Post Independence and World History
Post Independence
Previous year questions:
2018
Assess the main administrative issues and socio-cultural problems in the integration
process of Indian Princely States.
The monarchical states subordinated to British India were termed as Princely States.
The word ‘princely’ was deliberately retained during the British regime, to ascribe
subordination of the rulers to the British Crown.
Administrative issues:
​
Lapse of British Paramountcy: The Indian Independence Act of 1947 (based on
the Mountbatten Plan) provided for the lapse of paramountcy of the British
Crown over the Indian states. Many of the rulers saw the departure of the British
as the ideal moment to declare autonomy and announce their independent
statehood on the world map.
​
Signing of Instruments of Accession: The instruments of accession executed by
the rulers, provided for the accession of states to the Dominion of India (or
Pakistan) on three subjects, namely, defence, external affairs and
communications.
​
Power and Prestige: The princely states were not comfortable with the idea of
giving away their power and prestige. Some of these states that posed problems
were Jodhpur, Bhopal and Travancore before independence and Junagarh,
Hyderabad and Kashmir post-independence.
​
Availability of Natural Resources: Some of the Princely States had good reserves
of natural resources, it was believed it could survive on its own and hence wanted
to remain independent.
​
People Resentment: The Maharaja of Manipur, signed the Instrument of
Accession with the Indian government. Under the pressure of public opinion, the
Maharaja held elections in Manipur in June 1948 and the state became a
constitutional monarchy. The Government of India succeeded in pressurising the
Maharaja into signing a Merger Agreement in September 1949, without
consulting the popularly elected Legislative Assembly of Manipur.
​
Connectivity and Agrarian Support: The Rajput princely state, despite having a
Hindu king and a large Hindu population, strangely had a tilt towards Pakistan.
Jinnah offered free access to the Karachi port, to arms manufacturing and
importing along with military and agrarian support.
Socio-cultural challenges:
​
Kashmir: It was a princely state with a Hindu king ruling over a predominant
Muslim population which had remained reluctant to join either of the two
dominions.
​
Hyderabad: It was the largest and richest of all princely states, covering a large
portion of the Deccan plateau. Nizam Mir Usman Ali was presiding over a largely
Hindu population in the princely state.
​
Peasant Protest: The Telangana Rebellion of 1946–51 was a communist-led
insurrection of peasants against the princely state of Hyderabad in the region of
Telangana that escalated out of agitations. It brought the struggles of the
peasantry to the forefront and served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the
people of this region in fighting against the autocratic rule of the Nizam of
Hyderabad.
The rulers of most of the states signed a document called the ‘Instrument of Accession’
which meant that their state agreed to become a part of the Union of India. Accession
of the Princely States of Junagadh, Hyderabad, Kashmir and Manipur proved more
difficult than the rest.
Elucidate the role of Sardar Patel in integration of princely states in India.
Princely States were several large and small states in British India ruled by princes with
some form of control over their internal affairs as long as they accepted British
supremacy. They (565 in number) covered one-third of the land area of the British Indian
Empire and one out of four Indians lived under princely rule. Just before Independence,
the British gave right to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent to the people
of princely states.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Home Minister in the interim government, was responsible
for unifying these to create a united country I.e. India. He played a crucial role in
integrating the princely states in India. It can be seen as following:
JawaharLal Nehru asked him to integrate the princely states and with the help of VP
Menon, Patel drafted an instrument of accession to be signed by the rulers. By signing
the instrument, the princely states agreed to hand over control of defence, foreign
affairs, and communications to the Union government.
Patel also introduced the idea of ‘privy purses,’ making payments to the royal families in
lieu of their joining India. Most of the states joined the India, however, some states like
Travancore and Bhopal were still hesitant to join India and the Constituent Assembly.
