Question 1

Q1: Match the terms with their meaning: i. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) ii. Arms Control iii. Alliance iv. Disarmament a. Giving up certain types o...

Accepted Answer

The correct matches are as follows:    i. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) - b. A process of exchanging information on defence matters between nations on a regular basis. CBMs are designed to ensure that rival countries do not go to war through misunderstanding by sharing information about milita...

Question 2

Q10: Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defence have limited usage against contemporary security threats to states. Explain the statement.

Accepted Answer

The statement is correct because nuclear weapons, while powerful tools of deterrence in a traditional security context, have very limited utility against the diverse, non-traditional threats that states face today. 1.  Ineffectiveness against Non-State Actors: Contemporary security threats are often...

Question 3

Q11: Looking at the Indian scenario, what type of security has been given priority in India, traditional or non-traditional? What examples could you cite t...

Accepted Answer

Looking at the Indian scenario as described in the chapter, India's security strategy has been a mix of both traditional and non-traditional approaches. However, traditional security has historically been given higher priority, primarily due to India's geopolitical context. The four components of In...

Question 4

Q12: Read the cartoon below and write a short note in favour or against the connection between war and terrorism depicted in this cartoon.

Accepted Answer

The cartoon depicts a soldier saying, "We have to fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to fight them here!" to which a citizen replies, "But... by fighting them over there, aren't you creating more terrorists to fight over here?" This highlights a critical debate about the effectiveness...

Question 5

Q2: Which among the following would you consider as a traditional security concern / non-traditional security concern / not a threat? a. The spread of chi...

Accepted Answer

Based on the concepts of security discussed in the chapter, the items can be categorised as follows:    a. The spread of chikungunya / dengue fever: This is a non-traditional security concern. Health epidemics are threats to human security that can spread across borders and affect large populations,...

Question 6

Q3: What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional security? Which category would the creation and sustenance of alliances belong to?

Accepted Answer

The primary difference between traditional and non-traditional security lies in their referent, the scope of threats they consider, and their approaches. Traditional Security:    Referent: The state is the primary referent. Security is about protecting the state's core values: sovereignty, independe...

Question 7

Q4: What are the differences in the threats that people in the Third World face and those living in the First World face?

Accepted Answer

The security threats faced by people in the Third World (newly-independent countries of Asia and Africa) are significantly different from those faced by people in the First World (powerful, developed countries), especially in the context of the post-Second World War era. Threats in the First World:...

Question 8

Q5: Is terrorism a traditional or non-traditional threat to security?

Accepted Answer

Terrorism is considered a non-traditional threat to security. The traditional notion of security is primarily concerned with military threats from other states. The source of danger is another country, and the response is usually military action.  Terrorism, in contrast, fits the non-traditional fra...

Question 9

Q6: What are the choices available to a state when its security is threatened, according to the traditional security perspective?

Accepted Answer

According to the traditional security perspective, when a state's security is threatened by a military attack from another country, its government has three basic choices: 1.  To Surrender: The government can choose to give in to the demands of the attacking country. However, states will not adverti...

Question 10

Q7: What is 'Balance of Power'? How could a state achieve this?

Accepted Answer

Balance of Power is a key concept in traditional security policy. It refers to a situation where a country ensures that its military, economic, and technological power is in a favourable balance with that of other countries, especially potential adversaries. Governments are highly sensitive to this...

Question 11

Q8: What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of a functioning military alliance with its specific objectives.

Accepted Answer

The primary objective of a military alliance is to increase the effective power of its member states relative to another country or alliance. As defined in traditional security, an alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to deter or defend against military attack. By pooling...

Question 12

Q9: Rapid environmental degradation is causing a serious threat to security. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your arguments.

Accepted Answer

Yes, I agree with the statement that rapid environmental degradation is causing a serious threat to security. This perspective is central to the non-traditional concept of 'global security', which recognizes that certain threats are global in nature and can endanger the well-being of humankind. My a...

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