1 Marks Questions | 2 Marks Questions | 4 Marks Questions | 6 Marks Questions
1 Mark Questions
Question 1 : What was the significance of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom?
Answer : The significance of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’ was that it led to fall to dictatorship under the Saddam Hussein and establishment of democratic government in Iraq.
Question 2 : What is meant by hegemony?
Answer : The word ‘hegemony’ implies the leadership or predominance of one state over others by virtue of its military, economic, political power and cultural superiority.
Question 3 : What was ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’?
Answer : As a part of its ‘Global War or Terror’, the US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ against all those suspected to be behind 9/11 attack, mainly Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Question 4 : What was the main objective of ‘Operation Desert Storm’?
Answer : The Gulf War code named ‘Operation Desert Storm’ was a war waged by coalition forces from 34 nations led by the United States against Iraqi’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
Question 5 : How did the US responded to the 9/11 attacks?
Answer : The US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in response to the 9/11 attacks. It was against all those who are suspected to be behind this attack.
Question 6 : Explain the hegemony as a soft power.
Answer : Hegemony as a soft power is all about the capacity to ‘produce consent’. Hegemony in this context means class supremacy in social, political and particularly ideological spheres.
Question 7 : Highlight any one main feature of the US economy.
Answer : One main feature of the US economy is that the US is present in all parts of the world and in all sectors of the world economy. The US share of the world economy remains an enormous 28 per cent.
Question 8 : What incident was related to 9/11?
Answer : The incident related to 9/11 was the attack on the World Trade Centre of America on 11th September 2001.
Question 9 : What was ‘Bandwagon strategy’?
Answer : Bandwagon strategy is the strategy which advocates the extract benefits by operating within the hegemonic system. It is done in order to absorb profits of bilateral trade, investment technology transfer so as to become more powerful than that country?
Question 10 : What is meant by ‘9/11’ in the context of USA?
Answer : On 11th September 2001, 19 hijackers from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircrafts and crashed them into the North and South Tower of World Trade Center in New York, Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Question 11 : What is the main reason for beginning of the US hegemony in 1991?
Answer : The main reason for beginning of the US hegemony in 1991 was the disappearance of the Soviet power from the international order. So in 1990s the year of the US hegemony started.
Question 12 : Approximately how many people lost their lives as a result of 9/11 attack?
Answer : In 9/11 attack, almost 300 people lost their lives.
Question 13 : What was ‘New International Order’?
Answer : The ‘New International Order’ or the ‘New World Order’ appeared to begin after the sudden collapse of Soviet Union. Iraq invaded Kuwait in August, 1990. UN tried to convince Iraq to quit its aggression, then UN mandated the liberation of Kuwait by force. Then, the US President George HW Bush hailed the emergence of ‘New World Order.’
Question 14 : What is meant by US hegemony in world politics?
Answer : US hegemony means attempt of the US to establish or show paramountcy in political, structural, economy, military and cultural field over all other countries in the world.
Question 15 : Why did the United States of America launch a war against Iraq?
Answer : The United States of America launched a war against Iraq to prevent Iraq from developing Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Question 16 : How does the open nature of society act as a constraint on the US military action overseas?
Answer : Americans are well educated and their mind are immune to religious perception or any other perspective. Open society criticise on basis of some facts. This way the open nature of society acts as constraint on the US military action overseas.
2 Mark Questions
Question 1 : Write the four forms of power which reflect the US hegemony.
Answer : The four forms of power which reflect the US hegemony are:
(i) Hard power
(ii) Structural power
(iii) Soft power
(iv) The power of American mass media
Question 2 : How can hegemony be overcome?
Answer : Hegemony can be overcome through :
(i) Social movements and public opinion.
(ii) Sections of media, intellectuals, artists and writers.
Question 3 : Highlight any tow facts showing cordiality in the relationship between India and the United States.
Answer : The two facts showing cordiality in the relationship between India and the United States are:
(i) Technological dimension
(ii) Role of the Indo-American diaspora.
Question 4 : What was the 9/11 event? What was the US response to it?
Answer : On 11th September, 2001, 19 hackers from a number of Arab countries took control of four American commercial aircrafts and crashed them into the North and South Tower of World Trade Centre in New York, Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in response to the 9/11 attacks. It was against all those who are suspected to be behind this attack.
Question 5 : Mention any four tasks that military forces usually try to accomplish in an invasion. In which task was the serious weakness of US reflected in the war over Iraq?
