Chapter – 4

Alternative Centres of Power

In this post, we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (Alternative Centres of Power) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

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New Centres of Power

New centres of power mean those countries and organizations, which can become superpowers in the future and plays a major role in the world system even in the present.

Organizations

• The European Union
• ASEAN
• BRICS

Countries

• China
• Japan
• India
• Israel
• Russia

The European Union

• The countries of Europe suffered the most in the Second World War. therefore, after the Second World War, the countries of Europe tried to improve their situation.
• America helped European countries in this reform process.

Formation of the European Union

Marshal plan

• In 1948, the Marshall Plan was made by the US, under which the European Economic Community was established.      
• The European Council was formed in 1949.
• The European Economic Community was established in 1957.
• The European Union was established in 1992

European Union   ‘s objectives

• rapid economic growth
• mutual support
• goods foreign policy

Features of the European Union

as an organization

• economic and political
• giant nation state
• Your flag ,  anthem ,  foundation day (9th May)  and currency (Euro).

Note:- In 2003 the European Union tried to make its own constitution but it could not succeed.

Flag of the european union

• The European flag is a symbol of the European Union
• It has a circle of 12 golden stars on blue
• It shows unity and solidarity among the people of Europe.

Features of the European Union

economic features

• World’s largest economy in 2005
• threat to euro dollar
• Gross domestic product more than 12000 billion dollars
• The US has three times the share of world trade

Military features

• second largest army in the world
• Two members Britain and France have nuclear weapons
• Two members Britain and France have permanent membership and veto of the Security Council of the United Nations.

Note:- Britain left the European Union on 31 January 2020.

ASEAN

• ASEAN                                                                  Association of South East Asian Nations
• आसियान                                                                 दक्षिण पूर्व एशियाई राष्ट्रों का संगठन
• Established                                                           in 1967 it was established by signing the Bangkok Declaration.                                                                
• Founding countries                                               Indonesia ,  Malaysia ,  Philippines ,  Singapore ,  Thailand                                                
• Later countries included                                       Brunei ,  Vietnam ,  Laos  ,  Myanmar , Cambodia                                

ASEAN Flag

• 10 paddy earrings were shown in the middle, which shows the unity of the ASEAN countries.
• Blue represents peace and stability.
• Red represents courage and dynamism .
• white shows purity
• Yellow is a symbol of prosperity.      

ASEAN ‘s objectives

• promote social and cultural development
• accelerate economic growth
• improve law and order
• promote peace

Three Pillars of ASEAN

Keeping in mind the overall development by ASEAN, three institutions were created in 2003, these are called the three pillars of ASEAN.

• ASEAN Security Community
• ASEAN Economic Community
• ASEAN Social and Cultural Community

Three Pillars of ASEAN

ASEAN Security Community

Work

• resolving disputes between member states
• Promote peace and cooperation.

ASEAN Economic Community

Work

• promote common trade
• increase free trade
• settling economic disputes

ASEAN Social and Cultural Community

Work

• Raising the level of social and cultural development

ASEAN Vision 2020

• ASEAN Vision 2020 is a list of goals set by ASEAN for 2020.
• By 2020, ASEAN wants to play an external role in the world.
• Resolving all mutual disputes through dialogue is also the main point of ASEAN Vision 2020.

ASEAN Style

• ASEAN’s way of developing is called the ASEAN Style
• It set a new example in front of the world by developing through cooperation and reconciliation.
• This method of cooperative and conflict-free development was called the ASEAN Style.
• In this way, ASEAN became the fastest growing organization.

India and ASEAN

• Initially, India did not pay much attention to ASEAN, but in later times, India made efforts to improve relations with ASEAN countries and increase trade.
• In 1991, the policy of Walk East was adopted by India and efforts were made to improve relations with East Asian countries.
• India has signed a free trade agreement with two ASEAN countries Singapore and Thailand.
• Simultaneously, India is also trying to make a free trade agreement with ASEAN.

China

China’s early

• China was established on 1 October 1949.
• China isolates itself from the whole world
• Beginning China developed big industries under the control of the government
• Due to the lack of foreign exchange, it was difficult to get technology and goods from abroad, so tried to produce everything from China inside the country.

Opening up The Economy

• Instead of suddenly opening its economy, China changed the economy according to the plan.
• China made relations with America for the first time in 1972.
• A year later, i.e. in 1973, the then Chinese Prime Minister Chou En Lai proposed development in agriculture ,  industry ,  army and development and technology.
• In 1978, Prime Minister Deng Xiopeng announced the Open Door Policy.

