AHSEC CLASS 12 POLITICAL
SCIENCE NOTES
Chapter 3
US Hegemony in World
Politics
VARY
SHORT ANSWER
1. What is Unipolar System?
Ans.:- When power is concentrated in the hands of one powerful group or in one power block, it is called unit-polar system.
2. Correct the sentence. The root of
the word ‘hegemony’ lie in classical Rome.
Ans.:-
The root of the word ‘hegemony’ lies in classical Greek.
3. Write ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Originally the word ‘hegemony is used to denote the
preponderant position of Athens in ancient Greece.
Ans.:-
YES.
4. Fill in the blank:
Ans.:-
Internet is the direct outcome of a US military research project.
5. What is soft power?
Ans.:-
This is the third sense of hegemony which is about the capacity to ‘manufacture
consent’.
6. When did the first Gulf War Break
out?
Ans.:-
The 1st Gulf War occurred in August, 1990.
7. What is hard power?
Ans.:-
Hard power
i) This is the first meaning of hegemony that relates to the
relations, patterns and balances of military capability between states.
ii) It is the notion of hegemony as military preponderance
that is especially germane to the current position and role of the US in the
world politics.
8. What is meant by ‘Operation Desert
Storm’?
Ans.:-
The liberation of Kuwait from Iraq by the United Nations came to be known as
“Operation Desert Storm”.
9. Give an example of hegemony as
structural power.
Ans.:-
Technical education like MBE. The idea that business is a profession that
depends upon skills that can be taught in a university is uniquely American.
Today, there is no country in the world in which MBA is not a prestigious
degree.
10. Which event does ‘9/11’ refer to
in the context of contemporary world politics? (or) Write a note on ‘9/11’.
Ans.:-
On 11 September 2001, nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of Arab
countries took control over four American commercial aircraft shortly after
takeoff and flew them into important buildings in the US.
Ans.:-
In 1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
12. Write one constraint on American
power?
Ans.:-
The institutional architecture of the US.
13. When the US Hegemony began?
Ans.:-
US Hegemony began from 1991
14. In which year US Military
research project began?
Ans.:-
In 1950, US Military research project began.
15. Give one example of a global
public goods?
Ans.:-
Internet is an example of global public began.
16. What is Global village?
Ans.:-
Global village refers to a world with a safe super power and even if the
behavior of the super power is intolerable the other do not have any other of
leaving.
17. Who was the president of USA
during the ‘First Gulf War’?
Ans.:-
George W. Bush was the president of USA during the first Gulf war.
18. How many persons were killed in
the attack of 9/11.
Ans.:-
More than 3000 people were killed in the attack of 9/11.
19. When the first MBA course outside
USA was established?
Ans.:-
The first MBA course outside USA was established in 1950.
20. Name the first business school
which was established in USA in 1881?
Ans.:-
Wharton school is the first business school which was established in 1881 in
U.S.A.
SHORT
ANSWER
1. What does hegemony mean?
Ans.:-
Hegemony is defined as dominating the international system by only one centre
of power.
2. Give two examples of public goods.
Ans.:-
Two examples of public goods are Internet and Sea.
3. Who launched ‘Operation Enduring
Freedom’ against whom?
Ans.:-
George W. Bush launched “Operation Enduring Freedom” against all those
suspected to be behind the 9/11 attack mainly All Qaeda and the Taliban regime
in Afghanistan.
4. When did USA hegemony begin?
Ans.:-
The U.S. hegemony had began since 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Ans.:-
The Bretton Woods System was first set up by the U.S. after the Second World
War.
6. Mention two products of US Hegemony.
Ans.:-
The two products of US hegemony are Internet and SLOC’s
7. What is the bandwagon strategy?
Ans.:-
Bandwagon strategy occurs when weaker states beside that the cost of opposing a
stronger power exceeds the benefits to be gained from supporting it.
8. Do you think alternative centers
of political and economic power can limit US Hegemony? Justify your answer.
Ans.:-
Yes, to some extent alternative centres of political and economic power can
limit US Hegemony. Organization like ASEAN, European Union begun to play
dominant role in all over the world.
9. Who Won the US presidential
election in 1992 and in1996?
Ans.:-
Bill Clinton won the presidential election in 1992 and in 1996.
10. What do you mean by the term
‘hegemony’?