Answer : Generally, military forces perform the following four tasks:
(i) To conquer
(ii) To deter
(iii) To punish
(iv) To police
Weakness of US military capability was seen in policing of an occupied territory. The USA has not been able to force the Iraqi people into submitting to occupation forces of the US led coalition.
Question 6 : How can NATO be a constraint in exercise of the US hegemony?
Answer : North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is very significant constraint on the US hegemony. It is the only organisation in the international system that could possibly moderate the exercise of US military power.
NATO can act as a restraint on USA because the US has huge interest in keeping the alliance of democracies that follow market economies alive. In this respect, NATO suit US interest best way and NATO has potential to moderate US hegemony in effective way.
4 Mark Questions
Question 1 : Explain any two strategies to overcome the hegemony.
Answer : Hegemony can be overcome through different strategies. Two important strategies are:
(i) Bandwagon strategy : In this strategy it suggests that instead of engaging in activities opposed to hegemonic power, extract benefits by working within hegemonic system.
(ii) Hide strategy : In this strategy, it is suggested that stay away from dominant power as far as possible. The attributes of hide strategy was noticed in China, Russia and European Union. They frame their policies almost hidden from the US.
Question 2 : Explain the hegemony of the United States of America as a structural power.
Answer : The hegemony of the United States of America as a structural power emerges from a particular understanding of the world economy. It can be summed up as follows:
(i) The US exists as a dominant power to support the creation and existence of an open world economy.
(ii) The US also possess both the ability and desire to establish certain norms in order to sustain the global structure so as to prove its dominance on grounds of economic structure.
(iii) The US reflect this hegemony by proving the global public goods. These are goods that can be consumed by one person without reducing the amount of goods available for someone else.
For example : Sea-Lanes of Communication (SLOCs), internet, Road etc.
(iv) Another example of structural power of US is the academic degree Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) to sharpen business skills in a university. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and WTO are also the products of hegemony of the US as a structural power.
Question 3 : What was ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’?
Answer : The US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ as a part of ‘Global War on Terror’, against all those suspected behind the 9/11 attack mainly Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Although the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was easily overthrown, but terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda and Taliban still continue and more so against Western targets.
The target of operation made by the US forces were all over the world. They arrest people without the knowledge of the government of the persons being arrested. These persons were detained in secret prisons. Some of the were brought Guantanamo Bay, a US Naval base in Cuba, where they have neither protection of international law, not their own country law on that the US. Even UN representatives are not allowed to interact with these prisoners.
Question 4 : Describe any two constraints on American hegemony.
Answer : The two constrains on American hegemony are:
(i) Institutional architecture of American state is the very first constraint. In America, there is a system of division of powers between the branches of government. Due to this division of power restrictions are placed on the executive branch upon the exercise of American military power.
(ii) The second constraint stems from the open nature of American society. It is basically domestic in nature. People’s participation regarding deep questioning of working of government is seen. This factor is a huge constraint on US military action overseas.
Question 5 : Explain the hegemony of United States as a hard power.
Answer : As a hard power, the US power lies in the superiority of its military power. The notion of hegemony as military domination is relevant to current position of US in world politics.
American military power is both absolute and relative. Thus, the military dominance of the US is not first based on higher military spending, but on a qualitative gap and technological charm. Attack on Vietnam is an example of the US hard power hegemony.
Question 6 : How far is it correct to say that after 1990s Indian Foreign Policy has shifted to pro-US strategy? Explain.
Answer : With the disintegration of USSR during 1991, India gradually started shifting its foreign policy towards, US because economic interest became more important than military interest. India liberalised its economy and became the part of US led global economy in 1991.
India’s impressive economic growth and decision to liberalise the economy have resulted in making the country an attractive economic partner for many countries and US also.
There emerged two factors in relations to Indo-US context. These were:
(i) Technology dimension.
(ii) Role of Indian-American dispersion.
In fact, these two factors are interrelated considering the following facts:
(i) The US absorbs about 65 per cent of India’s total exports in the software sector.
(ii) 35 per cent of technical staff in Boeing is estimated to be of Indian origin.
(iii) About 300,000 Indians work in silicon valley.
(iv) 15 per cent of all high-tech start-ups are by Indian-Americans.
Today we enjoy a strong relation with US. Recently, ‘Civil Nuclear Accord’ was signed with US. Our defence, scientific , educational ties and trade relations are quite strong with the USA. Thus, it is correct to say that after 1990 Indian foreign policy has shifted to pro-US strategy.
Question 7 : Why was the US attacked by the terrorists on 11th September, 2001? How did the US react to it?
Answer : The USA was attacked by the terrorists on 11th September, 2001 to attract the attention of Public and Governments all over the world.