Patel took following actions to integrate these princely states:
diplomatic skills and foresightedness. He followed an iron-handed policy
Hyderabad: When the Nizam of Hyderabad was contemplating either remaining
independent or joining Pakistan, Patel sent a contingent of troops into the state to
support the freedom struggle going on in the state against the Nizam. Within four days,
India had control of Hyderabad. Operation Polo
Jodhpur: The Prince of Jodhpur wanted to join Pakistan. When Patel got wind of the
situation, he immediately contacted him, offering several benefits to get the Prince to
accede to India.
Junagadh: The Nawab of Junagadh had accepted Pakistan's offer. As the locals
revolted against the Nawab, he fled to Karachi. Patel then requested Pakistan to allow
organizing a plebiscite in Junagadh. He later sent troops to force the annexation of its
three principalities. The Dewan of Junagadh was forced to accede to India. A plebiscite
was held, where 91 percent of the population voted to remain in India.
Kashmir: The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, was reluctant to join either India or
Pakistan. When armed tribesmen from Pakistan entered Kashmir, the Maharaja
appealed to India for help. Patel and Nehru agreed to send in help if Singh signed the
instrument of accession. Thus, Kashmir was included in the Union of India.
Manipur: It became a constitutional monarchy in 1948. In the Legislative Assembly of
Manipur there were sharp differences over the question of merger of Manipur with India.
The Maharaja Bodhchandra was pressured by the government of India to sign the
instrument of accession.
Through his statesmanship, negotiations with princely states through diplomacy and
real politic, Sardar Patel managed to bring nearly all of the princely states under the
Sardar Patel worked tirelessly to build a consensus with the princely states but
India Union.
did not hesitate in employing methods of Sama, Dama, Dand and Bhed wherever
necessary.
Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian
Unity?
India was fragmented into more than 500 princely territories and the provinces of British
India at the time of independence. After accession into the Union, there came the sticky
issue of integrating the kingdoms and provinces into feasible administrative units.
First the Dhar commission, and then the JVP commission rejected the reorganization of
states on linguistic basis despite clamour for the same. Fazl Ali commission or States
Reorganization Commission, in 1953, allowed that in principle, while giving primacy to
administrative convenience.
Linguistic reorganization has strengthened the cause of Indian unity as:
It put an end to fissiparous tendencies that would’ve balkanized the country on the basis
of language.
2. It fulfilled the aspirations of people to have autonomous political units for
governance.
3. Led to development of vernacular languages and imparting of education in them, thus
facilitating literacy.
4. Development and adoption of vernacular language also enabled political participation
by the common man and enabled the common man to voice issues of concern in a
familiar language.
5. Enabled the preservation of local customs, culture, and festivals. Over time, the
people of India have come to cherish the myriad customs of different states. E.g:
Chhath celebrations have become popular in Gujarat.
6. It did not lead to complaints regarding discrimination in the matter of distribution of
resources on the basis of language, nor did it affect the federal structure of the country.
However, linguistic reorganization also led to several unintended consequences such as
regionalism, linguistic chauvinism and foundation of the “Sons of the soil” doctrine.
There are several issues that are a threat to India’s integrity – ethnic clashes in the
North East, demand for new states on the basis of backwardness such as Marathwada
and Saurashtra, militancy in Jammu and Kashmir etc. Inter-state water disputes are
another troublesome issue.
But the political leadership of newly independent India had the foresight to visualize the
consequences of not acquiescing to popular aspirations. Their decision to linguistically
reorganize the states has therefore removed one important factor that would’ve
jeopardized India’s integrity and thus strengthened the cause of Indian unity.
World History
Previous year questions:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
French revolution of 1789
Impact on French Society
● Monarchy was abolished and Republic took its place.
● Political sovereignty introduced at individual and nation-state level with a centralised
government.
● Serfdom, Feudalism, Slavery were abolished and the influence of Church decreased
in personal lives.
● Idea of separation of public and private realm emerged.
● Some Shortcomings: Limited suffrage, especially women were excluded, Slavery
was reintroduced by Napoleon.
Impact on World
● Napoleon carried ideals of the Revolution to the rest of Europe: Liberty, Modern
Laws, Democratic Rights, protection of private property. This, in turn, gave rise to
Modern Nationalism paving way creation of the sovereign nation-state.
