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Q 10. How did the European countries resolve their Post Second World War problem? Briefly outline the attempts that led to the formation of the European Ans. As the Second World War came to an end, many of Europe’s leaders grappled with the ‘Question of Europe’. The Second World War shattered many of the assumptions and structures on which the European states had based their relations. In 1945, the European states confronted the ruin of their economies and the destruction of the assumptions and structures on which Europe had been founded.
Following attempts were made that led to the formation of the European Union.
1. European integration after 1945 was aided by the Cold War. 2. America extended massive financial help for reviving Europe’s economy under what was called the ‘Marshall Plan’. 3. The US also created a new collective security structure under NATO. 4. Under the Marshall Plan, the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) was established in 1948 to channel aid to the west European states. 5. The Council of Europe, established in 1949, was another step forward in political cooperation. 6. The process of the economic integration of European Capitalist countries led to the formation of European Economic Community in 1957. This acquired a political dimension with the creation of the European Parliament. 7. The collapse of the Soviet bloc put Europe on a fast track and resulted in the establishment of the European Union in 1992. 8. The foundation was thus laid for a common foreign and security policy, cooperation on justice and home affairs, and the creation of a single currency.
Q 11. What makes the European Union a highly influential regional organisation? Ans. The EU has economic, political and diplomatic, and military influence.
Economic influence:
a. The EU is the world’s biggest economy with a GDP of more than $12 trillion in 2005, slightly larger than that of the United States. b. Its currency, the euro, can pose a threat to the dominance of the US dollar. c. Its share of world trade is three times larger than that of the United States allowing it to be more assertive in trade disputes with the US and China. d. Its economic power gives it influence over its closest neighbours as well as in Asia and
Africa. e. It also functions as an important bloc in international economic organisations such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Political influence:
1. The EU also has political and diplomatic influence. Two members of the EU, Britain and France, hold permanent seats on the UN Security Council. 2. The EU includes several non-permanent members of the UNSC. This has enabled the EU to influence some US policies such as the current US position on Iran’s nuclear programme. 3. Its use of diplomacy, economic investments, and negotiations rather than coercion and military force has been effective as in the case of its dialogue with China on human rights and environmental degradation.
Military influence:
a. The EU’s combined armed forces are the second largest in the world. b. It’s total spending on defence is second after the US. c. Two EU member states, Britain and France, also have nuclear arsenals of approximately 550 nuclear warheads. d. It is also the world’s second most important source of space and communications technology. Thus as a supranational organisation, the EU is able to intervene in economic, political and social areas.
Q 12. The emerging economies of China and India have great potential to challenge the unipolar world. Do you agree with the statement? Substantiate your arguments. Ans. The Indo-China relations experience strategically organised as rising economic powers in global politics and to play a major role in the Asian economy after the end of the Cold War. It can be proved on the following grounds: a. The new economic policies of India and China have broken their economy from stagnancy.
b. The creation of special economic zones led to a phenomenal rise in foreign trade. c. If India and China are able to lead a coalition of countries, this coalition would be more powerful and may accomplish their goal. d. India had adopted the policy of liberalisation and globalisation. It has made tremendous progress. India along with China view themselves as rising powers on global politics and can challenge the unipolar world. e. China has become the most important destination for foreign direct investment anywhere in the world. Hence, it has large reserves for foreign exchange to allow it to make a big investment in other countries.