Reaction of US : The US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ in response to 9/11 attack. It was against all suspects namely, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan. The US forced made arrests all over the world without the knowledge of the government of the persons being arrested. These persons were detained in secret prison.
Some of them were brought to Guantanamo Bay, a US Naval base in Cuba. There neither protection of international law, nor country law being provided.
Question 8 : Do you justify the attack on Iraq in the name of ‘attack on terrorism’? Support your answer with any two arguments.
Answer : No, the attack on Iraq by US in the name of ‘attack on terrorism’ cannot be justified.
The two arguments which support the statements are:
(i) On 19th March 2003, the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the name of ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’. More than forty other countries joined the US led ‘coalition of the willing’ after the UN refused to give its mandate to the invasion. The purpose of the invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Since no evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction has been unearthed in Iraq, it is speculated that the invasion was motivated by other objectives.
(ii) Invasion was motivated with the objective of controlling Iraq oil fields and installing a US friendly regime in Iraq.
Question 9 : How far is it correct to say that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre was the attack on the US hegemony? Explain.
Answer : It is correct to say that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre was the attack on the US hegemony. The US had established its hegemony through the launch of two operations namely, ‘Operation Desert Strom’, where 75 per cent of the coalition forces were from the US and ‘Operation Infinit Reach’, a series of cruise missile strikes on Al-Qaeda. These operations made the US more confident on the US hegemony that no one could challenge it. But suddenly hijackers from Arab Countries attacked on World Trade Centre on 11th September, 2001 along with the other important buildings. It was the most severe attack on the US soil since the foundation of the country in 1776.
This way the hegemony of the US was challenged and attacked.
Question 10 : What was the Gulf War of 1990?
Answer : In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, occupied and annexed it. United Nations tried to convince Iraq to quit its aggression, but UN failed to convince. Then UN mandated the liberation of Kuwait by force. The US President George H.W. Bush hailed the emergence of ‘New World Order’.
In response to this, there was an emergence of war which came to be known as ‘First Gulf War’. In this war huge coalition force from almost 34 countries fought against Iraq. This war was fought under the code name of ‘Operation Desert Strom’. This operation of UN was mostly American. There were about 75 per cent forces from US.
The first Gulf War revealed the vast technological gap that had opened up between US military forces and other countries. The use of smart bombs made it computer war. And widespread television coverage made it video game war.
Question 11 : What is ‘Bandwagon strategy’? How does it differ from the strategy of ‘hide’?
Answer : The ‘Bandwagon Strategy’ suggests that instead of engaging in activities opposed to the hegemonic power, it is advocated to extract benefits by working within hegemonic system. For instance, raising economic growth rates requires increased trade, technology transfers and investment which are best acquired by working with rather than against the hegemony.
On the other hand the ‘Hide Strategy’ advocates that it is better to stay as far removed from the dominant power as possible. These attributes of Hide Strategy were noticed in China, Russia and the European Union.
Question 12 : President Clinton focused on ‘soft issues’ such as ‘democracy promotion’ and ‘World Trade’. Highlight any two occasions when he used military power.
Answer : In the following occasions, Bill Clinton used military power:
(i) The most important military action was in 1999 when the US led NATO forces responded to Yugoslavian actions against the pre-dominantly Albanian population in the province of Kosovo.
(ii) Another significant US military action was in response to the bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in 1998.
Question 13 : “Economic preponderance of the US is inseparable from the structural power”. Describe.
Answer : Economic preponderance of the US is inseparable form its structural power. This can be justified in the following way:
(i) The Bretton Woods Institution set up by the US after the Second World War, still constitutes the basic structure of the world economy. Thus, we can conclude that World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and WTO are the products of US hegemony.
(ii) A classic example of the structural power of the US is the academic degree called Master’s in Business Administration (MBA). The idea that Business is a profession that depends upon skills that can be taught in a university is uniquely American.
The first business school in the world, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, was established in 1881. The first MBA course were initiated around 1900. The first MBA course outside the US was established only in 1950. Today, there is no country in the world in which the MBA is not a prestigious academic degree.
6 Mark Questions
Question 1 : “Resistance is the only option available to overcome the US hegemony”. Justify the statement by comparing it to other anti-hegemony strategies.
Answer : The US hegemony has been symbolised as the global village and other countries as its neighbours. For example, if the head man of a village becomes intolerable, the villagers won’t have any choice of leaving it, but they would develop a resistant. In similar situation, where the USA dominates, resistance is the only option available to overcome the US hegemony.