● Liberalism as government form got crystallised in North and South America.
● It inspired other revolutions: Haitian Revolution, Independence Movements in
Spanish and Portuguese colonies in South America. Raja Rammohan Roy and Tipu
Sultan in particular and Indian Nationalist Freedom Struggle incorporated ideals of
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.
Conclusion
Thus, the importance of the French Revolution laid in laying the foundation of Modern
States based on Liberal Democratic ideals. Also, indirectly it laid the groundwork for the
growth of Socialism and Communism by providing an intellectual and social environment in
which these ideologies could flourish.
Industrial revolution
The term industrial revolution refers to changes brought about by the replacement of hand
tools with machine tools in the production process. These changes were witnessed first in
Britain during 1760s and gradually the process of industrial revolution spread to other
countries.
Factors which were responsible for the start of industrial revolution in England include:
• Overseas trade and colonies: Through the overseas trade, England accumulated vast
profits which had provided necessary capital for industrialization. In the trade rivalries of
European countries, England had emerged as an unrivalled power. Also England had
acquired colonies which ensured a regular supply of raw materials.
• Inventions of Machines: It was one of the most important factors responsible for
commencement of industrial revolution in Britain. A number of machines like weaving
machine, steam engine, locomotive etc were invented in Britain. These machines were
used in the production process.
• Disappearance of serfdom & availability of labour forces: After the disappearance of
serfdom, people were no longer tied to the land and were free to take to any job they could
find. Also after the enclosure movement, small peasant who had small holdings in land were
ousted and a large army of landless unemployed people was created. Thus, there was no
shortage of labour force to work in the factories.
• Stable government: As a result of the revolution of the 17th century, a stable system of
government had been established, which was no longer under the domination of the feudal
classes. Commercial classes had acquired more political power and there was no danger of
government interference.
• Availability of Natural Resources: Natural resources such as iron and coal essential for
industries were available in England. This saves England from many difficulties that other
countries faced.
• Agricultural Revolution: Among the many factors that were responsible for the
development of industrial capitalism in England and the industrial revolution was the
agricultural revolution, which grew out of the commercial agriculture of the seventeenth and
early eighteenth centuries.
• Social Stimulus to Entrepreneurship: The character of British society stimulated the rise of
entrepreneurship. The pursuit of wealth in trade and manufacture (or in the professions) led
to the accumulation of fortunes which gave individuals rank and status.
No-other country enjoyed all these advantages at this period. Some suffered from a lack of
capital or natural resources and some from an unfavourable political system. As a result,
England was a natural place for the industrial revolution to begin which put it on the part to
emerge as the preeminent power of the period.
The Industrial Revolution was not only a technological revolution but a
social-economic revolution that changed the way people lived afterwards. (250
words)
Introduction
The Industrial Revolution, which took place from the 18th to 19th centuries, was a period
during which predominantly agrarian, rural societies in Europe and America became
industrial and urban.
Industrialization marked a shift to powered, special-purpose machinery, factories and mass
production. The iron and textile industries became the mainstay of the industrial revolution.
From cooking appliances to ships, all had components of iron and steel. The process went
into hyperdrive with the advent of steam engines and ships.
Body
Technological changes that took place during the industrial revolution
During the industrial revolution, acceleration in the processes of technological innovation
brought about an array of new tools and machines.
The following are key technological changes that took place during the industrial revolution:
● Textiles: During the period, the organization of cotton production shifted from a
small-scale cottage industry, in which rural families performed spinning and weaving
tasks in their homes, to a large, mechanized, factory-based industry.
● The boom in productivity began with a few technical devices, including the spinning
jenny, spinning mule, and power loom.
● Agriculture: Several factors came together in 18th-century Europe to bring about a
substantial increase in agricultural productivity.
● These included new types of equipment, such as the seed drill developed by Jethro
Tull around 1701. Progress was also made in crop rotation and land use, soil health,
development of new crop varieties, and animal husbandry.
