question_answer

Describe the factors that make most of the former Soviet Republic prone to conflicts and threats.

Or

Describe the role played by India in keeping? in Non-Aligned Movement alive and relevant.

Answer:

Factors that make most of the former Soviet republics prone to conflicts and threats:

(i) There were internal weaknesses of Soviet political and economic institutions, which failed to meet the aspirations of the people.

(ii) Economic stagnation for many years led. To severe shortages of consumer items and a large section of Soviet society began to doubt and question the system and do so openly.

(iii) The Soviet economy used much of its resources in maintaining a nuclear and military arsenal.

(iv) The development of its satellite states in Eastern Europe and within the Soviet system (the five Central Asian republics in particular). This led to a huge economic burden that the system could not cope with.

(v) They could see the disparities between their system and the systems of the West. After years of being told that the Soviet system was better than Western capitalism, the reality of its backwardness came as a political and psychological shock.

(vi) The Soviet Union had become stagnant in an administrative and political sense as well.

(vii) The rise of nationalism and the desire for sovereignty within various republics including Russia and the Baltic republics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), Ukraine, Georgia.

Or

The Non-Aligned Movement aimed at establishing a new and equitable international economic, social and political order.

(i) Stabilization of world peace: The non-aligned countries always keep themselves away from the power blocks so that they could reduce the tension in the world and if at all there is any war they can bring peace in the particular area by mediating between the enemy countries.

(ii) To put an end to imperialism and colonialism: The non-aligned countries wanted to put an end to imperialism as they supported exploitation, the members of the NAM supported the freedom struggle movements in Asia and Africa.

(iii) Opposition of alliances: The world had already witnessed two crucial and dreadful wars because of the alliances of military. So the non-aligned countries decided not to join any power bloc which might create tension in the world and ultimately, its result in the world war.

Points of criticism of NAM

(i) Non-alignment was said to be ?unprincipled?. In the name of pursuing national interest, often refused to take a firm stand in crucial international issues.

(ii) Members of NAM was inconsistent and took contradictory postures. Having criticised others for joining alliances, India signed the Treaty of Friendship in August. 1971 with the USSR for 20 years. This was regarded, particularly, by outside observers, as virtually joining the Soviet alliances system. The Indian government?s view was that India needed diplomatic and possibly military support during the Bangladesh crisis and that in any case the treaty did not stop India from having good relations with other countries including the US.

Following are the characteristics of Non-Aligned Movement:

1. Non-Alignment is a concept aiming at independent and peaceful to existence.

2. NAM is an active and positive state of affairs.

3. NAM is relevant in peace as well as war.

4. NAM is a concept of International relations.