament, it did not sign this treaty as it was discriminatory in nature and was not in the national interest of India.

The USA and the USSR emerged as the superpowers after the world war II.
→ Their rivalry for the dominance over the world politics was the main cause of the 'cold war'.
→ There was also ideological conflict between communism advocated by the USSR and capitalism practised by the western democracies.
→ The USSR had brought Eastern Europe under its control and there was threat of the spread of communism and the Soviet expansion in Western Europe. This led to the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) by the USA and its allies in Europe.
→ The Communist Revolution took place in China. This was threat to the allies of the USA in South-East Asia. This led to the formation of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO).
→The USSR was looking forward to dominate Central Asia. Therefore, the USA and its allies formed Central East-North Treaty Organisation (CENTO).
→ In response to the formation of the military alliances by the USA, the USSR and its allies formed Warsaw Treaty Organisation.
→ These two powergroups and military alliances tried to win over to their side the rest of the countries in the world. → There was atmosphere of mutual suspicion and fear, leading to the race for nuclear armaments. Till 1949, the USA was the only nuclear power. The USSR acquired nuclear capabilities in 1949.

India's relations with the USSR (Russia) have always been close and warm.
→ The USSR has consistently supported India on the Kashmir issue in the UN.
→ It had given economic and technical support in setting up the basic and heavy Industries In India.

After becoming the Secretary-General of the CPSU and the Prime Minister of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev put into practice reforms know as 'Glasnost' and 'Perestroika'.
→ The process of reforms weakened the hold of the Communist Party, bureaucracy and army.
→ This emboldened three Baltic Republics -Lithuania, Latavia and Estonia to secede from the USSR and declare themselves an the Sovereign states.
→ Eleven more Republics seceded from the USSR In 1990-91.
→ The entire process of disintegration was peaceful and without any bloodshed.
→Therefore, the peaceful disintegration of the USSR is considered to be an epoch-making event in the international politics.

The USSR had emerged as the superpower after the Second World War and competed with the USA for dominance over world politics.
→ The USSR was the main protagonist of the cold war.
→ People in the Eastern Europe had revolted against the socialist regimes.
→ The Perlin Wall had collapsed in 1989 and the unification of Germany was achieved in 1990.
→ Mikhail Gorbachev, a liberal-minded Prime Minister of the USSR had taken steps to normalise relations with the western countries.
→ Taking advantage of the democratic situation in the USSR, 14 out of the 15 Republics seceded from the USSR.
→ Thus, the cold war came to an end with the disintegration of the USSR.

Germany was defeated by the Allied Powers and the German territory was occupied by the Allied armies.
→ The war had shattered the political system, society and economy of Germany.
→ There was no German leader capable of reviving Germany.
→ There was a perceived fear that another Hitler like leader may emerge in future if Germany remained undivided. In such an eventuality. Germany may endanger world peace.
→ Due to these practical considerations, division of Germany took place after the Second World War.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed by the USA, the USSR and the other nuclear powers in 1967. It was meant to prevent proliferation of nuclear arms among the states that were non-nuclear.
→ In other words. It meant that the nuclear nations will continue to retain nuclear weapons: whereas the non-nuclear nations will be prohibited from acquiring nuclear capability.
→ Although India welcome this treaty as one step in the direction of disarmament, it did not sign this treaty as it was discriminatory in nature and was not in the national interest of India

After the defeat of Germany in the World War II. the German territory was divided among themselves by the Allied Powers.
→ East Germany and East Berlin were under the control of the USSR. West Germany and West Berlin were under control of the USA, the UK and France.
→ The cold war between the USA and the USSR had direct impact on Berlin.
→ The USSR declared 'Berlin Blockade in April. 1948 to stop the free movement of the people in the city of Berlin.
→The 'Berlin Blockade' caused inconvenience to a large number of Germans.
→ The Berlin 'Blockade' spurred up hostility between the USSR and the USA.

At the end of the World War II in 1945, the USA and the USSR had emerged as the superpowers.
→Their respective ideologies of capitalism and communism were opposite to one another.
→They had formed their power blocs and formed military alliances out of mutual suspicion, fear and antagonism.
→ Both of them were engaged in a struggle for supremacy in world politics.
→ Most countries in the world had joined either of the power blocs and military alliances.
→ This rivalry had taken the world to the brink of nuclear war and caused an atmosphere of tension and anxiety .
→ Therefore, the period between 1945 to 1962 is described as 'the era of cold war

Until 1937, Burma was a part of the British India. There was a large Indian population In Burma.
→ Burma (Myanmar) became independent in 1948. Since that time, India's relations with Myanmar are friendly.
→ India has helped in the economic development of Myanmar.
→ India is a well-wisher of Myanmar

India's relations with Afghanistan have been friendly.
→ India has extended help in rebuilding of Afghanistan after the devastation caused by the Talibans.
→ India's help in construction work, health and education is noteworthy.
→ India has built the New Parliament House in Afghanistan.
→ India has extended help to Afghanistan during the times of natural disasters.

Nepal, a Himalayan kingdom, was a British protectorate. An agreement was signed whereby India and Nepal agreed to respect each other's territorial integrity. They also agreed to open up their borders for unhindered access to their citizens.
→ India has helped in socio-economic development of Nepal. A large number of the Nepalese students come to India for higher education.
→ The Himalayan rivers flowing through Nepal and reaching India cause heavy devastation. Attempts have been made to find a solution to this problem.
→ During the earthquake in Nepal in 2015. India extended all possible help in the rehabilitation work.

