Non-Alignment Movement
- The Non-Alignment Movement aimed to provide an international platform for the then decolonized and developing countries to voice their issues, concerns and interests on the global stage, particularly while focusing in the issues related to decolonization, disarmament and economic development.
- Non-Aligned Movement has evolved to address new challenges and opportunities in post-Cold War era. With the fall of USSR and rise of USA as a sole superpower the changing power dynamics and emergence of globalization the movement has broadened its scope to internalize the issues such as human rights, terrorism, climate change, liberalization and globalization, poverty.
- The Non-Aligned Movement was created and founded during the collapse of the colonial system and the independence struggles of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world and at the height of the Cold War.
- Aligned in the era of cold war but practically aligned in terms of assistance and support from the United States and USSR. Whether it’s a proxy framework aligned with communist bloc led by the USSR so that its rationale has been deteriorated after the demise of the then Soviet Union is a great question to NAM in its discourse.
- As the premier institution of 20th century “Third Worldism”, the NAM has often been conventionally regarded as an ineffectual relic of Cold War bipolarity, rather than an actor relevant to the post-communist space.
1. Introduction
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an international organization established by the developing countries during the cold war to represent their interests and aspirations to the world without being formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. The context of decolonization followed by the World War II led to the emergence of NAM. At the present day Non-Aligned Movement has 120 member states. The Non-Alignment Movement with the most members after the United Nations Organization, represents fifty five percent of the world population and holds almost two- thirds of its member states.29 countries participated in Bandung Conference of 1955 in Indonesia which was the first path to establish Non-Aligned Movement. Out of the 29 founding member countries 23 were form Asia and 6 from Africa. Since its inception its membership has increased to 118 members. NAM since its establishment days has represented the ambitions and identity of decolonized and newly independent countries in Asia and Africa.
2. Origins and Objectives:
The Non-Aligned Movement origin traces back to the Bandung Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, in 1955. The leaders from 29 Asian and African countries attended the conference who sought to promote decolonization, oppose imperialism and foster cooperation among nations outside the then polarized world. The foundation off groundwork for Non-Aligned Movement was laid out by the Bandung Conference and the official establishment of was carried out in 1961, in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
“The progress of the conference was by no means smooth as underlying global tensions created by the Cold War influenced power dynamics at Bandung, where some states such as Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand saw themselves as unofficially representing Western or, more precisely, American interests, colliding with the group of neutralist countries headed by India, Burma and Indonesia. The decision to invite People’s Republic of China contributed in large part to creating the tension during the conference. Yet it was also thanks to the adept diplomacy of Zhou Enlai that the conference was saved from irreparable fracture and disintegration”. (Shimazu, 2014)
The concept of peaceful coexistence presented by the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers which was intended to instruct the Indian foreign policy and non-aligned foreign policy. Non-Alignment was launched as an organization six years after this conference in 1961 in Belgrade. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India, President Nasser of Egypt and Yugoslav’s Premier Tito were the leading and most influential founding members of NAM.
“Traditionally and (rhetorically at least) officially Indian foreign policy has always understood itself to be under an obligation to the so called Non-Aligned Movement at the standards and principles of non-alignment. However, what does non-alignment actually mean in the theory and practice? An early formulation of the “idea” of non-alignment can be found with Jawaharlal Nehru even before the call for India’s independence: “On his entry into the ‘Provisional Government’ in September 1946 Nehru declared with conviction that India would put as much distance as possible between itself any political group blocs, which were directed at one another in conflict and which in the past as in future led to world catastrophes, or which were directed towards continuing to do this”( Sinigoj 1998: 25/26, cf. also Mohan 2003:30ff) ” . (Rauch, 2008)
The Bandung spirit helped to carry the idea of third world into the mainstream of international life. Even the formalization of the non-aligned movement symbolized in the first conference in Belgrade is fifteen years old. The driving force then behind the Movement in its historical context was the intense desire on the part of the emergent nations in Asia, Africa and Europe to secure and maintain their freedom, independence particularly in the face of the growing cold war between two blocs of powers in the nuclear age.
The discussion that laid the founding stones of NAM were colonialism, race discrimination, general disarmament and a ban on nuclear weapons. (cf. Baumann 1982: 6-11)
The primary objective of NAM was to maintain sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the member states whilst promoting peaceful coexistence and non-interference in the affairs of other members. The Non-Alignment Movement aimed to provide an international platform for the then decolonized and developing countries to voice their issues, concerns and interests on the global stage, particularly while focusing in the issues related to decolonization, disarmament and economic development.
