📘 Chapter 2: The End of Bipolarity – Important Questions + PYQs

✨ CBSE Board Style | Easy Explanation | Marks-wise Format

🔹 🧠 2 Mark Questions (Very Short Answer – 30–50 words)

1. What is meant by ‘bipolarity’?
   👉 A system where two superpowers dominate global politics. During the Cold War, the USA and USSR were the two poles.
2. What was the Soviet Union?
   👉 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a federation of 15 republics formed after the Russian Revolution of 1917, based on socialist ideology.
3. When did the Soviet Union disintegrate?
   👉 In December 1991, the USSR formally broke up and 15 independent countries were created.
4. Name any two republics that emerged after USSR’s disintegration.
   👉 Ukraine and Kazakhstan (Also: Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, etc.)
5. What is CIS?
   👉 The Commonwealth of Independent States, formed by former USSR republics to coordinate economic and political matters after disintegration.

📌 PYQ (2020): Mention one cause for disintegration of USSR.
👉 Economic crisis and heavy military spending.

🔸 ✏️ 4 Mark Questions (Short Answer – 80–100 words)

1. What were the main reasons for the disintegration of the USSR?
   👉

• Political rigidity of the Communist Party
• Lack of democracy and freedom of speech
• Economic stagnation and lack of consumer goods
• High military expenditure due to arms race
• Rise of nationalist movements in republics

2. What is ‘Shock Therapy’?
   👉
   It was the sudden transition from socialist to capitalist economy in post-Soviet states.

• Prices were deregulated
• State-owned industries were privatized
• Subsidies were withdrawn
  This led to inflation, poverty, and unemployment in many countries.

3. What are the consequences of USSR’s disintegration on world politics?
   👉

• End of Cold War and bipolarity
• Emergence of the USA as the sole superpower
• Rise of China and EU as global players
• Spread of capitalism and democracy

📌 PYQ (2021): Explain any two features of ‘Shock Therapy’.
👉 Privatisation and removal of state control over prices.

🔵 🖋️ 6 Mark Questions (Long Answer – 120–150 words)

Q1. Explain the causes and consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

Answer:
The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 due to multiple reasons:

🔹 Causes:

• Centralised control without reforms
• Lack of freedom, elections, and civil liberties
• Over-dependence on arms & defense
• Economic failure: shortages, inflation, unemployment
• Rise of ethnic nationalism in member states

🔹 Consequences:

• End of bipolarity, rise of unipolar world
• 15 new independent nations emerged
• Creation of CIS for limited coordination
• Spread of capitalism and democracy in Eastern Europe
• USA became the global leader

Q2. What was ‘Shock Therapy’? What were its negative impacts?

Answer:
Shock Therapy was the sudden shift from a communist economy to capitalist economy in former Soviet states.

🔹 Features:

• Privatisation of public assets
• Open market for foreign trade and investment
• End of price controls and subsidies
• Cut in government spending

🔹 Negative Effects:

• Collapse of social security systems
• Massive poverty and inequality
• Rise of Oligarchs who captured resources
• Industrial output fell, leading to economic depression

Shock therapy failed to bring prosperity and caused social unrest in many post-Soviet countries.

Q3. How did India respond to the Soviet disintegration?

Answer:
India had close ties with USSR, and its collapse was a concern. But India responded strategically:

🔹 Adjustments made by India:

• Maintained good relations with Russia (successor state)
• Signed bilateral agreements on military, space, and nuclear cooperation
• Opened up to USA and Western powers
• Focused on multi-alignment strategy

India’s foreign policy became more balanced, and it maintained strong defense and diplomatic ties with Russia.

📌 PYQ (2018): Explain India’s relations with post-Soviet Russia.
👉 Friendly and strategic partnerships in defense, energy, and trade.

📌 CBSE PYQs Summary Table (2017–2024)

📒 Key Points to Revise

✔ USSR = 15 republics, collapsed in 1991
✔ Main cause: Political rigidity + Economic failure
✔ Shock Therapy = Fast capitalism → chaos
✔ CIS = loose association of former republics
✔ World became unipolar after Cold War
✔ India managed ties well with new Russia