Ans.:-
The term hegemony means leadership. Hegemony is a state of power that is able
to dominate the global Political system.
11. What is the US share in the world
economy?
Ans.:-
The U.S. share in the world economy is 28 percent.
12. When did the US Hegemony begin
and Why?
Ans.:-
U.S. hegemony began in 1991 after the collapse of Soviet Union. When Soviet
Union was disintegrated totally in 1991 then the hegemony of U.S. started and
the U.S. become the only super power.
13. Examine the Process by which US
Hegemony got established?
Ans.:-
The process was three types by which US Hegemony established. They are:
i) Hegemony as hard power.
ii) Hegemony as soft power.
iii) Hegemony as structural power.
14. What do you understand by
Bandwagon strategy?
Ans.:-
Bandwagon strategy was a strategy for own development of production for the
expansion of business, progress of technology to put domination on other state.
15. What means by PPP?
Ans.:-
PPP means Pakistan people’s party.
16. Mention the constraints that
operate on the US hegemony?
Ans.:-
The constraints that operate on US hegemony are:
a) NATO.
b) Civil society and American mass media.
c) Institutional architecture and American state.
17. What is All Qaeda?
Ans.:-
All Qaeda was a terrorist group of Afghanistan. U.S. launched Operation “
Enduring Freedom” against All Qaeda.
18. What is Hegemony as soft power’?
Ans.:-
Hegemony as soft power means that it arises from the attractiveness of a
country’s culture, political ideals ad policies. The ideological or cultural
dimensions is the main basis for soft power.
LONG
ANSWER
1. What is Guantanamo Bay? Discuss
its significance.
Ans.:-
Guantanamo Bay is a US naval base in Cuba where the detained persons were sent.
Its significance is that the prisoners were meted out in human behavior.
They
were arrested mostly without proofs. The prisoners here didn’t enjoy the law of
their own country, or the US. Even the UN representatives were not allowed to
meet them.
2. Why did US launch its invasion of
Iraq?
Ans.:-
U.S. launched its invasion of Iraq due to following reasons:
i) Controlling Iraq Oil fields and installing a regime
friendly to the US.
ii) To prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass
destruction (WMB).
3. Write a brief note on Indo-US
relationship? (or) Mention the important factors which describe India’s
relationship with the US?
Ans.:-
Indo-US relationship:
a) Areas of Conflict:
i) India’s friendship with Soviet Union:- US did not like the
behavior shown by India during the cold war era. It was upset with India’s
closeness to Soviet Union.
ii) India’s policy of non-alignment:- US was also upset with
India’s policy of non-alignment. It said that India is being a diplomat over
the issue.
iii) US support to Pakistan:- India did not like the US
supporting Pakistan and providing all the required assistance during Indo-Pak
War.
b) Areas of Cooperation:-
i) India American Diaspora:- This factor is providing a good
platform for the development of Indo-US relationship.
ii) Trade relations:- Trade relations between the two
countries have been profitable to both the countries and is improving the
relationship.
4. Suggest some measures to resist
hegemony. (or) How can hegemony be overcome?
Ans.:-
Measures to resist hegemony are:
a) Coalition of big powers:- A military coalition by the big
powers like China, India, Russia etc. have the potential to challenge US
hegemony.
b) Bandwagon strategy:- It suggests that instead of engaging
in activities opposed to the hegemonic power, it may be advisable to extract
benefits by operating within the hegemony system.
c) Hide Strategy:- This implies staying aloof from the
dominant power and not allowing any influence of the hegemony.
d) Combination of NGOs social movements:- It may rise from
sections of the media and intellectual, artists, writers etc. These various factors
may well from links across national boundaries including Americans to criticize
and resist US policies.
5. What does US hegemony mean in
today’s world? Mention any two constraints that operate on US Hegemony?
Ans.:-
US Hegemony in today’s world means the dominance of US in all spheres military,
economic, ideas of good life etc.
The
constraints of US Hegemony are:
i) The first constraint in the institutional architecture of
the American state itself. A system of division of power between the three
branches of the government places significant brakes upon the unrestrained and
immoderate exercise of America’s military power by the executive branch.
ii) The second constraint is domestic in nature and stems
from open nature of the American Society. American mass media may from time to
time impose or promote a particular perspective on domestic public opinion in
the US and they also keep on aye over the method of government.
6. Discuss the role of States in a
global village.