“The 1955 Bandung Conference also known as Asian-African Conference, whose attendees recently gained independence from colonization called for “abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defense to serve the particular interests of any of the big powers”. In the context of the cold war, they argued, countries of the developing world should abstain from allying with either of the two superpowers i.e. the United States and the U.S.S.R. and should instead join together in support of national self-determination against all forms of colonialism and imperialism”. (Munro, 2023)
3. Principles of Non-Aligned Movement:
The set of principles on which the Non-Alignment Movement operates and is guided on its actions and decisions making are as follows:
a. Mutual Respect and national sovereignty: The member states uphold the principle of peaceful coexistence while emphasizing the peaceful resolution of the conflicts whilst refraining from aggression and use of force.
b. Respect for national sovereignty: The Non-Aligned Movement promotes non- interference in the internal affairs of other nations and, advocates for the right of every country to determine its own political, economic and social system.
c. Opposition to Colonialism and imperialism: The Non-Alignment Movement strongly rejects all forms of colonialism, imperialism and foreign domination. It advocates for the rights of a nation’s independence and self-determination.
d. Economic cooperation and development: The Non-Alignment Movement seeks to enhance economic cooperation among its member states in addressing the issues related to poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment whilst achieving sustainable development.
e. Promotion of disarmament, non-proliferation: NAM and its member states directs its activities and advocates for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes only.
The five principles of peaceful co-existence known as Panchsheel developed by Jawaharlal Nehru and Chou En-Lai directs as the guiding principle of Non-Alignment Movement. The five principles of Panchsheel basically directs its member states in not getting involved in the conflicts of the great powers. Likewise, it also rejects involvement in the internal affairs of other nations since
every states have equal recognition and have equal rights while operating a fundamentally peaceful foreign policy respectively. The five principles of Panchsheel are:
1. Mutual respect for other nation’s territorial integrity.
2. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
3. Equality and mutual support.
4. Peaceful co-existence.
5. Non-aggression.
4. Significance of NAM:
NAM and its relevance has lost its importance than its debut because of the end of Cold War and the resulting rapprochement between the former blocs, which deprived the movement of the most important justification for its existence. During the Cold War, the Non-Aligned Movement provided a very important platform for developing and decolonized countries for asserting their independence and interests. The avoidance of formal alliance either with USA or USSR, the member states of NAM were successful in maintaining autonomy and maneuverability in a polarized world. NAM contributed in shaping of the global politics by exerting influence in international forums such as the United Nations Organization and through collective action on issues of common concern.
While the relevance of non-alignment in the face of persisting old questions continues, an increasing preoccupation of the third world with new economic order has given it a fresh dimension. The new economic charter which is based on the recognition of interdependence and which seeks to embody the principles of justice in the distribution of benefits and the sharing of decision-making power is a product of a balanced attitude between power and responsibility. It reflects a new sense of power, arising out of growing unity, experience and progress among developing countries, in urging not only a fairer distribution system but also a fairer sharing of decision-making power; but the course it has chosen is one not of confrontation but of serious debate, dialogue and responsive cooperation. (Khanal, 1976)
Non-Aligned Movement has evolved to address new challenges and opportunities in post-Cold War era. With the fall of USSR and rise of USA as a sole superpower the changing power dynamics
and emergence of globalization the movement has broadened its scope to internalize the issues such as human rights, terrorism, climate change, liberalization and globalization, poverty.
Since the paradigm shift in the geopolitical environment of the world politics, the relevance of Non-Alignment Movement has been in question. Its prominent founding members like India which has been opting for Multi alignment has given more strength to the question of its relevance. The effectiveness and validity as an ideologically coherent vehicle for poor countries to define common views on a global issue by NAM has lately been called into doubt by a plethora of analysis followed by the NAM’s Teheran summit of August 2012.
While the non-Aligned Movement may no longer hold the same prominence it did during the cold war, it still remains a global platform for cooperation, dialogue, and the articulation of interests of developing nations.
5. NAM in Discourse:
The term Nam was first coined by George Liska who used to describe it “as the policy of the states who decides not to join either of the two power blocs in world politics of post war years”. However, non-alignment as a theory in international relations was developed by Indian First PM Jawaharlal Nehru, way before India became independent in 1947.On his entry into the provisional government in 1946, he declared with conviction that India would put as much distance between itself and any political groups of blocs, which were directed at one another in conflict and which in the past as in the future led to world catastrophe….”but it was while Nehru was giving a speech on Dec 9, 1958 that he used the nomenclature, Non-Alignment publicly as a core tenet of India’s Foreign Policy.
“Colonialism even in the classic sense has yet to be completely eliminated. Apartheid, racism, hegemonial ambitions and above all, an inequitable economic system heavily weighted in favor of advanced industrial countries to deny man both equality and dignity and encourage, within individual national societies, forces which are indifferent if not hostile to freedom and justice”. (Khanal, 1976)
The Non-Aligned Movement was created and founded during the collapse of the colonial system and the independence struggles of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world and at the height of the Cold War.
