Introduction to International Politics
FYUG 4th Semester Exam Solution 2025

Paper: PLSDSC-252 | Programme: Political Science (FYUG)
Year: 2025 | Full Marks: 70 | Pass Marks: 28
University Context:

UNIT-I

2 Marks

Question 1(a): Differences between International Politics and International Relations

While often used interchangeably, two key differences are:

Scope: International Relations (IR) is broader, covering economic, social, cultural, and legal interactions. International Politics focuses specifically on the struggle for power and conflict among nations.

Nature: IR includes non-political relations like trade or tourism, whereas International Politics is concerned primarily with official political interactions and state-to-state diplomacy.

2 Marks

Question 1(b): Two Definitions of International Politics

International politics can be defined as:

Hans J. Morgenthau: "International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power".

Harold Lasswell: In a global context, it refers to the study of "who gets what, when, and how" among sovereign states.

2 Marks

Question 1(c): Define Non-State Actors

Non-state actors are organized entities that possess significant political influence and participate in international relations but do not belong to any particular state or government institution.

Examples: NGOs (Amnesty International), Intergovernmental Organizations (United Nations), and Multi-National Corporations (Google).

2+4+4=10 Marks

Option A

Question 2(a): Definition, Nature, and Scope of International Politics

Definition:

International politics is the process by which nations attempt to harmonize their conflicting interests through the use of power and diplomacy.

Nature:

Sovereign States as Primary Actors: States are the central units of analysis.

Power-Centric: It is inherently a struggle for power among nations.

Conflict and Cooperation: It involves both the management of conflicts and the pursuit of shared interests.

Scope:

State System: Study of the behavior of states in the global arena.

National Interest: Analyzing how states define and pursue their goals.

Conflict Resolution: Methods like war, diplomacy, and international law.

International Organizations: The role of the UN, EU, etc., in global governance.

10 Marks

Option B

Question 2(b): Evolution of International Politics as a Field of Study

The field has evolved through several distinct phases:

Idealist Phase (Post-WWI): Focused on international law, morality, and the League of Nations to prevent war.

Realist Phase (Post-WWII): Shifted focus to national interest, military power, and the "Great Power" rivalry.

Behavioralist Phase (1950s-60s): Emphasized scientific data, systems theory, and psychological factors in decision-making.

Post-Cold War/Modern Phase: Covers globalization, terrorism, climate change, and the role of non-state actors.

UNIT-II

2 Marks

Question 3(a): Two Features of Classical Realism

Human Nature: Politics is governed by objective laws rooted in human nature, which is inherently selfish and power-seeking.

Statism: The state is the pre-eminent actor in international politics; no authority exists above the state.

2 Marks

Question 3(b): Two Exponents of Neo-Realism

The two primary exponents of neo-realism (structural realism) are:

Kenneth Waltz: Known for his seminal work Theory of International Politics.

John Mearsheimer: Famous for his theory of "Offensive Realism".

2 Marks

Question 3(c): Two Principles of Neo-Realism

Structural Anarchy: The lack of a central world government forces states to prioritize survival.

Distribution of Capabilities: International outcomes are determined by how power (capabilities) is distributed among states (Unipolar, Bipolar, Multipolar).

6+4=10 Marks

Option A

Question 4(a): Morgenthau's Six Principles of Classical Realism and Shortcomings

Six Principles:

Politics is governed by objective laws based on human nature.

National interest is defined in terms of power.

Interest is not fixed; its meaning changes with the political environment.

Universal moral principles cannot be applied to state actions.

No nation's moral aspirations are identical to the universal moral laws.

Political sphere is autonomous; it must be judged by political standards (power).

Shortcomings:

Over-emphasis on power while ignoring ideology and cooperation.

Vague definition of "Power".

Inability to explain the role of international organizations.

2+8=10 Marks

Option B

Question 4(b): Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism in IR

Liberalism: A theory based on the idea that international cooperation is possible and desirable. It emphasizes democracy, trade, and international institutions as tools to achieve peace.

Distinction between Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism:

Feature	Liberalism (Classical/Idealist)	Neo-Liberalism (Institutionalism)
Focus	Individual rights, democracy, and morality.	Economic interdependence and institutions.
Method	Normative and philosophical.	Scientific and system-based.
Peace Factor	"Democratic Peace" – democracies don't fight.	Institutions reduce cheating and transaction costs.

UNIT-III

2 Marks

Question 5(a): What is World System?

The World System refers to a multidisciplinary, macro-scale approach to world history and social change that stresses that the world-system (and not nation-states) should be the primary unit of social analysis.

2 Marks

Question 5(b): Two Asian Tiger Economies

The "Asian Tigers" are highly developed economies in Asia:

South Korea

Singapore (Others: Hong Kong, Taiwan)

2 Marks

Question 5(c): Development of Underdevelopment

A concept associated with A.G. Frank, suggesting that the underdevelopment of the "Global South" is not a natural state but a result of the active exploitation by developed capitalist nations.