Ans.:-
The whole world is now a global village. We live in these global Village with
US being the village headman. None of the actors can leave as this is the only
world we know and the only village we live in. resistance to the headman’s
hegemony would then be the only option available to live in the global village.
7. Discuss US Hegemony under
Jefferson Bill Clinton?
Ans.:-
During the rule of Bill Clinton, US focused on soft issues like establishment
of democracy, protection of environment and promotion of world trade. However
Bill Clinton ordered operation Infinite Reach against the terrorist without
giving importance to U.N.O.
8. What was ‘Operation Iraqi
Freedom’? list out its outcome?
Ans.:- On March 19, 2003 the US launched its invasion of Iraq under the code name ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom”. The purpose of this invasion we as to prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction, The purpose of this invasion was to prevent Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction. The US military lost over 3000 military personnel in the war but Iraqi casualties were very much higher.
9. What do you mean by public goods?
List out the examples of global public goods?
Ans.:-
Global public goods are those which can be consumed by one people, without
reducing the amount of the good available for other. For example, internet and
Sea.
10. What were the reasons of the
first Gulf war?
Ans.:-
The reason of first Gulfwar:
a) Controlling Iraqi oilfields.
b) Installing a regime friendly to USA.
c) Preventing Iraq from developing weapons of mass
destruction.
11. Explain US military action during
Clinton Era?
Ans.:-
Operation Allied Force:
i) The Albanian population in the Kosovo province of
Yugoslavia faced discrimination and the government too did not pay any
attention.
ii) In 1991, the air forces of the NATO countries led by the
US bombarded targets around Yugoslavia for well over two months.
iii) This resulted in the downfall of the government of
Slobodan Milosevic and the stationing of the NATO Fortin Kosovo.
Operation Infinite Reach:
i) The All Qaeda terrorist organization bombarded the US
embassies in Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam in 1998.
ii) As a response to the attack, the US attacked the All
Qaeda terrorist targets in Sudan and Afghanistan through cruise missiles.
iii) The US did not bother about the UN sanction or
provisions of the international law in this regard.
12. What is ‘Hegemony as Hard Power’?
Ans.:-
American military dominance today is both absolute and relative. In absolute
terms, the US has military capacities that can reach any point on the planet
accurately, lethally and in real time. The military dominance of the US is not
just based on higher military spending, but on a qualitative gap, a
technological chasm that no other power can at present concussively span.
VERY
LONG ANSWER
1. What are the different types of
hegemony? Give examples of each of them. (or) Examine the different natures of
Hegemony? (or) Examine the process by which US Hegemony got established.
Ans.:-
Hegemony are of three types. These are:
i) Hegemony as hard power:
a) American military dominance today is both absolute and
relative. In absolute terms, the US both has military capacities that can reach
any point on the planet accurately, lethally and in real time.
b) The military dominance of the US is not just based on
higher military spending, but on a qualitative gap, a technological chasm that
no other power can at present concussively span.
ii) Hegemony as soft power:
a) The predominance of the US in the world today is based not
only on its military power and economic powers but also on its cultural
presence.
b) All ideas of the good life and personal success, most of
the dreams of individuals and societies across the globe, are dreams churned
out by practices prevailing in twentieth century in America.
iii) Hegemony as structural power:
a) Internet:-Although internet is sun today as making virtual
world of www possible, we would not forget that the internet is the direct outcome
of a US military research project that began in 1950. Even today the internet
relies on a Global Network of Satellites, most of which are owned by the US
government.
b) Technical Education like M.B.A.:- The idea that business
is a profession that depends upon skills that can be taught in a university is
uniquely American. Today there is no country in the world in which MBA is not a
prestigious academic degree.
2. ‘The biggest constraints to
American hegemony lie within the heart of the hegemony itself’- Identify three
constraints on American power.
Ans.:-
After 2nd world war there were two super powers i.e. U.S.A. and
U.S.S.R. with the sudden collapse of Soviet Union, one super power ceased to
exist. On the other hand, the powers of another super power i.e. U.S.A.
enhanced. Thus the US hegemony began in 1991 after Soviet Union disappeared
from international scene. But History tells us that empires decline because
they decay from within similarly, the biggest constraints to American hegemony
is from within.
Broadly,
there are three constraints on American power:
The
first constraint is the institutional architecture of the American state
itself. American system is based on division of Powers between the three organs
of government. i.e. legislature, executive and judiciary. These organs put many
restrictions on military Powers.