After Opening the Economy

• Farming was privatized in 1982
• Industries were privatized in 1988
• SEZ ie SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE was established
• Joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.
• This process is called the rise of China.

Consequences of China’s new economic policies

• economy picks up
• Due to the privatization of agriculture, the income of the farmers has increased.
• Foreign investment in China increased
• The amount of foreign exchange increased and China started investing in other countries.
• China emerged as an economic power in the world

India and China relations

Issues

• In 1962, there was a war between China and India in which India lost.
• Border dispute between Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh
• China’s occupation of Tibet
• Granting asylum to Dalai Lama by India

effort and improvement

• Panchsheel Agreement
• Negotiations started in 1981 to settle the border dispute
• In 1988, Rajiv Gandhi visited China and there was some improvement in relations.
• Economic cooperation increased and trade also increased.

What is BRICS?

• BRICS is an organization created to enhance business, politics and cultural cooperation among the 5 countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
• After the joining of South Africa in BRICS.

Reasons for the creation of BRICS:-

• At present, almost all the major organizations present in the world, such as the World Bank or the IMF, are influenced by the US and other western countries.
• For this reason, an organization was created through which the emerging economies of the world could be brought together and cooperation could be established between them.
• This was done because in future all these  economies  can compete with the developed countries and that  is why  it is very important for them to come together.

Formation of BRICS

• At the time of formation, the name of this organization was BRIC, which was formed from the initials of the names of its member countries, after joining the organization of South Africa in 2010, it became BRICS.
• BRIC was launched in Russia in 2006
• The creation of BRIC was suggested by Jim O Neil, a UK economist.
• Discussions about it began in Russia in 2006.
• It was formed in 2009
• At the time of formation it consisted of 4 countries and was called BRIC.
• In 2010 South Africa also joined BRIC and it became BRICS.

Member

• Brazil
• Russia
• India
• China
• South Africa
• the headquarters
• is in Shanghai (China)

Objectives of BRICS

• Promote demand for reform of the UNO’s Security Council
• Cooperate on trade and climate change issues
• Simplifying import and export
• Accelerating the pace of development through mutual cooperation
• establish mutual political cooperation
• ensure each other’s safety
• Strive to work together to solve shared challenges

BRICS conference

• Its first conference took place on 16 June 2009 in Yakitin (Russia).
• 4 countries participated in this conference because South Africa was not a member of BRICS at that time
• The second conference was held in Brazil on 15 April 2010 and during the same conference South Africa was also included in BRICS.
• The third BRICS summit was held in China on 14 April 2011 in which its name was changed from BRIC to BRICS.
• Now its conference is proposed in Russia in 2020

NDB (New Development Bank) New Development Bank

All the countries of BRICS together formed a bank in 2014 which was named NDB Bank.

Formation of NDB Bank: –

• India suggested to make BRICS countries a bank
• Which was formed by these countries in 2014 and named as NDB i.e. New Development Bank.
• Its headquarter is in Shanghai
• The regional office is in South Africa
• Presently its chairman is KV Kamath and it is an Indian
• The total capital of this bank is $100 billion, of which $41 billion is from China, $18 billion is from India, Brazil and Russia and $5 billion is from South Africa.

Functions of NDB Bank

• This bank gives loan to member countries on easy installments
• Provides economic suggestions to member countries
• Helps member countries acquire technology

Features of BRICS

• About 40% of the world’s population lives in the BRICS countries
• The main two countries with the largest population in the world, India and China are included in BRICS.
• Russia is the largest country in the world by area and is a member of BRICS.
• All countries except Russia are developing
• India and China emerging as emerging power
• It is estimated that by 2030 this group will overtake the US
• Its GDP is about 23% of the whole world
• About 27% of the area of ​​the whole world comes under the countries of this organization.

Current status of BRICS

• If we see in the present situation, BRICS could not be completely successful in carrying out its tasks, it is because there are some mutual differences between the countries of BRICS such as

India and China dispute

• China to build a road on the border of PoK
• China’s intervention on Nepal and India border

Israel

Creation of Israel

• Israel became a separate country on 14 May 1948 after separating from Palestine.
• It is the only Jewish country in the world
• After independence, the biggest problem for it was the Muslim countries around it.
• Egypt ,  Syria ,  Iraq ,  and Jordan attacked it soon after its independence .
• This was the beginning of the Arab Israel War which lasted from 1948 to 1949.
• In this Israel won and captured a large area

June 1967  ( Six Day War  )

• In 1967, the countries around Israel, Jordan ,  and other Arab countries attacked it together.
• Like the previous war, in this war also Israel defeated all of them very easily within just 6 days, that is why it is also called Six Day War.
• In this war Israel also captured the Gaza Strip and increased its area by almost 3 times.

