Chapter 5: Security in the Contemporary World
1 Mark Questions
Q1. Define security. (Delhi 2014, 2013, All India 2008)
Answer: Security mainly refers to freedom from threats. It is related to extremely dangerous threats that could endanger core values, which are not repairable.
Q2. What is cooperative security? (All India 2014, Delhi 2008)
Answer: Cooperative security means achieving security through cooperation among countries at bilateral, regional, or global levels. It may involve International Organizations, NGOs, and trade unions.
Q3. What is disarmament? (All India 2014)
Answer: Disarmament requires all states to give up certain types of weapons. For example, the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) banned the production and possession of these weapons.
Q4. Mention any two new threats to the security of a state. (All India 2013)
Answer:
Poverty
Terrorism
Q5. What is meant by the balance of power? (All India 2012, 2008)
Answer: The balance of power refers to maintaining military power comparable to a neighboring country. Governments must be cautious as any imbalance can lead to aggression in the future.
Q6. How is alliance building a component of traditional security? (All India 2012)
Answer: Alliance building is a partnership between states to deter and defend against military attacks, increasing effective power compared to other nations.
Q7. Why is human security more important in the contemporary world than territorial security? (Delhi 2011)
Answer: Human security is prioritized over territorial security because a secured state does not necessarily mean secured people. Historically, most casualties have been caused by their own governments rather than foreign armies.
Q8. What is human security? (All India 2011, 2009, 2008)
Answer: Human security refers to the protection of life, dignity, and integrity of individuals, ensuring their rights and self-respect.
Q9. State any one measure to deal with terrorism as a new source of threat to security. (Delhi 2011)
Answer: International cooperation is an essential measure to counter terrorism.
Q10. What is meant by global security? (Delhi 2009, All India 2008)
Answer: Global security refers to international cooperation to tackle issues like global warming, terrorism, and health epidemics (e.g., AIDS).
Q11. What is meant by territorial security? (Delhi 2009)
Answer: Territorial security means protection against external and internal threats to a country’s sovereignty and borders.
Q12. What is the basic difference between traditional and non-traditional security? (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
Traditional security focuses on military force.
Non-traditional security includes threats beyond military, like economic instability, terrorism, and environmental issues.
Q13. What did the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) decide? (All India 2008)
Answer: The BWC banned the production and possession of biological and chemical weapons.
2 Mark Questions
Q1. Mention any two human rights in the political field. (All India 2014)
Answer:
Right to freedom of speech
Right to assemble peacefully
Q2. Highlight any two threats to a country’s security as per the traditional notion of security. (All India 2014)
Answer:
Military threats that endanger sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Balance of power, where some nations are stronger and pose a potential risk to others.
Q3. Explain the traditional concept of security. (Delhi 2013, All India 2008)
Answer: Traditional security focuses on the use or threat of military force. Here, force is both a threat and a means to ensure security.
Q4. What is meant by the non-traditional notion of security? (All India 2013)
Answer: Non-traditional security extends beyond military threats and includes issues like economic crises, environmental problems, and health epidemics.
Q5. Mention any two forms of cooperative security. (All India 2013)
Answer:
Disarmament
Confidence-building measures
Q6. Mention any two components of India’s security strategy. (Delhi 2011, All India 2008)
Answer:
Strengthening military capabilities due to conflicts with neighbors.
Economic development to enhance national stability.
Q7. Mention any four components of traditional security. (Delhi 2008)
Answer:
Deterrence
Defence
Balance of power
Alliance building
Q8. Mention any four threats, except war, to human security. (All India 2008)
Answer:
Terrorism
Global poverty
Human rights violations
Migration issues
Q9. List any two new sources of threats to security. (Delhi 2008)
Answer:
Terrorism, targeting civilians indiscriminately.
Health epidemics, such as HIV/AIDS, bird flu, and SARS.
Q10. What is the relationship between traditional security and cooperation? (Delhi 2008)
Answer: Traditional security recognizes the need for cooperation to limit violence. It is universally accepted that wars should only be fought for self-defense or protecting people from genocide.
