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  • PYQs (GS & Optional)
  • Key Concepts in International Relations: National Interest, security and power, Balance of Power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.

    • Concepts of International Politics: Power/National Power
      • "The Gramscian theory of hegemony provides many valuable insights into the nature of global power." Comment.
      • What, according to Joseph Nye, are the major sources of a country’s soft power? Discuss its relevance in the contemporary world politics.
      • Is power a zero-sum or variable game in international relations? Can zero-sum game explain the mixture of conflict and cooperation of the present dynamics of international relations? (250 words)
      • Comment: “International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power.”
      • Discuss various elements and limitations of national power.
      • Comment: Information Technology – an element of national power
      • “International politics, like all politics is a struggle for power.” Comment.
      • Comment: Power.
      • Comment: Alliances
      • Comment: Effective government as a source of national power
      • Define Alliance. What is the role of Alliances in power politics? Discuss the relevance of Alliance in a nuclear age.
    • Concepts of International Politics: National interest
      • National Interest is an essentially contested concept. Comment.
      • Explain the instruments and methods devised for the promotion of national interest.
      • ‘National Interests are Dynamic’. Identify the dynamic nature of National Interests in the contemporary world politics with suitable examples. (200 words)
      • Should National Interest be viewed as a constant category or is it situation-specific? Bring out your perspective.
      • Comment: The realist vision of ‘national interest’.
      • Comment: National interest and national peculiarities: A guide to foreign policy
      • Comment: National Interest and Ideology.
      • Comment: Technology and state sovereignty over water resources
      • Comment: National Interest and Capability
    • Concepts of International Politics: Balance of Power and Deterrence
      • The changing global order and ongoing regional conflicts, with the global powers taking sides, have jeopardised the progress made towards disarmament in the past. Comment.
      • Explain the concept of balance of power. What are the various techniques of maintaining balance of power?
      • Identify the benefits of a multi-polar world.
      • “The notion of balance of power is notoriously full of confusion.” In the light of this quotation, do you think that the concept of balance of power is relevant?
      • Why is the ‘polarity of power’ thesis less relevant and meaningful in the present architecture of ‘balance of power’? (150 words)
      • Comment: Balance of power and its impact on world politics
      • “The relations of the Balance of Power to Collective Security have been at the same time complementary and antagonistic.” Elucidate.
      • Explain the essential rules of the balance of power system and evaluate the role which balance of power plays in the stability of the global order in a multi-polar system.
    • Concepts of International Politics: National Security
      • Critically assess the changing nature of the concept of national security.
      • What constitutes ‘national security discourses’? How far have the IR Feminists questioned how ‘security’ has been problematized?
      • What is comprehensive approach to national security?
      • Do you agree with the view that over-widening of the concept of ‘national security’ has made it a more amorphous concept? Discuss.
      • Examine the changing nature of security in the recent times.
      • Comment: Changing nature and dynamics of national security.
      • One cannot understand the international politics of arms control without taking into account the domestic political forces which have a stake in maintaining large defence expenditure. Analyse these forces which help in promoting international arms races.
      • Comment: Military Industrial Complex
    • Concepts of International Politics: Transnational actors, Collective Security and Peace/War
      • Discuss the conceptual dimensions of collective security.
      • What is 'complex interdependence'? Discuss the role of transnational actors in the international system.
      • Enumerate the challenges in the operation of the principles related to collective security in the UN Charter.
      • Discuss the changing nature of modern state with reference to transnational actors.
      • Why does global human security need to be emphasized along with economic security? Explain with examples.
      • “Transnational actors have become driving forces of global politics.” Elaborate.
      • ‘Collective Security and Collective Defence are the institutional and State mechanisms to sustain the domination of powers that be in International politics.’ Elaborate.
      • Examine the idea of a ‘balance’ between ‘security’ and ‘liberty’ in modern international politics. Do you think the liberal international order is more ‘security-friendly’?
      • Explain the difference between security dilemma and insecurity dilemma.
      • “A well-established system of collective security is a guarantee of world peace.” Explain.
      • Comment: Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific
    • Concepts of International Politics: Diplomacy
      • Comment: Summit Diplomacy
      • Diplomacy is not only a technique of foreign policy implementation, but also an instrument by which other techniques—military and economic—can be successfully deployed. Discuss the significance of diplomacy in the conduct of foreign relations.
      • Comment: Open versus Secret Diplomacy
  1. PYQs and Practice Questions
  2. UPSC Optionals
  3. PSIR Optional
  4. Key Concepts in International Relations: National Interest, security and power, Balance of Power and deterrence; Transational actors and collective security; World capitalist economy and globalisation.
  5. Concepts of International Politics: Balance of Power and Deterrence

The changing global order and ongoing regional conflicts, with the global powers taking sides, have jeopardised the progress made towards disarmament in the past. Comment. (UPSC 2024, 10 Marks, )

बदलती विश्व व्यवस्था तथा चल रहे क्षेत्रीय संघर्षों ने, साथ ही वैश्विक शक्तियों का इनमें पक्ष लेना, निरस्त्रीकरण के लिए पहले हुई प्रगति को खतरे में डाल दिया है। टिप्पणी कीजिए।
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Explain the concept of balance of power. What are the various techniques of maintaining balance of power? (UPSC 2020, 20 Marks, )

शक्ति संतुलन की अवधारणा को स्पष्ट कीजिए। शक्ति संतुलन बनाए रखने की विभिन्न तकनीकें क्या हैं?
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Identify the benefits of a multi-polar world. (UPSC 2019, 15 Marks, )

एक बहुध्रुवीय विश्व के लाभों की पहचान करें।
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“The notion of balance of power is notoriously full of confusion.” In the light of this quotation, do you think that the concept of balance of power is relevant? (UPSC 2016, 15 Marks, )

"शक्ति संतुलन की धारणा प्रत्यक्ष रूप से भ्रम से भरी है।" इस उद्धरण के आलोक में, क्या आपको लगता है कि शक्ति संतुलन की अवधारणा प्रासंगिक है?
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Why is the ‘polarity of power’ thesis less relevant and meaningful in the present architecture of ‘balance of power’? (150 words) (UPSC 2012, 12 Marks, )

शक्ति संतुलन की वर्तमान संरचना में शक्ति थीसिस की ध्रुवता कम प्रासंगिक और सार्थक क्यों है? (150 शब्द)
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Comment: Balance of power and its impact on world politics (UPSC 2003, 20 Marks, )

टिप्पणी करें: शक्ति संतुलन और विश्व राजनीति पर इसका प्रभाव
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“The relations of the Balance of Power to Collective Security have been at the same time complementary and antagonistic.” Elucidate. (UPSC 1997, 60 Marks, )

"सामूहिक सुरक्षा के लिए शक्ति संतुलन के संबंध एक ही समय में पूरक और विरोधी रहे हैं।" स्पष्ट करें।
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Explain the essential rules of the balance of power system and evaluate the role which balance of power plays in the stability of the global order in a multi-polar system. (UPSC 1993, 60 Marks, )

शक्ति संतुलन के आवश्यक नियमों की व्याख्या कीजिए और बहु-ध्रुवीय व्यवस्था में वैश्विक व्यवस्था की स्थिरता में शक्ति संतुलन की भूमिका का मूल्यांकन कीजिए।
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