Class 12 Political Science Notes Chapter 5 New Sources of Threats discusses that the world faces several new security threats. These threats are not traditional military threats, but rather non-traditional threats that can devastate societies. Some of the most significant new threats include terrorism, global poverty, migration, and health epidemics. These are some of the new sources of threats to global security. These threats are complex and challenging, and they have no easy solution. However, it is important to be aware of these threats and to take steps to mitigate them.
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Sources of New Threats
There are many new sources of threats that have emerged in recent years. These threats can be divided into two categories: traditional and non-traditional. Traditional threats include terrorism, cyber security, and demographic challenges. Non-traditional threats include climate change, pandemics, and biodiversity loss.
Traditional threats are those that have been around for a long time and are well-understood. Terrorism is the use of violence to achieve political goals. Cyber security is the protection of computer systems and networks from attack. Demographic challenges are those that arise from changes in population size, structure, and distribution.
Non-traditional threats are those that have emerged more recently and are not as well-understood. Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place. Pandemics are global outbreaks of disease. Biodiversity loss is the decline in the number and variety of plant and animal species.
These threats are all serious and place a significant challenge to global security. They are all interconnected and can exacerbate each other. For example, climate change can lead to more extreme weather events, which can in turn lead to displacement and conflict. Pandemics can also lead to conflict, as countries compete for resources. It is important to understand these threats in order to develop effective strategies to mitigate them. By working together, we can build a more secure and prosperous world for all.
Terrorism
Terrorism is political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately, often targeting citizens or territories of multiple countries. Terrorist groups use force or threat to change political conditions, often using public unhappiness as a weapon against national governments or conflict parties. Classic cases involve hijacking planes or bombing crowded places. Since 9/11, attention to terrorism has increased, with most attacks occurring in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and South Asia.
Human Rights
Human rights are classified into three types: political, economic, and social rights, and the rights of colonized people or ethnic and indigenous minorities. There is no consensus on universal human rights or the international community’s response to rights violations. Since the 1990s, developments like Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, Rwanda’s genocide, and Indonesia’s killings have sparked debates on whether the UN should intervene to stop human rights abuses. Some argue that the UN Charter empowers the international community to defend human rights, while others argue that national interests determine UN intervention.
Global Poverty
Global poverty is a significant issue, with the world’s population expected to rise from 760 crore to nearly 1000 crore by the middle of the 21st century. Half of this growth is occurring in six countries, with the poorest countries expected to triple their population in the next 50 years. This disparity contributes to the gap between Northern and Southern countries, and within the South, disparities have sharpened. For example, most armed conflicts now occur in sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region, where more people are killed in wars than in the rest of the world combined.
Migration
Poverty in the South has led to large-scale migration to the North for better opportunities, creating international political frictions. Refugees are those who flee war, natural disasters, or political persecution, while internally displaced people remain within national borders. Wars and armed conflicts in the South have generated millions of refugees seeking safe haven, forcing individuals, families, and communities to migrate due to fear of violence or destruction of livelihoods. In the 1990s, all but three of the 60 refugee flows coincided with internal armed conflict.
Health Epidemics
Health epidemics like HIV-AIDS, bird flu, and SARS have rapidly spread across countries through migration, business, tourism, and military operations. The success or failure of one country in limiting the spread of these diseases affects infections in other countries. New and poorly understood diseases like ebola virus, hantavirus, and hepatitis C have emerged, while old diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, dengue fever, and cholera have mutated into drug-resistant forms.
Animal epidemics have major economic effects, with Britain losing billions of dollars due to the mad-cow disease and bird flu shutting down poultry exports. These epidemics demonstrate the growing interdependence of states and emphasize the need for international cooperation. Non-traditional conceptions of security and traditional conceptions of security vary according to local contexts.
Conclusion
The conclusion of Chapter 5, “New Sources of Threats,” in the Class 12 Political Science notes discusses the various new threats to global security that have emerged in recent years. These threats include terrorism, cooperative security, migration, and global poverty. The chapter notes that these threats are complex and interconnected, and that they pose a significant challenge to the maintenance of peace and security in the world.
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New Sources of Threats- FAQs
What is the focus of Chapter 5 of Class 12 Political Science?
The chapter focuses on exploring new sources of threats to security in the contemporary world.
What are examples of new sources of threats?
Examples include cyber warfare, terrorism, hybrid warfare, and the weaponization of information.
How do new sources of threats differ from traditional threats?
New sources of threats often exploit technological advancements and vulnerabilities in global networks, posing challenges beyond conventional military means.
Why are new sources of threats considered significant in contemporary politics?
New sources of threats have the potential to disrupt societies, economies, and international relations, requiring innovative responses from policymakers.
How do states address new sources of threats?
States address new sources of threats through enhanced cybersecurity measures, intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism strategies, and diplomatic efforts to regulate emerging technologies.
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