POLITICAL SCIENCE CHAPTER 1 NOTES

Q1) (A)

1. One of the important trends in the post 1989

international relations was: End of Bipolarity.

2. The ‘Maastricht’ Treaty is with reference to:

European Union.

Q1) (B)

1. When a state influences other states without the

use of military force: Soft Power.

2. A state with a leading position in international

politics with abilities to influence global politics and
fulfill its own interest: Super Power.

Q2) (A) (Concept Map)

1. BIMSTEC Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan,

Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand.

2. Shanghai Cooperation Organization: China,

Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan.
Q2) (B)

1. Name any 4 countries in the Schengen area: France,

Spain, Germany, Poland.

2. Name any 2 non-European Union countries within

Schengen area: Norway, Croatia.

Q5) Explain the term soft power with examples:

Soft power is the means to success in World Politics. It

shapes a country to became a World Power. It includes
persuasion, cultural influence, values and tradition.
Examples:

 The economic & regional integration of Europe through

the creation of EU.

 The rise of Asia through the presence of China and Japan

followed by India in the global world order.

 The military resurgence of Russia and the growing

importance of new regional organization have come to
define a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world
order.

Q6) Discuss the European Union with help of given points. A)

History, B) European Commission, C) European Parliament, D)
European Council, E) European Court of Justice
The Second World War followed by the Cold War gave rise to a
constant instability which has always motivated the European
countries to come together. It is on this basis that European Union
was established. Later, these various organizations merged together
and were referred to as the European Community. In 1973, an
agreement was signed to create the European Parliament. The
‘Maastricht’ Treaty was signed on 7th February 1992, to create the
European Union. This treaty led to the expansion of spheres of
cooperation which now included internal affairs, judicial matters,
foreign and defense policies. The treaty led to the creation of an
economic union which had a common currency, Euro. The European
Commission is the executive-bureaucratic arm of the EU. It is mainly
responsible for drawing up new proposals for new European
legislations, and it implements the policy decisions of the European
Parliament and the Council of the EU. The European Parliament is
composed of 751 members, who are directly elected every 5 years. It
is a body entrusted with legislative, supervisory, and budgetary
responsibilities. The structure of the European Council consists of the
presidents or prime ministers of each member state, accompanied
by their foreign ministers, and a full-time President of the European
Council. The European Council meets 4 times a year and provides
strategic leadership for the EU. The European Court of Justice
interprets, and adjudicates on EU laws and treaties. As EU law has
primary over the national law of EU member states.

ONE SENTENCE QUESTIONS

 Which are the 2 superpowers who confronted each

during the Cold War: United States and Soviet Union
are…

 Which are the 2 important trends in the international

relations since the East European revolution of 1989:
 The first is the assertion of the concept of ethnic
nationalism based on right to self-determination and
the second is the end of bipolarity.

 What shapes a country to become a World Power: It is

the amalgamation of both hard power and soft power
that shapes a…

 What is ‘Eurozone’? The euro is the official currency of

19 out of 28 countries of the EU. These countries are
collectively known as Eurozone.

 How did the process of European cooperation begin? It

began as an economic union and evolved into an
organization dealing with various policy areas like:
climate change, environment, health, etc.

 Which is one of the greatest achievements of the EU:

The Schengen Area is…

 What is the Schengen Area: In this area, nationals of the

EU and even non-EU nationals including business
people and tourists can travel from one country to
another freely and easily.