Geographical Features of Israel 

• Around it ,   there are Muslim countries like Lebanon ,  Syria ,  Jordan , and Egypt.
• Total Area 22145 Sq. Kilometers
• Population approx 85 lakh
• located in southwest asia
• A Jewish person born anywhere in the world is a citizen of Israel

Political Features

• The national language here   is Hebrew
• The capital of Israel  is Jerusalem 
• The president is Raven Rivlin
• Prime Minister is Benjamin Netanyahu 
• Here too there is a system of parliamentary democracy like in India.

Military Features

• Israel is the eighth largest country in the world based on military strength
• Its army has about 35 lakh soldiers and women are also included in the army in Israel.
• Army training is given to all school students.
• Israel is far ahead in military technology compared to other countries
• In Israel, it is mandatory for boys to serve in the army for at least 3 years and for girls for 2 years.
• It is not capable of all military weapons but also exports them on a large scale.

Economic Features

• Israel ranks 21st in the world on the basis of GDP
• Israel is ahead of developed countries in the field of science and technology
• Israel is ahead of its size in terms of trade
• Israel’s main task is to develop innovative technologies and export them to the world.

Russia

Russia’s early

• After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, the Soviet Union was formed by merging 15 republican states.
• Russia was also one of these 15 republic states.
• Russia was the largest republic among these  15 republics.
•  Russia was part of the USSR from 1917 to 1991 
• After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia became a country and it was made the successor of the Soviet Union, that is, all the rights that were with the Soviet Union were given to Russia.
  • such as nuclear weapons
  • Permanent Membership in the Security Council of the UNO
  • Russia had to abide by all the treaties that were made between the Soviet Union and America.

Geographical Feature of Russia

• Russia is a country in North Asia
• Russia is the largest country in the world
• Some part of it comes inside the continent of Asia and some of it comes inside Eastern Europe.
• In terms of size, it has grown almost 5 times more than India.
• Russia ranks seventh in the world by population

Political Features of Russia

• Russia is a democratic country
• The capital of Russia is Moscow and its national language is Russian.
• The president here is Vladimir Putin
• The prime minister here is Mikhail Mishustin.
• Here too, like other countries, elections are held normally and leaders are elected.

Economic Features of Russia

• Even though Russia is a big country in terms of size, Russia is not advanced in terms of economic development.
• Russia ranks 11th by GDP
• Russia has abundant mineral resources, natural resources and gas reserves.
• It is because of these resources that Russia is established as a strong country in the world, but if compared with America economically, Russia lags far behind.

Russian Military Features

• Russia is one of the most powerful countries in the world in terms of arms
• nuclear weapon
• Permanent Membership of the Security Council of the UNO
• Russia ranks second in the world in terms of military capability
• Russia gives equal competition to America in military field

Russia and India Relations

• Relations between India and communist countries have been good since the beginning.
• Russia has been helping India from the very beginning.
• Both dream of a multipolar world
• Both countries believe in democracy
• 80 bilateral agreements between India and Russia in 2001
• india russian arms buyer
• Import of oil from Russia into India
• Russia’s help in scientific plans
• Russia’s support to India on Kashmir issue

Japan

Japan and World War II

• Japan was one of the Axis powers in World War II
• At the end of World War II, in 1945, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan.
• These bombs were dropped on two Japanese cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the names of these bombs were Little Boy and Fat Man.
• These bombs caused great destruction in Japan and Japan surrendered in World War II.
• After this the development of the Japanese economy started and today Japan is one of the few main countries of the world.

Geographical Features of Japan

• Japan is a country in East Asia
• Japan ranks 63rd in the world in terms of area
• It is ranked 11th in the world by population
• Most of Japan is surrounded by hills and forests
• Japan is affected by most of the natural disasters in the world such as earthquake, tsunami etc.

Political Features of Japan

• There is a constitutional monarchy in Japan, that is, there is a king and also a democracy.
• The current king of Japan is Naruhito
• The political head of Japan is the Prime Minister here.
• The current Prime Minister of Japan is Shinzo Abe
• The national language here is Japanese

Economic characteristics of Japan

• Japan is the country with the most cutting-edge technology in the world
• It is ranked third in the world by GDP
• All kinds of products are exported by Japan
• Despite being surrounded by so many disasters, Japan is far ahead of other countries in the field of development.