Though, there are some rules and norms called Laws of War that restrict but do not prohibit war, no single power can challenge the US military. So, in order to overcome the US hegemony, the following anti-hegemony strategies have been found out:
(i) Bandwagon strategy : It emphasises not the oppose hegemonic power, instead take advantage of opportunities that hegemony creates. For example, increased trade and technology transfer, investments to extract benefits by operating within the hegemonic system.
(ii) Hide strategy : It advocates that it is better to stay as far removed from the dominant power as possible. This attributes of ‘Hide strategy’ were noticed in China, Russia and the European Union.
However, even though the above strategies are followed some people argued that ‘resistance’ to American hegemony would be the best and effective strategy to tackle the US hegemony.
These challenges to American hegemony will emerge in the economic and cultural realms. They will come from a combination of Non-Government Orgnisations (NGOs) social movements, public opinions; in the form of media and intellectuals, artists and writers. These various actors may well form links across national boundaries, including with Americans to criticise and resist US politics.
Hence, resistance will be the only option available to overcome the US hegemony.
Question 2 : Analyse the three different views within India about the type of relationship India should have with the United States of America.
Answer : The three different views within India about the type of relationship India should have with the United States of America are:
(i) Analysts who see international politics in terms of military power, prefer that India should maintain its distance from the US and should focus upon increasing its own national power.
(ii) Some analysts see the glowing convergence of interests between US and India as a historic opportunity for India. They suggest plants that would benefit India by taking advantage of US hegemony and mutual convergence to establish the best possible option for itself.
(iii) Some other group of analysts advocate that India should take a lead in establishing a coalition of countries from the developing world and this will help in discouraging the hegemon away from its dominating ways.
Question 3 : Examine any three factors responsible for the US hegemony in the world politics.
Answer : Factors responsible for the US hegemony in world politics are:
(i) Military capability : After the disintegration of Soviet Union, USA emerged as a superpower of the world. USA showed her military power and strength in the First Gulf War of 1990. USA was leading the coalition and 75 per cent of the forces in it were of US. US included sophisticated arms and many modern technology to fight this war. US hegemony can be noticed, where it spends most of its earnings on military capability that the next 12 powers of the world.
(ii) Economic and technological advancement : Presence of US can be acknowledged in all sectors of the world economy and technology.
(iii) Financial assistance : Poverty in developing world and financial assistance to these countries by the US helped in enhancing US hegemony. Global network of satellite is owned by the US Government only. Internet is the direct outcome of US military research project.
Question 4 : Explain the three types of US hegemony and give suitable examples for each.
Answer : The three types of US hegemony
(i) Hegemony as hard power (explained previously)
(ii) Hegemony as structural power (explained previously)
(iii) Hegemony as soft power : It deals with the capacity to ‘manufacture or develop consent’. This reflects to clan superiority in social, political and particularly ideological spheres. The pre-dominance of US in the world today is based not only on its military and economic power but also in its cultural presence. America is most appealing in sense of most powerful culture on Earth. Diffusion of American culture in other countries is an example of soft power.
Question 5 : What is meant by ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’? Mention its main objective as well as the hidden objective. Explain any two consequences of this operation.
Answer : Operation Iraqi Freedom : It was the code name given to the invasion of Iraq by US. This operation was launched on 19th March, 2003.
More than 40 other countries joined the ‘coalition of the willing’ after UN refused to give its permission for the invasion.
Main objective and hidden objective : The main as well as hidden objective of the invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). When no proof of WMD was found in Iraq, it was speculated that the invasion was motivated by the other objectives which include controlling oil fields of Iraq and installing a regime friendly to the Untied States.
Two consequences of the ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’
(i) US was not able to pacify Iraq even the government fell swiftly. A full-fledged operation was reignited against US by Iraq.
(ii) US had lost over 300 military personnel in the war. Since, the US led invasion, it was estimated that 50,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed.
Question 6 : Analyse the different ways in which American hegemony could be overcome?
Answer : The different ways in which American hegemony can be overcome are:
(i) Bandwagon strategy can help to overcome the US hegemony. It emphasises not to oppose hegemonic power, instead suggests to take advantages of opportunities created by hegemon.
(ii) Hide strategy is another way to overcome US hegemony. It implies to stay far from the US. This strategy is adopted by the China, Russia and the European Union. This strategy is also applicable to small countries but they may not be able to hide for substantial length of time.
(iii) Non-state actors, such as writers, artists and intellectuals can also help to overcome US hegemony as they have no boundaries to work with. They can reach beyond the limits of the states to mould the minds of people through their expression.
