NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science, Chapter 4 - Alternative Centres of Power

In this chapter, you’ll study about the other countries that gradually came to power and began giving a tough competition to the US and Russia. Whether it is the European Union or South Asian countries or China emerging as a superpower in the past few years, these countries have become the alternative centres of power. In this chapter, you’ll study about the ‘Marshall’s Plan’ of Europe’s economy, establishment of EU (European Union), significant aspects of the EU, growing economies of the South Asian countries in India and China, fast industrialization and economic progress of China and ever-changing India and China relations.

Thus, an in-depth study of Chapter 4 Political Science Class 12 will give you a good understanding of Alternative Centres of Power.

Let’s take a look at topics and sub-topics of Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 – Alternative Centres of Power

• European Union

• Association Of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

• The Rise Of The Chinese Economy

• India – China Relations

In Chapter 4 Political Science Class 12, you will learn – 

• European Union – In this section, you’ll learn about the European integration after 1945 aided by the Cold War and huge financial aid granted by America in reviving Europe’s economy through the ‘Marshall Plan’. You’ll also learn about the collective Security Structure established by US under NATO, eventually leading to the formation of the Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) in 1948. You’ll also come across the formation of the Council of Europe in 1949 and the reasons behind it. You’ll acquire knowledge about EU (European Union) playing a very significant role in most parts of Europe and study about the economic and political powers of the EU.

• Association Of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) – In this section, you’ll study what ASEAN is all about, nature of the interaction between Asian countries commonly known as the ‘Asian Way’, the fastest growing economies of the world, establishment of ASEAN community in 2003, three pillars of the ASEAN community such as the ASEAN Security Community, the ASEAN Economic Community and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, objectives of the ASEAN community, vision of the ASEAN policy and more.

• The Rise Of The Chinese Economy – In this section, you’ll study about the rise of China as a superpower since 1978. In the past couple of years, China had the fastest growing economy with large scale production and industrialization. You’ll also study the strengths of China in the form of natural resources, population, and land area, political power, altogether making it a very powerful country. China has seen a steep increase in employment opportunity, local manufacturing, optimize utilization of resources, social welfare programmes, surpassing the even US in many respects. You’ll also acquire knowledge about the four modernisations proposed by Premier Zhou Enlai in 1973 such as Agriculture, Industry, Science and Technology and Military. You’ll come across the strengths of China in the form of modern economic policies, privatisation of agriculture and establishment of special economic zones.

• India – China Relations – In this section, you’ll learn that before colonization, both India and China were considered to be great powers of the world. Thus, after gaining independence, it was believed that India and China would have very cordial relations and would be very powerful, especially in Asia. You’ll learn about the military conflicts between India and China and the Sino-India war in 1962.  Since then, you’ll observe ever-changing relations between India and China.

In this chapter, you are provided with several maps, images and quotes given by famous leaders to have a clear understanding of Alternative Centres of Power. To know more about Political Science Chapter 4 you should explore the exercises mentioned in this chapter. You can also download the Alternative Centres of Power NCERT Solutions PDF, solved by our experts.