● The result was a sustained increase in yields, capable of feeding a rapidly growing
population with improved nutrition.
● Energy: The mining and distribution of coal set in motion some of the dynamics that
led to Britain’s industrialization. The coal-fired steam engine was in many respects
the decisive technology of the Industrial Revolution.
● Transportation: Concurrent with the increased output of agricultural produce and
manufactured goods arose the need for more efficient means of delivering these
products to market.
● Steam engines and railways became important features of the industrial revolution
during the 19th century.
Social and economic changes that took place during the industrial revolution
A lot of socio-economic change took place during the Industrial Revolution. It changed the
character and culture of people in the whole world.
● Population Explosion: Advancement in technology and better agricultural production
led to better medical facilities and greater employment which led to population
explosion.
● Development of Banking and Finance System: the middle class began opening up
new factories for which they required financing and therefore, the banking and
finance system began developing.
● Status of Women: The Industrial Revolution marked a dramatic change for women
as many of them entered the workforce for the first time. Women had to compete
with men for jobs. Female factory workers often made only one-third as much as
men.
● Rising Middle Class: The middle-class men started owning factories, sent their male
children to school and rose up in society due to an increase in wealth.
● Urbanisation: People started moving to urban areas in search of better jobs in
factories due to which these areas became highly populous with poor housing
facilities.
● The exploitation of resources: industrial Revolution made the production of goods
easy and ready in much less time. Therefore, more and more goods began to be
produced which led to the exploitation of resources.
Conclusion
The Industrial Revolution was a revolutionary experience. It also increased material wealth,
extended life, and was a powerful force for social change. And therefore, there was more to
the Industrial Revolution than a bunch of machines, it was not only a technological
revolution but a social-economic revolution that changed the way people lived afterwards.
World Wars
What was the immediate trigger of the World War-I? What were the reasons for
the breakout of the war? Comment.
World War-I has its roots in the assassination of a prince. On 28 June 1914, Archduke
Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a
Serbian terrorist at Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. Austria saw the hands of Serbia
behind this and served Serbia an ultimatum. Serbia refused to accept one of the
demands of ultimatum. Hence, on 28 July 1914, Austria declared war on Serbia. Then,
Germany declared war on Russia and France. Britain declared war on Germany. Japan
declared war on Germany with a view to capture its colonies in the Far East. Turkey and
Bulgaria joined on the side of Germany. Italy initially remained neutral and later joined
the war against Germany in 1915.
There are various reasons for the breakout of the war:
Imperialist Rivalries: The scramble for colonies led to emergence of conflict between
imperialist powers. By the last decade of 19th century almost all areas were under
imperialist control and further conquest could only happen by dispossessing some other
country. Rivalries resulted in attempts to re-divide the world creating conditions of war.
Progress of the latecomer Germany: Germany made massive progress after its
unification in 1870. It became leading producer of iron, steel and coal and left behind
France and Britain. It entered shipping trade as well and possessed Imperator, the
largest ship in the world. Since Germany was a late comer it could not grab as much
colony as it desired.
Clash of interests: Both Italy and Austria had their ambitions in the Ottoman Empire.
Japan fought with Russia for extending its territorial possessions in the Far East. There
was an intense naval rivalry between Germany and Britain as Britain defended its large
territory. Germans accused Britain, Russia and France of trying to 'encircle' it.
Serbian Nationalism: Serbia had the ambition of uniting all Slavs many of whom lived in
Austria – Hungarian empire, which consisted of people from different nationalities
(Slovaks, Czechs, Italian, etc.). Therefore, even Austria wanted to destroy Serbia.
Alliance Formation: Opposing groups were formed and vast sums of money were spent
to increase size of army and navy and develop deadly weapons. Europe became a vast
armed camp. Propaganda for war and projecting own country as superior to other
started.
a) Triple Alliance (1882) - Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy.
b) Triple Entente or Understanding (1907) - France, Britain and Russia. Loose group
based on mutual understanding.
