Class 12 Political Science - HARYANA
The Cold War Era
The Cold War Era chapter in Class 12 Political Science introduces students to the period of global tension between the US and the USSR following the Second World War. It explains how bipolarity emerged without escalating into a direct third world war, highlighting major flashpoints like the Cuban Missile Crisis. Students will study the role of non-aligned nations in providing a third alternative through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the division of Europe, and how the Cold War shaped international organizations, economic alliances, and modern global politics, making it a crucial topic for BSEH board exams.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Cold War
A state of political hostility and military tension between the US-led Western bloc and the USSR-led Eastern bloc, fought through proxy wars, propaganda, and economic competition rather than direct military combat.
Cuban Missile Crisis
A 1962 confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles deployed in Cuba, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
An international organization of countries that chose not to formally align with either the US or the Soviet Union during the Cold War, founded by leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Josip Broz Tito.
Bipolarity
A system of world order where the majority of global economic, military, and political power is concentrated in two opposing superpowers, namely the US and the USSR.
New International Economic Order (NIEO)
A set of proposals put forward by developing countries (the Global South) during the 1970s to reform international economic systems in favor of developing nations.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
For Haryana (BSEH) board exams, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions often include very short answer questions (VSA), short answer questions on NAM or the Cuban Missile Crisis, and map-based or passage-based questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the 'Cold' War if there was so much tension?
It is called 'cold' because there was no direct, large-scale military combat between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR, due to the fear of mutually assured destruction caused by nuclear weapons.
What was India's role in the Non-Aligned Movement?
India was one of the founding members of NAM. Its role was to maintain strategic autonomy, stay away from superpower rivalries, and actively voice the concerns of newly independent developing nations.
What led to the end of the Cold War?
The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which was caused by severe economic stagnation, political reforms like Glasnost and Perestroika, and the arms race strain.
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