CBSE Board Political Science Syllabus for Class 12

                                                              Class XII
Content

Part A: Contemporary World-Politics

Units

1. Cold War Era in World Politics
2. Disintegration of the 'Second World' and the Collapse of Bipolarity
3. US Dominance in World Politics
4. Alternative centres of Economic and Political Power
5. South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era
6. International organizations in a unipolar world
7. Security in Contemporary World
8. Environment and Natural Resources
9. Globalisation and its Critics

Part B: Politics in India since independence

10. Nation-Building and its Problems
11. Era of One-Party Dominance
12. Politics of Planned Development
13. India’s External relations
14. Challenges to the Congress System
15. Crisis of the Constitutional order
16. Regional aspirations and conflicts
17. Rise of New Social Movements
18. Recent Developments in Indian Politics


COURSE CONTENTS

Part A: Contemporary World Politics

Course Content:

1. Cold War Era in World Politics
Emergence of two power blocs after the second world war. Arenas of the cold war.
Challenges to Bipolarity: Non Aligned Movement, quest for new international economic
order. India and the cold war.

2. Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of
Bipolarity.
New entities in world politics: Russia, Balkan states and Central Asian states, Introduction
of democratic politics and capitalism in post-communist regimes. India’s relations with
Russia and other post-communist countries.
3. US Dominance in World Politics:
Growth of unilateralism: Afghanistan, first Gulf War, response to 9/11 and attack on Iraq.
Dominance and challenge to the US in economy and ideology. India’s renegotiation of its
relationship with the USA.

4. Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power:
Rise of China as an economic power in post-Mao era, creation and expansion of European
Union, ASEAN. India’s changing relations with China.

5. South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era:
Democratisation and its reversals in Pakistan and Nepal. Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka,
Impact of economic globalization on the region. Conflicts and efforts for peace in South
Asia. India’s relations with its neighbours.

6. International Organizations in a unipolar World:
Restructuring and the future of the UN. India’s position in the restructured UN. Rise of
new international actors: new international economic organisations, NGOs. How
democratic and accountable are the new institutions of global governance?

7. Security in Contemporary World:
Traditional concerns of security and politics of disarmament. Non-traditional or human
security: global poverty, health and education. Issues of human rights and migration.

8. Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics:
Environment movement and evolution of global environmental norms. Conflicts over
traditional and common property resources. Rights of indigenous people. India's stand in
global environmental debates.

9. Globalisation and Its Critics.
Economic, cultural and political manifestations. Debates on the nature of consequences of
globalisation. Anti-globalisation movements. India as an arena of globalization and struggle
against it.


Part B: Politics of India Since Independence


10. Nation-Building and Its Problems:
Nehru’s approach to nation-building: Legacy of partition: challenge of ‘refugee’ resettlement,
the Kashmir problem. Organisation and reorganization of states; Political conflicts
over language.

11. Era of One-Party Dominance:
First three general elections, nature of Congress dominance at the national level, uneven
dominance at the state level, coalitional nature of Congress. Major opposition parties.

12. Politics of Planned Development
Five year plans, expansion of state sector and the rise of new economic interests. Famine
and suspension of five year plans. Green revolution and its political fallouts.

13. India’s External Relations
Nehru’s foreign policy. Sino-Indian war of 1962, Indo-Pak war of 1965 and 1971. India’s
nuclear programme and shifting alliances in world politics.

14. Challenges to the Congress System:
Political succession after Nehru. Non-Congressism and electoral upset of 1967, Congress
split and reconstitution, Congress’ victory in 1971 elections, politics of ‘garibi hatao’.

15. Crisis of the Constitutional Order:
Search for ‘committed’ bureaucracy and judiciary. Navnirman movement in Gujarat and
the Bihar movement. Emergency: context, constitutional and extra-constitutional dimensions,
resistance to emergency. 1977 elections and the formation of Janata Party. Rise of civil
liberties organisations.

16. Regional Aspirations and Conflicts
Rise of regional parties. Punjab crisis and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. The Kashmir situation.
Challenges and responses in the North East.

17. Rise of New Social Movements:
Farmers’ movements, Women’s movement, Environment and Development-affected people’s
movements. Implementation of Mandal Commission report and its aftermath.

18. Recent Developments in Indian politics:
Participatory upsurge in 1990s. Rise of the JD and the BJP. Increasing role of regional
parties and coalition politics. UF and NDA governments. Elections 2004 and UPA
government.