The First World War was the most frightful war the world had seen so far in terms of
devastation it caused, the number of people who fought it, the famines and the social
problems it created. Instead of destroying imperialism, it helped the victorious powers in
enlarging their possessions.
“The second World War was the result of nationalistic tensions, unresolved
issues, and economic depression”. Discuss (250 words)
Introduction
The Second World War (WW-II) was a global military conflict which lasted from 1939 to
1945. The vast majority of nations formed two opposing military alliances, the Allies and
the Axis.
The Allies consisted of France, Poland and the United Kingdom, as well as their
dependent states, such as British India. Later joined by the US and China.
The Axis, also known as "Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis", consisted of Germany, Italy, and
Japan.
Factors led to the Second World War
Unresolved issues: The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 in a hostile environment
after the first World War to bring peace in Europe.
The treaty was harsh on Germany and served as a humiliation for the Germans. It
brought many hardships for the German population and further deteriorated the entire
geopolitical landscape of Europe.
The treaty could not contain the rise of extreme nationalism in fascist regimes of Italy,
Germany and Japan which in turn led to the increased scramble for new colonies.
Nationalistic tensions: Disintegration of German population into newly created nations
was used by Hitler to justify German aggression and expansion before the second
World War.
The humiliating conditions of the treaty of Versailles annoyed the Germans for years
and in many ways led to the rise of Nazism in Germany.
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were violated by Hitler which led to the formation of
alliances like the Anti-Comintern Pact (1937) between Germany, Japan and Italy and
the Non-Aggression Pact (1939) between Germany and USSR.
The economic depression: The period before World War II was a time of great economic
suffering throughout the world called the Great Depression. It posed severe risks to the
entire economies of the world and specifically in Europe..
Aggressive foreign policy: Unemployment, poverty lead the cause for development of
dictatorial regimes across Europe, who rationalized the idea to take anything by force,
led to more aggressive/nationalist foreign policy.
Empire building forces: In the atmosphere of cut-throat economic trade/Depression, the
answer of countries like Japan & Italy was to build an empire.
This secures their supplies of raw materials and natural resources. Countries like Japan
(Manchuria), Italy (Abyssinia) and Germany (eastern Europe), therefore, set
international conflict and tension, mistrust.
This created unstable governments and turmoil around the world that led to the Second
World War.
The 1930s economic depression gave opportunity to Mussolini and his Fascist Party
came to power, making Italy rich and powerful.
Rising to power in an economically and politically unstable Germany, Adolf Hitler and
his National Socialist (Nazi Party) rearmed the nation to further his ambitions of world
domination.
Other Factors Includes
Japan’s Militarism: In 1931, Japan was hit badly by the economic depression. Japanese
people lost faith in the government. They turned to the army in order to find a solution to
their economic problems.
In order to produce more goods, Japan needed natural resources for its factories. The
Japanese army invaded China, an area rich in minerals and resources.
Failure of League of Nations: The treaty led to the formation of the League of Nations
which failed to prevent actions of fascist regimes like invasion of Manchuria by Japan.
The idea of the League of Nations was to prevent wars through disarmament, collective
security and negotiation. Unfortunately the League failed miserably in its intended goal.
Appeasement policy: The failures of the League in the 1930s were not only because of
aggressor nations undermining its authority, but also down to its own members.
Britain and France, the two most influential members, ignored the League in their efforts
to appease Hitler, it allowed Hitler to expand German territory unchecked, this led to the
outbreak of the Second World War.
Conclusion
The seeds of the Second World War were sown in the treaty of Versailles. The harsh
restriction led to the growth of dictatorial regimes and ingrained the feeling of revenge in
Germany and Italy. Both these nations re-emerged as a strong military power with
fascist tendencies driven by extreme nationalism in their respective countries.
Whereas, Japan’s economic condition after the great depression and its militaristic
policy in search of natural resources led to the formation of alliances with axis powers.
“Treaty of Versailles” signed as a treaty of peace,ironically, set the stage for another
great war. Examine. (250 words)
​
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919 in a hostile environment after
the first World War intended to bring peace in Europe. It was based on the
principles of Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points speech (1918) which calls for self
government, international peace and security through overall disarmament.