Military Features of japan

• Japan’s army is the fourth most powerful army in the world
• Japan ranks fourth in the world in terms of military expenditure.
• High quality technology is the main feature of the Japanese military
• Japan is one of the largest countries in the world in terms of military strength
• Like every region, Japan is also situated among the world’s big countries in military power.

India

India’s opening round

• British India was partitioned on 15 August 1947 and British India was mainly divided into 2 countries, the first was India and the second was Pakistan.
• The part which came in the territory of India also had two different parts, the first was India and the second was the native princely states.
• With independence, the biggest challenge before India was to include these indigenous princely states in India.
• In course of time almost all the native princely states joined India and thus India was formed.

India and China

• Panchsheel Agreement
• Panchsheel Agreement was signed between India and China in 1954.
• There were 5 principles in this agreement
• respect for each other’s integrity and sovereignty
• mutual non-aggression
• not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs
• equitable and mutually beneficial relationship
• peaceful coexistence

Tibet’s problem

• Tibet is a small country located between India and China. China has been asserting its authority over Tibet from the beginning, but India’s belief was just the opposite.
• On 24 April 1954, India accepted China’s right over Tibet with some conditions and China promised that Tibet would be given more autonomy but it did not happen.
• An armed rebellion started in Tibet against the Chinese rule. This rebellion was suppressed by the Chinese forces.
• Seeing the situation deteriorating, Tibetan religious leader Dalai Lama sought asylum from India in 1959 and India gave asylum to the Dalai Lama.
• China called this move interference in its internal affairs and strongly opposed this move. 

India and China border dispute

• The border dispute between India and China was over Aksai Chin in Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA area of ​​Arunachal Pradesh.
• China expressed its right over these parts of India and India said that this matter has been resolved at the time of British but China denied this. 
• Between 1957 and 1959, China occupied parts of Aksai’s China and  started building roads there.  
• A lot of discussions took place between the leaders of both the countries but the problem could not be resolved. Many times there were skirmishes between the armies of both the countries but no solution was found.
• Due to Panchsheel agreement and trust in China, Nehru never felt that China could attack India, but this time Nehru was proved wrong and in 1962 China attacked India.
• China attacked India in 1962. Due to this sudden attack, India did not get any chance to prepare and the Chinese army came deep into India. In the end, a sudden ceasefire was declared by China and India had to face defeat in this war.

Results of War

• India lost
• Indian foreign policy criticized
• Many senior military commanders resigned
• Defense Minister VK Krishna Menon quits the cabinet
• For the first time a no-confidence letter was brought against the government
• The Communist Party of India was divided
• Nehru’s image was damaged.

War between India and Pakistan

1947 (Kashmir dispute)

• War started between India and Pakistan soon after independence
• The main reason for this war was Kashmir.
• India won this war
• In this war, some part of Jammu and Kashmir was occupied by Pakistan, which India  calls POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) and Pakistan is called Azad Kashmir.

1965 (river water sharing)

• India’s problems did not end after the 1962  China War
• In 1965  , a war broke out between India and Pakistan over the problem of water division.
• In the end, India defeated Pakistan very comfortably.

1971 (Bangladesh)

• 1971  East Pakistan problem caused war between India and Pakistan
• The war ended with the victory of India ,  the independence of East Pakistan and the creation of a new country, Bangladesh.

1999 (Kargil War)

• In 1999, it was due to infiltration and deployment of army in the Kargil area by Pakistan. Operation Vijay was launched by India to drive out the intruders and in this 60-day long war, India completely destroyed Pakistan’s army.

Geographical Features of India

• India is a developing country in South Asia
• world’s seventh largest country
• Second largest country in the world by population
• Surrounded by the Indian Ocean in the south, the  Arabian Sea in the east and the Bay of Bengal in the west
• Largest cultural and religious diversity in the world

Political Features of India

• world’s largest democratic country
• parliamentary system of government
• federal government system
• Current Prime Minister  –  Narendra Modi
• Current President  – Ram Nath Kovind

Economic Characteristics of India

• After independence, India adopted the model of mixed development in which equal importance was given to the public and private sector.
• India’s growth rate was normal from 1947 to 1991
•  In 1991, India adopted LPG by making major economic changes. 
• This is where India’s development got a boost.
• The pace of India’s development accelerated since 1991
• India is currently the fifth largest economy in the world
• The world’s largest software exporting country is

Military Features of India

• India comes in the first five countries of the world according to military capability
• India ranks second in the world according to the number of soldiers
• nuclear weapon country
• Contribution to the UNO Peacekeeping Force
• High quality weapons and trained soldiers are the main features of the Indian Army.

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