The
second constraint on American society,
The
third constraint on American power is the North Atlantic Treaty organization
(NATO). Out of these three constraints, the third constraint on American power
is the most important in future.
NATO
is the only organization in the world which can put some check on the American
power. NATO will be successful in moderating the U.S. Hegemony.
3. Mention the new factors that
emerged in Indo US relationship in recent years. (or) Describe the process of
normalization of relationship between United States of America and India.
Ans.:-
So far as the debate in Lok Sabha on the Indo-US agreement, on nuclear energy,
the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh says that in recent times, India’s
impressive economic development rate has made the country and alternative
partner for a member of countries concerning USA. International politics
largely in terms of military energy are fearful of the growing closeness between
India and USA. The growing closeness of interest between the USA and India,
creates a welfare for India
At
the recent phase of global hegemony, India has needed a good partnership with
the USA. Dr. Manmohan Singh believes that it is in the welfare of our country
to have a good pivotal relation with all the major countries, but interest on
the relationship with the USA. Hence, he advocate a strategy that would allowed
India to take opportunity of US Hegemony and the mutual relations to set up the
best possible for itself. The highlighting factors show the Indo-US
relationship and its importance.
a) 15% of all high tech starts up are by Indo-Americans.
b) The USA absorbs about 65% of India’s total exports in the
software sectors.
c) 35% of the technical staff of doing is estimated to be of
India.
4. ‘A classic example of the
structural power of the US is the academic degree called the Master’s in
Business Administration’. Illustrate.
Ans.:-
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 courses are initiated around 1900. Today there is no
country in the world in which MBA is not a prestigious academic degree.
5. Write a note on cultural
dimensions of US Hegemony?
Ans.:-
America has hegemonised the world through cultural supremacy. The cultural
dimensions of US Hegemony are:
i) American culture is the most powerful culture on earth.
This attribute is called “soft power”. Thus US had the power to persuade.
ii) All the ideas of a good life and personal success, most
of the dreams of individuals and societies across the globe are dreams churned
out by practices prevailing in the twentieth century America.
6. What does history teach about
hegemony?
Ans.:-
Given the logic of balance of power, hegemony is a rather unusual condition in
international affairs. This is for a very simple reason: in the absence of world
government, every states must ensure its own security and in extreme
circumstances, it’s own survival. Thus, states are acutely aware of power
distribution in the International political system, and would not normally
allow single state to become so powerful as to pose a moral threat to other
states.
The
balance of power logic of international politics, as outlined above, is amply
supported by history. By convention are regard 1648 as the year in which the
sovereign territorial state emerged as the principle actor in World Politics.
In the over three and a half centuries since then, there have been only two
previous occasions when a single state succeeded in gaining preponderance in
the system to a similar degree as the US predominates the system today France
from 1660 to 1713 in the context of European Continental politics in the first
instance of hegemony. Britain with its global maritime empire from 1860 to 1910
in the second. History also tells us that although at its height hegemony seems
formidable, it does not last forever. To the contrary, balance of power
politics over time reduces the relative Power of the hegemony. In 1660, France,
under Louis XIV was unchallenged by 1713,
England,
Habsburg, Austria and Russia were contesting French power. In 1860, the high
noon of the Victorian period, page Brifanica looked secure forever. By 1910, it
was clear that Germany, Japan and the US. Had emerged as contend as to British
power.
Thus
20 years from now another great power, or may be a coalition of great powers
could be emerge just as US. Capabilities are ducting in relative terms.
7. Describe Hegemony in the context
of international politics.
Ans.:-
Hegemony is defined as dominance of international system by only one centre of
power. The sudden collapse of eh Soviet Union left USA with all its powers
intact and enhanced. The United States of America has emerged as sole super
power in the world. This is the US hegemony in International politics.
8. How long will Hegemony last? How
do we get beyond Hegemony?
Ans.:-
Two ways to overcome US Hegemony:
a) Bandwagon strategy:-It is suggested that
instead of engaging in activities opposed to the hegemonic power, it may be
advisable to extract benefits by operating within the hegemonic system.
b) Hide strategy:- This implies staying as
far removed from the dominant power as possible. While it may be an attractive
viable policy for small states, it is hard to imagine mega-states like China,
India, Russia being able to hide for any substantial length of time.
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