UGC NET/JRF EXAM, INTERNATIONAL & AREA STUDIES, December-2023 (PAPER-II)

Total Questions: 100

11. International politics during Cold War period can be characterised as :

Correct Answer: B. Bipolar
Solution:International politics during the Cold War period can be characterized as bipolar. This era was defined by the rivalry between two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. Each superpower led its own bloc of allies:

the US with NATO and the Soviet Union with the Warsaw Pact. This division created a clear bipolar structure in international relations.

Unipolar and multipolar structures do not apply, as they suggest either a single dominant power or multiple competing powers, respectively. Polycentric implies multiple centers of power without a clear dominant pair, which was not the case during the Cold War.

12. Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilization focused on tension between:

Correct Answer: C. Nations and group from 'different civilisations'
Solution:Samuel Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations’ focused on tension between nations and groups from different civilizations. Huntington argued that future conflicts would be based not on ideological or economic lines but on cultural and civilizational differences.

This theory gained attention post-Cold War, suggesting that cultural identity would be the primary source of conflict.

East and West, North and South, and US and Russia represent more traditional geopolitical or economic divides rather than the broader civilizational focus Huntington emphasized.

13. The United States of America proposed the Marshall plan for:

Correct Answer: C. Rebuilding of Europe
Solution:The United States proposed the Marshall Plan for rebuilding of Europe. Officially known as the European Recovery Program, it was enacted in 1948 to provide economic aid to Western European countries devastated by World War II.

The goal was to rebuild war-torn regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and prevent the spread of communism. Rebuilding Australia, Indonesia, and Africa were not part of the Marshall Plan’s objectives, which were specifically focused on Europe.

14. Globalization can best be defined as:

Correct Answer: B. Increasing interdependence among nations
Solution:Globalization can best be defined as increasing interdependence among nations. This process involves the flow of goods, services, information, technology, and capital across borders, leading to greater economic, cultural, and political connections globally.

It contrasts with the idea of the Cold War status quo, which was marked by separation and rivalry rather than integration. Challenge to liberalism and increasing rivalries between China and North Korea are specific issues that do not encompass the broader concept of globalization.

15. Fukuyama's 'End of History' is linked to:

Correct Answer: C. Triumph of Liberalism
Solution:Fukuyama’s ‘End of History’ is linked to the triumph of liberalism. In his 1989 essay and subsequent book, Fukuyama argued that the end of the Cold War marked the endpoint of humanity’s ideological evolution and the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government.

This perspective contrasts with the end of liberalism, emergence of critical theories, and emergence of Myanmar, none of which align with Fukuyama’s thesis about liberal democracy’s dominance.

16. Which country joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2023?

Correct Answer: D. Bolivia
Solution:Bolivia joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2023. The ISA is an initiative aimed at promoting solar energy and addressing energy needs sustainably through international collaboration.

Japan, Brazil, and Algeria may have significant roles in renewable energy, but the specific new membership in 2023 was Bolivia.

17. The US Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program was associated with which administration?

Correct Answer: B. Reagan
Solution:The US Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) program was associated with the Reagan administration. Announced in 1983, SDI, also known as “Star Wars,” aimed to develop a sophisticated anti-ballistic missile system to prevent missile attacks from the Soviet Union.

This initiative was a key part of Reagan’s defense policy during the Cold War. Carter, Kennedy, and Clinton administrations did not implement SDI.

18. Clausewitz considered war as a:

Correct Answer: B. Political weapon continuation of politics by other means
Solution:Clausewitz considered war as a political weapon, a continuation of politics by other means. In his seminal work “On War,” Clausewitz emphasized that war is an instrument of policy, used by states to achieve political objectives.

Defense to destroy the enemy, weapon of peace during the Cold War period, and weapon of culture are misinterpretations of Clausewitz’s theory, which underscores the political nature of warfare.

19. In which year the European Economic Community was established?

Correct Answer: C. 1957
Solution:The European Economic Community (EEC) was established in 1957. This organization aimed to create a common market and promote economic integration among its member states. It was a precursor to the European Union (EU).

20. In the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA, Hague in July 2016) rejected China's claim and sovereign rights over:

Correct Answer: C. South China Sea
Solution:In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague rejected China’s claim and sovereign rights over the South China Sea. The PCA ruled that China’s claims based under the “nine-dash line” had no legal basis under international law.

Antarctica, Africa, and the Indian Ocean were not subjects of this ruling, which specifically addressed territorial disputes in the South China Sea.