Security in the Contemporary World 


1. Match the terms with their meaning:

 i. Confidence Building Measures (CBMs)

 ii. Arms Control

 iii. Alliance

iv. Disarmament

a. Giving up certain types of weapons

b. A process of exchanging information on defence matters

between nations on a regular basis

c. A coalition of nations meant to deter or defend against military

attacks

d. Regulates the acquisition or development of weapons


2. Which among the following would you consider as a traditional

security concern / non-traditional security concern / not a threat?

a. The spread of chikungunya / dengue fever

b. Inflow of workers from a neighbouring nation

c. Emergence of a group demanding nationhood for their region

d. Emergence of a group demanding autonomy for their region

e. A newspaper that is critical of the armed forces in the country


3. What is the difference between traditional and non-traditional

security? Which category would the creation and sustenance of

alliances belong to?


4. What are the differences in the threats that people in the Third World

face and those living in the First World face?


5. Is terrorism a traditional or non-traditional threat to security?


6. What are the choices available to a state when its security is

threatened, according to the traditional security perspective?


7. What is ‘Balance of Power’? How could a state achieve this?


8. What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of

a functioning military alliance with its specific objectives.


9. Rapid environmental degradation is causing a serious threat to

security. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your

arguments.


10. Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defence have limited usage

against contemporary security threats to states. Explain the

statement.


11. Looking at the Indian scenario, what type of security has been given

priority in India, traditional or non-traditional? What examples could

you cite to substantiate the argument?


12. Read the cartoon below and write a short note in favour or against

the connection between war and terrorism depicted in this cartoon.