Topic: History of the world will include events from 18th century
Q1. Discuss the origins and evolution of the Cold War. How did it influence the foreign policies of newly independent nations? (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: InsightsIAS
Why the question
The Cold War was one of the most significant developments of the twentieth century, shaping global politics, security alignments and the diplomatic choices of newly independent nations after decolonisation.
Key Demand of the question
The question requires explaining the origins and major phases in the evolution of the Cold War. It also demands an analysis of how Cold War dynamics influenced the foreign policy approaches of newly independent countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Mention the emergence of the bipolar world order after World War II and the ideological rivalry between the USA and USSR.
Body
- Origins and evolution of the Cold War: Explain the factors and major developments that transformed post-war cooperation into sustained geopolitical rivalry.
- Influence on newly independent nations: Discuss how Cold War politics shaped their diplomatic choices, strategic autonomy and international alignments.
Conclusion
Highlight that while the Cold War ended in 1991, its legacy continues to influence contemporary foreign policy concepts such as strategic autonomy, non-alignment and multipolarity.