“The détente between China and USA sealed somewhat loosely in the Shanghai communique has not been accompanied or followed by a similar positive development between China and the Soviet Union; and yet, the point of tensions in terms of possibility of general conflagration is lower today than before”. (Khanal, 1976)
It should not be forgotten in this regard that NAM is far less coherent in terms of program and ideology that for instance NATO or the former Warsaw Pact. The member states includes socialists, capitalist and democracies along with autocracies. In the following, an investigation or presentation of the development in terms of content and organization of the NAM or of other prominent member states will be omitted.
During the early days of the movement, its actions were a key factor in the decolonization process, which led later to the attainment of freedom and independence by many countries and peoples and to the founding of tens of new sovereign states. Throughout its history, the movement of Non- Align Countries has played fundamental role in the preservation of world peace and security.
The movement against colonialism in the classic sense, though not yet quite complete, has advanced very far specially after the liberation of Mozambique and Angola. (Khanal, 1976)
“Though the developing countries have so far failed to win their legitimate share of power and influence in the high political economic counsels of nations, the International Monetary Fund, for example still dominated by major powers, they have nevertheless established themselves as a political and economic force that cannot always be ignored”. (Khanal, 1976)
Aligned in the era of cold war but practically aligned in terms of assistance and support from the United States and USSR. Whether it’s a proxy framework aligned with communist bloc led by the USSR so that its rationale has been deteriorated after the demise of the then Soviet Union is a great question to NAM in its discourse.
“You can’t be friends with some countries and enemies with others despite the fact that this is the way most countries function. Azerbaijan doesn’t want to be an enemy with any country. At the same time, we will not become victim to another country’s policies. Azerbaijan has its own independent policy. At the same time, we are developing good relations with Europe and America and seek to benefit from their experiences while preserving our own national identity and our own resources”. (Jason E. Strakes, 2015)
As the premier institution of 20th century “Third Worldism”, the NAM has often been conventionally regarded as an ineffectual relic of Cold War bipolarity, rather than an actor relevant to the post-communist space. Whether it’s largely influenced by Idealism or liberalism as many of its founding fathers; Nehru form India, Nasser of Egypt, Josep Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and Sukrano of Indonesia are either socialist of tilted to socialism from liberal ideals. The western i.e. the US theorize NAM as anti-west or pro-communist due to Tito Nasser and even Nehru had close ties with Moscow during the Cold War.
6. Conclusion:
The non-Aligned Movement has felt to reinvent and redefine itself to the new world systems after the end of cold war. Questions regarding the relevance to NAM’s founding ideologies and the guiding principles in addressing the contemporary issues has been prominent these days. The dominance of world by USA and the rise of other super powers like China and the growing powers like India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa etc. which are the also the members of NAM have to show their devotion towards the fundamentals of the organization is the reason for the organization’s relevance, legitimacy and institutional resilience. These ideas have substantially influenced the postcolonial identities of the majority of NAM members in international relations, notwithstanding the significance changes that have occurred in the international system as well as the political and socioeconomic circumstances of those members since the movement’s founding. Contending that the NAM’s current resilience results from the movement’s stabilizing sense of continuity, which it offers through solidifying the shared identity of emergence states in a decentered and uncertain international system. As the global international system is on a way to a new international balance of force where the nations of third world is a factor and independence of an unfolding reality the relevance and significance of non-alignment is increasing. The national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned member countries against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great powers and bloc politics has even increased the significance of the Non-Alignment but the only setback for achieving them is only possible through the reinvention of the Non-Aligned Movement.
References
A.Appadorai. (1981). Non-Alignment: Some Important Issues. International Studies, 3-11.
Acharya, A. (2016). Studying the Bandung Conference from a Global IR Peerspective. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 342-357.
Cecil V. Crabb, J. (1964). The Testing of Non-Alignment. The western Political Quarterly, 517-542.
Harsh V. Pant, J. M. (2015). India’s ‘non-alignment’conundrum: a twentieth-century policy in a changing world. International Affairs, 747-764.
Jason E. Strakes, H. A. (2015). Non-Aligned Mivement: Instutionalizing the Balanced Foreign Policy.
Doctrine Instuto Affari Internazionali.
Khanal, Y. N. (1976). Non-alignment: persistence and change. India International Centre Quarterly, 25- 31.
Mishra, K. (1981). Towards Understanding Non-Alignment. International Studies, 3-11. Munro, A. (2023). Non-Aligned Movement. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Rauch, C. (2008). Farewell non-Alignment? Peace Resesarch Institute Frankfurt, 2-8.
Rothstein, R. L. (2009). Alignment, Nonalignment, and small powers: 1945-1965. International Organization, 397-418.
Shimazu, N. (2014). Diplomacy As Theater: Staging the Bandung Conference of 1955. Modern Asian Studies, 225-252.