7+3=10 Marks

Option A

Question 6(a): Wallerstein's World System Approach

Main Features:

Core: Developed, industrialized nations that exploit others for resources.

Periphery: Underdeveloped nations that provide raw materials and cheap labor.

Semi-Periphery: Nations with intermediate levels of development that act as a buffer.

Global Division of Labor: The system is unified by economic exchange rather than political authority.

Limitations:

Economic Determinism: Ignores cultural and political factors.

Too rigid: Hard to explain why some peripheral nations (like the Tigers) became Core nations.

10 Marks

Option B

Question 6(b): Critical Discussion of A.G. Frank's Dependency Theory

Andre Gunder Frank argued that resources flow from a "periphery" of poor and underdeveloped states to a "core" of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former.

Metropolis-Satellite Relationship: The core (metropolis) keeps the satellite (periphery) in a state of dependence.

Critique: It suggests that the only way for poor countries to develop is to break away from the global capitalist system.

Modern Criticism: Critics argue it fails to account for internal factors like corruption or poor governance in underdeveloped states.

UNIT-IV

2 Marks

Question 7(a): Factors Influencing India's Foreign Policy

Geographical Location: Sharing borders with neighbors like China and Pakistan makes regional security a priority.

Economic Needs: The need for foreign investment and energy security (oil/gas) dictates relations with the Middle East and the West.

2 Marks

Question 7(b): Nehru's Contribution to India's Foreign Policy

Jawaharlal Nehru was the chief architect of India's foreign policy. His key contributions include:

The policy of Non-Alignment (NAM) to keep India away from Cold War power blocs.

Panchsheel: Five principles of peaceful coexistence.

2 Marks

Question 7(c): Pokhran-I and Pokhran-II Dates

Pokhran-I: May 18, 1974 (Code name: "Smiling Buddha").

Pokhran-II: May 11 and 13, 1998 (Code name: "Operation Shakti").

10 Marks

Option A

Question 8(a): Basic Principles of India's Foreign Policy

India's foreign policy is guided by:

Non-Alignment: Independence in decision-making.

Panchsheel: Mutual respect for territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

Anti-Colonialism & Anti-Racism: Supporting the freedom movements of other nations.

Support for UN: Belief in multilateralism and international law.

Look East / Act East Policy: Strengthening ties with ASEAN and East Asian nations.

3+4+3=10 Marks

Option B

Question 8(b): Influence of Historical, Geo-political, and Economic Factors

Historical: The legacy of the freedom struggle and the trauma of Partition influenced India's stance on sovereignty and secularism.

Geo-political: Being a peninsula in the Indian Ocean and having contested borders with nuclear-armed neighbors necessitates a strong defense policy.

Economic: Shift from a closed economy to liberalization in 1991 forced India to prioritize trade relations with the US, EU, and East Asia.

UNIT-V

2 Marks

Question 9(a): Founders of the NAM

The founding leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) were:

Jawaharlal Nehru (India)

Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia)

Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt)

Sukarno (Indonesia)

Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana)

2 Marks

Question 9(b): Why India Adopted Non-Alignment

To maintain sovereignty: India didn't want to become a puppet of either the USA or the USSR.

Development focus: India needed aid and technology from both blocs for its post-colonial reconstruction.

2 Marks

Question 9(c): Two Criticisms of the NAM

Lack of Unity: Member states often have conflicting interests and fight each other (e.g., Iran-Iraq war).

Irrelevance: Critics argue that after the Cold War, the "non-aligned" stance has lost its meaning.

6+4=10 Marks

Option A

Question 10(a): Contribution of NAM during Cold War and its Relevance Today

Contributions during Cold War:

Prevented the world from being completely divided into two armed camps.

Promoted decolonization in Africa and Asia.

Raised the voice of the "Third World" in the UN.

Relevance Today:

South-South Cooperation: Forum for developing nations to collaborate on trade and climate.

Global Justice: Advocating for the reform of the UN Security Council.

Peaceful Settlement: Still provides a platform for mediation in regional conflicts.

10 Marks

Option B

Question 10(b): Factors Favoring India as an Emerging Power

India is recognized as a rising global power due to:

Demographic Dividend: One of the youngest populations in the world.

Economic Growth: One of the fastest-growing major economies.

Military Strength: Nuclear power with the world's fourth-strongest military.

Soft Power: Influence through Yoga, Bollywood, and the Indian Diaspora.

Technological Prowess: Leadership in IT services and space exploration (ISRO).

Knowlet Exam Strategy & Tips

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Key Definitions: Memorize Morgenthau’s definition of power; it is the "nucleus" of this subject[span_106](end_span).

Presentation: For 10-mark questions, always include an introduction, numbered points, and a concluding remark.

Common Mistake: Do not confuse "Realism" with "Neo-realism". Remember: Classical = Human Nature; Neo = System Structure.

Important Dates: Remember 1974 and 1998 for nuclear tests; these are high-scoring facts.

Answer Depth: For Unit-V, emphasize India's current role in G20 or BRICS to show updated knowledge.

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