However, when assessed on these principles, the treaty cannot be justified.
Body
The treaty can be seen as ‘dictated peace’ due to the following reasons:
​
Germans were not allowed to be part of the negotiations.
​
Demilitarization: Germany was forced to drastically reduce its armed forces to
weaken its defence.
​
Reduction in territory: The Treaty empowered the Allied States to control
Germany’s overseas colonies in China, Pacific and Africa and declared them as
League of Nation of Mandates.
​
It forced Germany to cede its territory to Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and
return Alsace and Lorraine to France.
​
War Guilt clause: Germany was solely held responsible for the war and its allies
were held responsible for triggering war.
​
War Reparations: Huge reparations were imposed on Germany aimed at keeping
it weak economically.
Hence, it can be asserted that the treaty was harsh on Germany and served as a
humiliation for the Germans. It brought many hardships for the German population and
further deteriorated the entire geopolitical landscape of Europe.
Further Consequences of the Treaty
​
Disintegration of German population into newly created nations was used by
Hitler to justify German aggression and expansion before the second World War.
​
Impact on European economy: It further posed severe risks to the entire
European economy which led to the Great Depression of 1929 as argued by
British economist John Maynard Keynes.
​
The treaty could not satisfy the demand of all nations:
​
Britain wanted a lenient treaty with Germany because a prosperous
Germany would serve as a market for British exports.
​
France demanded a harsher treaty so that French frontiers could not be
threatened in future.
​
Hence, the treaty was meant to weaken Germany and to bring peace enough to
stop the spread of communism. The humiliating conditions of the treaty rankled
Germans for years and in many ways led to the rise of Nazism in Germany. Hitler
further used the nationalistic propaganda to imbibe hatred in Germans which
culminated into the Jews holocaust during the second World War.
​
The treaty could not contain the rise of extreme nationalism in fascist regimes of
Italy, Germany and Japan which in turn led to the increased scramble for new
colonies.
​
Also, the treaty led to the formation of the League of Nations which failed to
prevent actions of fascist regimes like invasion of Manchuria by Japan.
​
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were violated by Hitler which led to the
formation of alliances like the Anti-Comminterm Pact (1937) between Germany,
Japan and Italy and the Non-Aggression Pact (1939) between Germany and
USSR.
Hence, the Treaty of Versailles failed to contain the competitive geopolitics and set the
stage for WWII.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the treaty was created more through fear and anger than
forgiveness, compassion and a desire for rebuilding relationships and ensuring long
lasting peace. Also, the treaty was never properly enforced so that Germany was able to
rebuild its military and challenge the security of Europe all over again.
Examine the impact of the second World War on the development of the modern
world, including the shift in global power dynamics and the emergence of new
ideologies. (250 words)
The Second World War was a global conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945.
Further, the conflict includes the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—and the
Allies—France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser
extent, China.
As the result of this conflict, almost 100 million people had been militarized, and 50
million had been killed (around 3% of the world's population).
The second world war had a profound and lasting impact on the development of the
modern world. Further, it impacted the global power dynamics, political ideologies, and
social and cultural developments of the post-war period.
Impact of second world war on modern world:
Shift in Global Power Dynamics:
One of the most significant impacts of the Second World War was the shift in global
power dynamics resulting from the conflict. Prior to the war, Europe had been the
dominant global power, with countries like Britain, France, and Germany playing leading
roles in international affairs. However, the devastation of the war, especially in Europe,
led to a significant shift in the balance of power.
Cold war:
The United States and Soviet Union emerged as the dominant global superpower and
major players on the global stage.
It led to the spread of communism, with the Soviet Union playing a major role in shaping
the political landscape of Eastern Europe.
These ideological shifts lead to the rise of cold war between Soviet Union which was
promoting authoritarianism and communism as the sole ideology for the world whereas
USA was promoting liberalism, capitalism and free trade.
