PSIR Optional · Paper II · Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations
Changing International Political Order Notes · PYQs · Solved Answers
Free notes, every previous year question and the solved answers for Changing International Political Order (Paper II, Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations), arranged so you can read a topic and immediately see how UPSC has asked it. Syllabus: Rise of superpowers, Cold War, arms race, nuclear threat; non-aligned movement; collapse of the Soviet Union and unipolarity.
59
Solved answers
1991–2026
Years covered
62
Questions listed
13
Free notes
On this page
Free notes Previous year questions Solved answers All PSIR Optional units
Paper II · Unit 07
Changing International Political Order notes
Topic-wise notes for this unit in syllabus order. Read a topic, then open its previous year questions below.
Free notes
-
Achievements and Failures of the Non-Aligned Movement
-
Arms Race and Cold War
-
Cold War 2.0
-
Cold War and USA – USSR Bipolarity
-
Relevance of Non-Alignment in the Contemporary World
-
Rise of the Superpowers: Strategic and Ideological Bipolarity
-
The Arms Race and the Nuclear Threat
-
The Cold War: Phases, Crises and Proxy Conflicts
-
The Collapse of the Soviet Union and its Impact on International Politics
-
The Global Nuclear Order: Non-Proliferation and Disarmament
-
The Non-Aligned Movement: Origins, Aims and Principles
-
The Rise of China and the Cold War 2.0 Debate
-
Unipolarity and American Hegemony
Free practice
Previous year questions: Changing International Political Order
Every question UPSC has asked from this unit, year-wise, with a link to its solved answer.
Topic-wise question list
Year-wise question papers
-
UPSC PSIR Optional Question Paper 2026
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2025
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2024
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2023
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2022
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2021
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2020
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2019
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2018
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2017
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2016
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2015
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2014
-
PSIR Optional Question Paper 2013
Solved answers
Solved PYQ answers: Changing International Political Order
Model answers to the previous year questions of this unit, newest exam year first.
PYQ Solutions
-
NATO, the oldest surviving collective security system, is facing challenge of transactional coercion from its own biggest member. What future does NATO have amidst such developments?
-
Does power transition theory reflect the dynamics of US-China relations?
-
“Trump’s return to the White House is a jolt to push the European Union to invest in its own defence and economic and technological revival.” Comment.
-
The expansionist tendencies of the current Russian regime indicate its intentions for the realisation of a Greater Russia on the lines of the Soviet era. Comment.
-
Do you agree with the view that the USA uses NATO as a traditional tool of strategy to perpetuate its hegemony in the world?
-
The changing global order and ongoing regional conflicts, with the global powers taking sides, have jeopardised the progress made towards disarmament in the past. Comment.
-
Discuss the relevance of the normative ethos of the Non-Aligned Movement in magnifying India’s soft power in pursuit of her national interest.
-
“During the Cold War, the Non-Aligned Movement tried to become a ‘Third Force’ in world politics, but failed because it was too large and unwieldy.” Discuss.
-
Discuss the various constraints on American hegemony today. Which of these are likely to become more prominent in the future?
-
Critically examine the rise of People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a great power and its implications on Asian Political order.
-
Critically examine the decline of the United States of America as a hegemon and its implications for the changing international political order.
-
Critically analyze the implications of Sino American strategic rivalry for the South and South-East Asian region.
-
Discuss the ways to strengthen the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to enable it to address the challenges faced by the developing countries.
-
Write a brief note on the 17th NAM Summit in Venezuela.
-
Discuss the consequences of Trump’s “America First” and Xi’s “Chinese Dream” on World Politics.
-
Discuss the significance of Non-Aligned Movement as a unique contribution of the Non-Western world to World Politics.
-
“The development of advanced missile technology and nuclear threat by North Korea has challenged the American hegemony in South-East Asia.” Evaluate the above statement in the context of recent developments in the region.
-
Do you endorse the view that the end of Bipolarity and the rise of multiple regional organisations has made Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) more or less irrelevant?
-
Discuss the evolution of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the post-Cold War Period.
-
Examine in brief the rise and fall of the Cold War.
-
Discuss the positive and negative impacts of Soviet Union’s disintegration on developing nations.
-
Discuss the collapse of the Soviet Union and its impact on international politics.
-
“Ukraine crisis is a product of power politics and geo-politics.” Comment.
