“If political leadership fails to emerge, there is likelihood of military taking over power in developing countries. Radical student groups or labour may try to raise revolution but they are not likely to compete with the military. Military intervention, rule, and withdrawal from politics is closely related to a society’s level of political development.” In the context of political development, the assumption in the above passage is that
- (a) political leadership is not an effective instrument.
- (b) military fills in political vacuum. ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) military intervention is inevitable for development.
- (d) None of the above
Why the answer is (b)
• The passage says that if political leadership fails to emerge, the military is likely to take over power, and that radical students or labour cannot compete with it.
• The underlying assumption is that when a political vacuum arises, the military is the force that fills it.
• The passage does not call political leadership an ineffective instrument, nor does it say military rule is needed for development.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) political leadership is not an effective instrument.
- The passage speaks of leadership failing to emerge, not of leadership being an ineffective instrument.
- (c) military intervention is inevitable for development.
- The passage links intervention to the level of political development; it does not call it inevitable for development.
- (d) None of the above
- Option (b) states the assumption, so 'none of the above' is wrong.
Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.