What is cold war? Why did the Super Powers depend on military alliances with smaller countries?

 

OR

 

Explain any six consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

The Cold War referred to the competition, the tensions and series of confrontations between the United States and Soviet Union, backed by their respective allies.

The Super Powers depend on military alliances with smaller countries because the smaller states were helpful for the superpowers in gaining access to:

(i)  Vital resources such as oil or minerals

(ii)  Territory, from where the superpowers could launch their weapons and troops.

(iii)  Location from where they could spy on each other.

(iv)  Economic support, in that many small allies together could to pay for military expenses.

OR

The consequences of the disintegration of the Soviet Union are:

(i) It meant the end of Cold War confrontations.

(ii) The ideological dispute over whether the socialist system would beat the capitalist system was not an issue any more.

(iii) Power relations in the world politics changed and, therefore, the relative influence of ideas and institutions also changed.

(iv) Politically, the notion of liberal democracy emerged as the best way to organise political life.

(v) The end of Soviet bloc meant the emergence of many new countries.

(vi) The central Asian countries wanted to take advantage of their geographical locations and continue their close ties with Russia and also to establish ties with the West, the US, China and others.