UGC NET/JRF EXAM, Politics Including International Relations and Studies JANUARY-2025 – (PAPER-II)

Total Questions: 100

91. Read the passage and answer the questions:

The BRICS re-narrated a specific cluster of large emerging economies as safe, longterm financial asset providers.

This attempted to balance the adoption of select parts of the Washington Consensus template while defending and often reinventing the relevance of stateled development policies under  the guise of being compliant with the Washington Consensus itself.

In so doing, they have neither pioneered a post-neoliberal transformation, nor have they proved to be simply forces for the continuation of Washington Consensus ideas and policies in the global economy.

What makes them particularly interesting to us, however, is that although these countries went through their impressive growth spurts in an international context dominated by neoliberal economic ideas and narratives about the dos and don'ts of development,

they nevertheless reclaimed the role of the state in development far beyond the limits of the Washington Consensus framework.

The BRICS have a greater degree of policy autonomy from the Washington Consensus core institutions-International Monetary Fund and World Bank- than other states in the 'Global South'.

What can you infer from the above passage?

Correct Answer: 2. The BRICS accepts some aspects of Washington Consensus.
Solution:BRICS does not completely reject or replicate the Washington Consensus. Instead, it selectively adopts some elements while maintaining state-led development policies.

92. Which of the following is not true about the BRICs?

Correct Answer: 2. It has transformed the neoliberal economic order.
Solution:Although BRICS has strengthened its role in the global economy and gained autonomy from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, it has not transformed the neoliberal world order.

93. The author refers to "transnational policy paradigm" in the passage. It refers to:

Correct Answer: 3. Policy of Washington Consensus.
Solution:The “transnational policy paradigm” mentioned refers to the globally dominant framework of economic ideas and policies promoted by the Washington Consensus—such as liberalization, privatization, and fiscal discipline.

94. What was considered as common denominator for the formation of BRICS?

A. Sustainable financial assets providers for higher economic growth.
B. Protect emerging economy, nascent financial institutions.
C. Risk-taking, short term financial assets providers for low economic growth.
D. Protected, advanced economy, matured financial market.
E. To provide a greater degree of policy autonomy.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct Answer: 1. A and E
Solution:BRICS was formed with the goal of being a group of sustainable and long-term financial asset providers while ensuring policy autonomy for emerging economies.

95. Why is the Global South dependent on international financial institutions?

Correct Answer: 2. Weak domestic financial market
Solution:Countries in the Global South depend on international financial institutions because of their weak domestic financial systems and limited access to global capital, making them reliant on external funding and support.

96. Read the passage and answer the questions:

Kautilya's theory assumes that every state bordering on yours is an enemy, and every state that does not touch yours but is a neighbour of your enemy is a potential ally.

For Kautilya, principles of justice or fairness or the rule of law do not apply in international relations. Nations act for self-interest. If both sides observe a treaty, it is because there is a balance of power.

Diplomatic missions do not serve the cause of peace, but rather they help with the timing of conquest. In process to win a war, Kautilya set forth elaborate discussions of propaganda, disinformation, the use of religion to enhance the morale of his troops.

Kautilya classified warfare into three categories. Open warfare is traditional warfare, armies arrayed openly against each other and concealed warfare is what we call the guerrilla warfare, attacking and fleeing, harassing an enemy with surprise.

Silent warfare involves openly praising another king as a friend and an ally, all while striking him again and again with calamity after calamity, assassination after assassination and quarrel after quarrel among high-ranking officials and officers instigated by spies and saboteurs.

Strike the enemy again and again, said Kautilya, all while openly declaring peace and friendship.

Kautilya's view of inter-state relations belongs to which school of thought?

Correct Answer: 1. Realist
Solution:Kautilya’s view aligns with the Realist school of thought, which emphasizes self-interest, power politics, and survival of the state over moral or ethical considerations. His belief that every neighboring state is an enemy reflects classical realism.

97. According to Kautilya in international relations.

Correct Answer: 3. Diplomatic mission helps with the timing of the war
Solution:According to Kautilya, diplomatic missions were not meant to promote peace, but to serve as instruments for assessing the right moment to strike or conquer the enemy. Diplomacy was seen as a strategic tool in warfare.

98. Kautilya considers that nations co-exist because:

Correct Answer: 3. They possess equal military power
Solution:Kautilya believed nations co-exist only when there is a balance of power, meaning that both sides possess equal military capability, ensuring neither can dominate the other.

99. How did Kautilya visualize justice and peace in the subcontinent?

Correct Answer: 2. Expand and take states into their protective fold
Solution:Kautilya’s vision of peace was expansionist, where stronger states bring weaker ones under their protection, thereby ensuring stability and order under their control.

100. "Silent warfare" was used for the first time by Kautilya. What did refer to?

Correct Answer: 1. In open having cordiality with the enemy but harassing it by other means.
Solution:“Silent warfare” referred to the tactic of pretending friendship while secretly weakening the enemy through sabotage, espionage, internal conflicts, and assassinations – essentially, waging a hidden war under the guise of peace.