Class 12 Political Science - CBSE

Security in the Contemporary World

The chapter 'Security in the Contemporary World' explores the meaning and nature of security beyond traditional military threats. For Class 12 CBSE Political Science students, it is a crucial chapter that differentiates between traditional notions of security (deterrence, balance of power, alliance building) and non-traditional threats (global poverty, pandemics, human rights violations, and terrorism). It also highlights cooperative security measures and India's security strategy, which focuses on strengthening military capabilities while addressing internal and developmental challenges. Understanding these evolving dimensions helps students analyze modern geopolitical events and scores high-weightage analytical questions in board exams.

Start Learning Free

Key Concepts

Traditional Notions of Security

Focuses primarily on military threats to a country's core values, where the main source of danger is outside its borders from other countries.

Non-Traditional Notions of Security

Expands the agenda of security to include threats beyond military action, such as global poverty, epidemics, climate change, and human rights abuses.

Balance of Power

A core component of traditional security where states build up their military power or form alliances to match or counter the power of a potentially dangerous state.

Cooperative Security

A strategy for addressing non-traditional security threats collectively through international cooperation, involving global actors like the UN, NGOs, and multiple nations.

Human Security

Focuses on the protection of people rather than just territories, safeguarding individuals from violent and non-violent threats like hunger, disease, and oppression.

Important Formulas

Traditional Security = External Military Threats + Defense Preparedness + Alliance Building
Non-Traditional Security = Human Security + Global Terrorism + Environmental Degradation + Pandemics
Comprehensive Security = Traditional Defense + Cooperative Global Action + Internal Stability

Board Exam Info

In the CBSE Political Science board exam, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions frequently include 1-mark objective questions, 2-mark short answers differentiating traditional and non-traditional security, and 4 to 6-mark long-answer questions analyzing global threats like terrorism or India's security concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional notions of security?

Traditional security deals strictly with military threats from external state actors, whereas non-traditional security includes a wide range of threats to human existence such as poverty, disease, terrorism, and environmental disasters.

Why is international cooperation necessary for non-traditional security threats?

Non-traditional threats like global warming, pandemics, and international terrorism do not respect national borders and are too vast for any single country to handle alone, requiring collective global action.

What are the main components of India's security strategy?

India's strategy involves strengthening its military capabilities, meeting security challenges from internal secessionist movements, developing independent economic institutions, and participating in international forums to promote cooperative security.

Learn Security in the Contemporary World with Your AI Tutor

10 different ways to study this chapter. Free for 3 chapters per day.

Lecture

Key Points

Interactive

Quiz

Flashcards

Start Learning Free

More Political Science Chapters - CBSE Class 12