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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: Transnational actors, Collective Security and Peace/War

Why does global human security need to be emphasized along with economic security? Explain with examples. (UPSC 2016, 20 Marks, )

  1. Posted by: Synopsis IAS
  2. Posted on:21 July 2025
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