Topic: World wars, redrawal of national boundaries
Q1. Explain the key ideological foundations of the Cold War. Discuss how they shaped global alliances. Analyse their impact on the foreign policy of newly independent countries. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question
At the recent Shangri-La Dialogue, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that a new cold war is afoot. It puts ASEAN in a bind on how to negotiate the US-China rivalry.Key demand of the question
The answer must explain the ideological roots of the Cold War, how those ideologies influenced military and diplomatic alliances, and how they shaped the foreign policy approaches of newly independent states.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly define Cold War as an ideological conflict between USA and USSR after World War II and highlight its global ramifications.Body
- Ideological foundations of Cold War: Contrast between capitalism and communism; democracy vs one-party rule; state vs individual rights.
- Impact on global alliances: Formation of NATO, Warsaw Pact; economic blocs; ideological alignment in diplomacy.
- Effect on newly independent countries: Rise of NAM, strategic autonomy, external aid diplomacy, ideological adoption for legitimacy.
Conclusion
Highlight how Cold War legacies still shape geopolitical alignments and strategic doctrines in many regions.
