NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT

Published on 02 Dec 2024

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), comprising 120 developing world states, formed in 1961 after the Bandung Conference in 1955. It emerged as a response to the Cold War's polarized world, avoiding alignment with major power blocs and ranking as the second-largest grouping of states globally after the United Nations. The Indian Prime Minister, Yugoslav President, Egyptian President, Ghanaian President, and Indonesian President led the initiative.

Contribution of NAM

• Decolonization: NAM aimed at achieving the decolonization of nations and fostering solidarity among developing nations in the United Nations.

• Example: It actively opposed racial discrimination and apartheid in South Africa during this period.

• Economic Development: After achieving decolonization, NAM shifted its focus towards the economic development of the global south.

• Example: The Algiers Summit in 1971 marked the formulation of an economic strategy to counter the West, leading to the demand for a New International Economic Order at the UN. 

• Disarmament:  NAM concentrated on disarmament and detente during the 1980s, aiming to reduce tensions amid the Cold War arms race.

• Opposition to Western Hegemony: After the Cold War, NAM aligned itself against Western hegemony and neo-colonialism, opposing foreign occupation and unilateral measures.

• Example: NAM actively criticized aspects of US foreign policy, including the Global War on Terror and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, signaling its stance against Western interventions.

• Socio-Economic Challenges: NAM shifted focus to address socio-economic challenges, particularly inequalities resulting from globalization, and committed to sustainable development goals.

• Critique of UN Structures: NAM has been outspoken in criticizing current UN structures and power dynamics, advocating for reforms to address perceived injustices and biases.

• Example: Collaborating with organizations like the Group of 77, NAM has called for reform of the UN.

Criticism of NAM

• Limited Impact: Despite its contributions to decolonization and opposition against racial discrimination, NAM has struggled to exert influence on a wider range of global issues.

• Example:  For instance, its role in addressing contemporary challenges beyond its initial mandates remains largely overlooked.

• Ideological Divisions: Internal divisions persist within NAM, undermining its foundational stance against power politics. 

• Example: During the Cold War, contrasting alliances were evident as Cuba, Venezuela, and India leaned towards the Soviet bloc, while Saudi Arabia aligned with the United States. 

• Contradictions in Human Rights: NAM's commitment to human rights and cultural diversity faces scrutiny due to the presence of authoritarian regimes and monarchies within its membership. 

• Example:  Myanmar has faced international criticism for its treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

• Inability to Mediate Internal Conflicts: NAM's efficacy in resolving conflicts among its member nations has been limited.

• Example:  Historical instances, such as the India-Pakistan war in 1971 and the prolonged Iran-Iraq conflict in the 1980s

• Persistent Challenges to Cohesion: It stems from the sheer size of NAM and the divergent agendas among its member countries in the multipolar present. 

• Example: Varying approaches taken by its member countries toward the South China Sea territorial disputes

India and NAM

India's non-alignment policy predates the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and originated as a strategy to navigate the Cold War power dynamics. In the 1950s, as a poor country, non-alignment for India meant staying clear of the superpower competition and maximizing options by maintaining relations with both the West and the Soviet Union. While India was a founding member of NAM in 1961, its turn towards the Soviet Union in the 1970s raised questions about its commitment to non-alignment.

Losing significance of NAM for India

• Ineffectiveness in Safeguarding Core National Interests: India's experience has been unsatisfactory, prompting a reconsideration of sentimental or ideological attachments to the movement. 

• Examples include

• India's NAM leadership did not shield it from enduring US/Western sanctions for an extended period.

• During the 1962 conflict with China, NAM did not support India's position.

• On issues like Kashmir and the 1971 war, India had to lobby within NAM to counter attempts at interference.

• NAM did not provide understanding or support for India's nuclear tests and subsequent sanctions.

• Shifting Economic: India, after the end of the Cold War, has evolved into an economic power and a nuclear weapon state, moving away from NAM's 1970s objectives.

• Example: India is now a significant player in the liberal trade order and a member of the G20, signifying a departure from NAM's push for a New International Economic Order.

• Changing Security Dynamics India has developed nuclear capabilities, contrary to NAM's emphasis on disarmament.

• Example: Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles, Agni intermediate-range ballistic missiles, nuclear glide bombs of IAF.

• Reassessment of Global Partnerships: India's rising global profile has led to a reassessment of its major partnerships, prompting a departure from traditional non-alignment principles.

• Examples: Participation in the G4, focusing on UN reforms, and joining the QUAD, seen as a response to China's rise, indicates India's shift in global alignments.

Relevance of NAM

• New Cold War: NAM’s relevance increases with increasing polarization in global politics.

• Example: Conflict between United States and China, The Russia-Ukraine crisis, Israel and Palestine.

• Neo-colonialism: Rise of neo–colonial tendencies bring back the relevance of NAM, as it can assist in developing a collective action mentality.

• Example: China's Belt and Road programme, which invests in Africa and Asia, has been characterized as neo-colonial in nature.

• UN reforms: NAM is the largest platform for the Global South to work in concert towards UN reforms.

• Example: The UNSC has been criticised for being undemocratic due to undemocratic representation and veto power of permanent members. 

• Mobilizing Cooperation: The NAM becomes relevant in mobilising international public opinion against important issues.

• Example: Terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), nuclear proliferation, ecological imbalance, and the protection of developing countries' interests in the WTO.

• Facilitating South-South Cooperation: NAM's extensive history of over 60 years underscores its enduring significance as a diplomatic forum.

• Example: NAM retains its status as the primary platform for Third World countries beyond the UNGA, offering a crucial space for member nations to voice concerns and collaborate on global issues.

Way Forward

• Revitalizing NAM: NAM should highlight its relevance in a multipolar world by focusing on issues like poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and illiteracy.

• Strategic Autonomy and Soft Power:  Position NAM as a crucial element of "Strategic Autonomy" in today's world.

• India's Leadership Role: India can position NAM as a platform to champion the interests of smaller nations on the global stage.

• Addressing Global Challenges: Garner support from South-East Asian countries against Chinese assertions in the South China Sea and related disputes.

• Afro-Asian Cooperation: NAM can advocate itself as a platform for Afro-Asian cooperation.

The revitalization of NAM is imperative for addressing 21st-century challenges and fostering cooperation on a global scale. As a beacon of strategic autonomy, NAM remains pivotal in guiding nations towards a multipolar world and shaping a collective response to pressing issues.

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT NAM INDIA and NAM Bandung Conference Algiers Summit Neo-colonialism South-South Cooperation