-
Identify the major changes in the International Political economy in post-Cold War period. (200 words)
-
What does the pace of nuclear proliferation in post-Cold War suggest? (150 words)
-
Highlight the major features of Non alignment 2.0 document. (200 words)
-
Identify the challenges to American hegemony in post-Soviet world. (150 words)
-
Do you think that Iran’s ‘victory’ in the NAM on the nuclear issue has brought in a new debate on the relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement? (250 words)
-
Bring out your perspectives on Plausible aims of the Non – Aligned Movement in the post-Cold War period.
-
Explain how far Deutsch’s model explains the framework of international interdependence. Do you think that the processes of interdependence and integration have grown steadily in the post-Cold War globalization trajectory?
-
The growth and possession of WMD has seriously undermined international security. Discuss.
-
How would you differentiate the post-Cold War global order from its predecessor?
-
“The Afghan Civil War gave the US a long-awaited upper hand in South Asia”. Elaborate.
-
Comment: Oil crisis: Its impact on India’s development strategy.
-
Comment: Relevance of Non-Alignment in Post-Cold war era.
-
Analyse critically the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 as an instance of super-power relations during the Cold War period.
-
Do you think Cold War still exists after the disintegration of the Soviet Union?
-
Critically examine the roots of Afghan Civil War. What role the Soviet Union and the United States played in it?
-
The Arab-Israeli conflict is basically a conflict between two resurgent nationalisms. Do you agree with the above assertion? Give reasons in support of your answer.
-
Do you agree with the stand that the Non-Aligned Movement needs to be reinvented?
-
Examine the Israel-Arab conflict as a conflict of interest between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union.
-
Comment: The Gulf Crisis 1991-92.
-
“In a uni-polar world, non-alignment has lost its relevance.” Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in support of your answer.
-
Assess the role of the rim countries of the Indian Ocean in making it a peace zone in the post-Cold War era.
-
Comment: Palestine-Israel conflict in the present context.
-
“The change in the position of the people of Asia and Africa and their relations with Europe was the surest sign of the advent of a new era.” Discuss.
-
Comment: Hamas and peace in West Asia.
-
Comment: Agenda before NAM.
-
Comment: Peace in West Asia.
-
The new world order as conceived by USA is an effort to re-establish the American century in military terms as the American economic and industrial dominance of the last 50 years is lost. Comment.
-
Nation-State is currently exposed to disintegrative tendencies from within and integrative tendencies from without. Elucidate the statement in the context of developments in Europe.
-
Comment: Palestinian Homeland issue and the West Asian crisis.
-
Comment: Iraq after the Gulf War.
-
Comment: Disintegration of the Soviet Union and the threat of nuclear proliferation.
-
Comment: China’s Middle Kingdom Complex.
-
Discuss the prospects of peace in West Asia in view of the changes in the US and Israeli policy and attitudes in this regard.
-
Comment: Pax Americana.
-
Comment: Perestroika.
-
Comment: Racialism in South Africa.
PSIR Optional study material from LotusArise IAS
Two ways to prepare with us — the full self-study system, or just the notes you need right now.
| What you get | PSIR Mains Master Kit 2027 | PSIR Complete Notes (Store) |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 notes — Political Theory + Indian Government and Politics | Included | Included — Section A and Section B |
| Paper 2 notes — Comparative Politics and India and the World | Included | Included — Section A and Section B |
| Topic-wise PYQ bank | 1986–2026, with trend analysis and probables by Dec 2026 | 1991–2025 question papers, free with every notes pack |
| Practice question set for timed answer writing | ✅ Available now | ❌ |
| Answer toolkit — intros, conclusions, frameworks, thinker and example banks | By Dec 2026 | ❌ |
| Revision booklets for the last 60 days | ✅ Available now | ❌ |
| Format | Online articles + PDF | PDF download |
| Access | Valid until UPSC CSE Mains 2027 | Instant download after payment |
| Price | ₹1,770 (regular ₹5,000) | ₹1,180 for all four sections · ₹599 a paper · ₹354 a section |
| Best for | Aspirants who want the whole system in one place | Aspirants who want the notes now, in the parts they need |
Other units in Paper II · Section A: Comparative Politics and International Relations
- Comparative Politics
- State in Comparative Perspective
- Politics of Representation and Participation
- Globalisation
- Approaches to the Study of International Relations
- Key Concepts in International Relations
- Evolution of the International Economic System
- United Nations
- Regionalisation of World Politics
- Contemporary Global Concerns