Question 7 : How did the United States of America launch a war against Iraq?
Answer : On 19th March, 2003, the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the code name ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’. More than forty other countries joined in the US-led ‘coalition of the willing’ after the UN refused to give its mandate to the invasion.
The purpose of the invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Since no evidence of WMD was found in Iraq, it was speculated that the invasion was motivated by other objectives, such as controlling Iraqi oil fields, and installing a regime friendly to the US.
Although the Government of Saddam Hussain fell swiftly, the US has not been able to ‘pacify’ Iraq. Instead, a full-fledged insurgency against US occupation was ignited in Iraq. While the US has lost over 300 military personnel in the war, Iraqi casualties were very much higher. It is conservatively estimated that 50,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since the US-led invasion.
It is now widely recognised that the US invasion of Iraq in some crucial respects was both a military and political failure.
Question 8 : Evaluate India’s changing relationship with USA.
Answer : India-US relations have changed from time to time. During the Cold War period, India’s friendship was with Soviet Union. With the sudden disintegration of Soviet Union, India found itself lonely.
Then India decided to liberalise its economy and integrate it with global economy. India’s impressive economic growth and decision to liberalise the economy have resulted in making the country an attractive economic partner for many countries including the US also.
The factors like technological dimension and Indian-American diaspora have made India-US relations more cordial. Now the US absorbs about 65% of India’s total exports in software sector. 3 lakhs Indians are working in Silicon Valley. 15% of the high-tech start-ups are by Indian-Americans.
Question 9 : Analyse the role of USA in Global War on terrorism after the attack on World Trade Centre on 9/11 in 2001?
Answer : The US response to 9/11 was swift and Cruel. George Bush of Republican Party, had become President at the time of attack on World Trade Centre. Role of USA on Global War on terrorism could be understood through following points:
(i) Bush had a much harder view of US interests and of the means by which to advance them is a part of its ‘Global War on Terror’. US launched ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’. This was launched against those who were the suspects behind the attack on 9/11. The suspects mainly Al-Qaeda and Taliban regime were targeted.
(ii) The US forces made arrests all over the world, often without the knowledge of the government of the persons being arrested. They were transported across countries and detained in secret cells. Some of them were brought to Guantanamo Bay , a UN Naval base in Cuba where prisoners did not enjoy protection of any kind of law.
Question 10 : What are the constraints on American hegemony today? Which one of these do you expect to become more important in future?
Answer : There are three constraints on American power. The biggest restriction to American hegemony lie within the heart of hegemony itself.
These constraints are:
(i) Institutional (explained earlier)
(ii) Open Nature of American Society (explained earlier)
(iii) NATO : North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is the most significant among all and would get more importance in future. NATO is the only one organisation in the international system that could possibly moderate the exercise of American power because it has strong hold as US market economy.
The third constraint regarding NATO is the most important for future.
Question 11 : Assess the ‘New World Order’ which emerged after the collapse of Soviet Union?
Answer : The sudden disintegration of Soviet Union surprised all the US hegemony began in 1991 after the disintegration of Soviet Union from international scene.
In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, occupied and annexed it. United Nations tried to convince Iraq to quit its aggression, but UN failed to convince. Then UN mandated the liberation of Kuwait by force. The US President George HW Bush hailed the emergence of ‘New World Order’.
In response to this, there was an emergence of war which came to be known as ‘First Gulf War’. In this war huge coalition force from almost 34 countries fought against Iraq. This was was fought under the code name of ‘Operation Desert Storm’. This operation of UN was mostly American. There were about 75 per cent forces from the US.
The First Gulf War revealed the vast technological gap that had opened up between the US military forces and other countries. The use of smart bombs made it computer war. And widespread television coverage made it video game war.
Question 12 : Analyse the political impact of hegemony of the US on the world.
Answer : It would be wrong to see US hegemony in purely military or economic terms without having consideration of political (ideological) or the cultural dimension of US hegemony.
In this case, hegemony is about the capacity to ‘manufacture consent’. Here, hegemony is concerned with social, political and particularly ideological superiority. Hegemony arises when the dominant nation wins the consent of dominated class by convincing them to view the world in a manner they view the world.
In the field of world politics and international relation, the notion of hegemony suggests that superpower USA uses not only military power but also ideological resources (political power) to shape and determine the direction of world politics as well as behaviour of other competing and smaller states. Not only this, USA also influences the behaviour and action of weaker states in such a way that favours its interests.
This attribute of hegemony is called soft power where the superpower US dominates the international relation and world politics through political persuasion than coercion.