Which further, led to the formation of two opposing military alliances, the Western-led
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.
Decolonization:
After the war, Britain and France were confronted with various domestic and external
problems. Both of them could no longer hold onto their respective colonies Thus, the
post-war world witnessed the end of colonialism in Africa and Asia.
Establishment of United Nations:
One of the momentous results of the war was the birth of the United Nations
Organization.
The UN Charter enshrines the hopes and ideals of mankind on the basis of which
countries can work together to maintain lasting peace.
However, the establishment of the UN was agreed, much before the end of World War II
under the Atlantic Charter.
Social and Cultural Developments:
The war led to significant changes in the roles and expectations of women, as many
women entered the workforce to take on traditionally male roles while men were away
fighting.
The war also had a major impact on the way that people thought about the role of
government and the state, with the rise of the welfare state in many countries as
governments sought to provide for the needs of their citizens.
Economic Impacts:
The economic impacts of the Second World War were also significant, both in the short
term and the long term. In the short term, the war disrupted global trade and led to
shortages of key resources, leading to economic hardship in many countries.
In the long term, the war contributed to the development of the global economy as it
stood at the beginning of the post-war period which eventually led to the
New Economic World Order like:
Establishment of the Marshall Plan by the USA, for example, provided significant
economic assistance to European countries in the aftermath of the war, helping to
rebuild their economies and lay the foundations for future economic growth.
The Bretton Woods Conference established the International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (now known as the World Bank) to make long-term capital available
to states in need of foreign aid, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to stabilize
currency exchange rates. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) also
helped to reduce trade barriers and promote economic growth.
Also, the US dollar was established as a reserve currency for the world trade.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Second World War had a profound and lasting impact on the
development of the modern world. It shaped the global power dynamics, political
ideologies, and social and cultural developments of the post-war period and had
significant economic impacts as well. The war continues to influence the world.
https://www.drishtiias.com/mains-practice-question/question-1261
The birth of the League of Nations on the ruins of the First World War was
welcomed. However, it could do little to prevent the Second World War.
Examine. (250 words)
Redrawal of national boundaries
Socialism
Nazism
Analyze the differences between Nazism and Fascism. (150 Words)
The definitions of "Nazism" and "fascism" can occasionally be unclear. In Italy, Mussolini
founded the first fascist party. Later, the phrase was adopted to refer to various right-wing
groups and regimes, but not always appropriately. In fact, each brand of so-called 'fascism'
had its own special features; in the case of the German Nazis, there were many similarities
with Mussolini's fascist system, but also some important differences.
Similarities:
■ Strong anti-communist principles helped both of them win widespread support from
all socioeconomic strata.
■ They intended to establish a totalitarian regime, regulating business, agriculture, and
people's way of life to limit personal freedom. They were anti-democratic.
■ They made an effort to make the nation self-sufficient.
■ They stressed the close cooperation of all classes in pursuing these goals.
■ Both stressed the supremacy of the state, were fiercely patriotic, and promoted the
cult of the hero or leader who would lead the nation out of its difficulties.
Differences:
■ In Italy, fascism never seemed to gain as much ground as the Nazi regime did in
Germany.
■ Germany's system was more effective than the Italian one. Italians never came close
to being self-sufficient and never managed to end unemployment; in fact,
Unemployment actually increased. Although they never achieved total autocracy, the
Nazis were successful in ending unemployment.
■ The Italian system was neither as merciless or as violent as that in Germany.
■ Before 1938, when Mussolini embraced the strategy to emulate Hitler, Italian fascism
was not particularly anti-Jewish or racist.
■ Following his accord with the pope in 1929, Mussolini was more effective than Hitler
with his religious policies.
Finally, their constitutional positions were different in both nations. The monarchy still
remained in Italy. Mussolini normally ignored Victor Emmanuel, the king who played a vital
role in 1943 when Mussolini's critics turned to him as head of state. He was able to
announce Mussolini's dismissal and order his arrest. Unfortunately, there was nobody in
Germany who could dismiss Hitler.
Fascism