Relation between India and Sri Lanka dates back to ancient times. During the British period, the Indian Tamilians settled down in the northern part of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
→ The issue of citizenship to the Tamil Sri Lankans and autonomy to Jaffna province have been discussed time and again.
→ India destres peaceful resolution of the Tamilian Issue and justice to them. India had sent peace-keeping forces to Sri Lanka in 1987 to put down the revolt of the LTTE.
→ Prime Minister Modi had visited Jaffna province of Sri Lanka in 2015 to resolve the differences.
→ India had built 27,000 houses for the Tamil population which had suffered during the civil war.
→ India has friendly relations with Sri Lanka

Bhutan, a Himalayan kingdom, was British protectorate. In 1949, India and Bhutan had entered into permanent treaty of peace and friendship. These two countries have excellent relations.
→ India has helped Bhutan in developing tele communication network and building roads.
→ With India's support. Bhutan has become a member of the UN.
→ Satisfactory arrangements regarding security were reached during the visit of Prime Minister Modi's visit in 2014.

India was instrumental in liberation of East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) from the tyranny of West Pakistan in 1971.
→ In the initial period India had excellent relations with Bangladesh. India had given economic and technical support to Bangladesh.
→ However, a number of differences such as distribution of river waters cropped up subsequently. The issue related to utilisation of the water of Ganga river has been resolved.
→ India had extended help to Bangladesh during natural calamities.
→ In 2015, the dispute regarding border territory has been resolved.
→ The sore point in the relationship is the illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India.

In the initial period, the relations between India and China were friendly.
→ However. China rejected McMahon line and included Indian territory in the north-east region on its map.
→ China invaded India in October, 1962 and forcibly acquired a large chunk of the Indian territory in the north-east region.
→ Attempts to resolve the border issues have not succeeded.
→ In spite of this, cooperation between India and China has increased after the normalisation of relations in 1987.

India and Pakistan had attained Independence on the same day -15th August, 1947. However, their relations have been hostile.
→ Three wars have taken place between India and Pakistan in 1948, 1965 and 1971 on the Issue of Kashmir. An undeclared war-Kargil war took place ina 1999. In every war Pakistan was defeated.
→ Tashkent Agreement of 1966 and the Shimla Agreement of 1972 were attempts to resolve disputes by bilateral negotiations. However. Pakistan has not honoured these Agreements.
→ The ISI of Pakistan guides and supports the terrorist activities in India.
→ Periodically the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan try to restore normalcy in the relations.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was a statesman and visionary who believed in Non-Alignment as the solution to the problems created by the power struggle between the USA and the USSR.
→ Nehru advocated and practised the policy of Non-Alignment to protect India's national interests and further the cause of world peace.
→ Most newly independent countries of Asia and Africa endorsed Nehru's views at Bandung Conference in 1955.
→ The initiative taken by Nehru was responded by Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia, President Nasser of Egypt and President Sukarno of Indonesia. This led to the emergence of the Non-Aligned (Nations) Movement (NAM) at Belgrade in 1961.
→ More than 100 countries across the world joined NAM. The NAM played a meaningful role in International politics in the era of 'cold war'.

Policy of Non-Alignment means not joining power bloc or military alliance formed by the USA and the USSR.
→ It also implies retaining freedom of taking decisions on international issues on their merit.

During the era of 'cold war', there was struggle for supremacy between the USA and the USSR. However, the 'balance of power' was maintained by:
→ The USA and the USSR matched each other in research and development of nuclear weapons.
→ The USA and the USSR developed Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). Thereby they deterred each other from the use of nuclear weapons.

The first step in the direction of nuclear disarmament was taken by the USA, the USSR and Great Britain.
→ They had signed Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty In 1963.

The struggle for dominance over world politics and the ideological conflict between the USA and the USSR create a perpetual state of war, without the actual outbreak of war. The resultant tense international situation is described as the 'cold war'.
→ The cold war eased and finally came to an end in 1990 when Mikhail Gorbachev, a liberal-minded Prime Minister of the USSR started the process of normalisation of relations with the western countries.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) and Central East-North Treaty Organisation (CENTO) were formed after the World War II by the USA and its allies.
→ Warsaw Treaty was formed by the USSR and Its allies.
→ In response to the perceived threat of the spread of communism and the Soviet expansionism. The USA took the initiative to form the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in April. 1949.

The USA and the USSR emerged as the superpowers towards the end of the World War II.
→ Power struggle started between the USA and the USSR and they acquired allies.
→ The USSR advocated the communist Ideology to which the USA and the capitalist democratic states were opposed.
→The Eastern Europe was occupied by the USSR and there was a perceived threat of spread of communism and the Soviet expansion in the West Europe.
→ The USA followed the policy of containment and formed NATO in 1949.
→ The USA and Great Britain took the initiative in the formation of the SEATO and CENTO to check the spread of communism.
→ In response to this, the USSR and its allies signed 'Warsaw Treaty'.
Thus, power struggle and the ideological differences between the USA and the USSR divided world into two power blocks and military alliances.