NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

ODISHA

GLOBAL POLITICS PROJECT

ON

Non – Alignment Movement as India’s Foreign

Policy : Influential Lobby or Kiss of Death
Submitted to: Submitted by:

Dr. Suvrashree Panda Indrasish Majumder

Professor 2018/BA/043
Monika Saxena
2018/BA/063
Prajjawal Shrivastava
2018/BA/076

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 Table of Content

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................... 3

Introduction to Non – Alignment Movement ...................................................................... 4

History of the Non-Alignment Movement in the National and International

Milieu ................................................................................................................................................... 6

In the Context of India .................................................................................................... 10

Evolution of Non - Alignment Movement......................................................................... 12

POST COLD WAR: ........................................................................................................ 12

POST GLOBALISATION:........................................................................................... 13

IN THE MODI ERA: ...................................................................................................... 15

Effects of NAM on Non-Aligned countries: .......................................................... 18

Challenges to Non – Alignment Movement ........................................................... 18

Relevance of Non – Alignment Movement Today.......................................................... 20

In the Context of the World :........................................................................................ 22

In the Context of India :.................................................................................................. 23

Conclusion & The Way Ahead................................................................................................ 27

BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................... 32

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We convey our heartfelt thanks to Professor of Political Science, Suvrashree Panda, whose
constant encouragement and being readily available to clear any doubts regarding the subject
matter, showed us the right direction to go ahead in.

We would like to thank the librarian and other staff for providing us the required sources and
materials without which this project would have been just a dream.

We would like to acknowledge our seniors and friends for their enthusiasm and belief in us
which encouraged us to strive forward.

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 Introduction to Non – Alignment Movement

Formally, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) came into existence during the first conference
of Heads of State or Government of non- aligned countries that took place in Belgrade in
September 19611. Representing newly-independent developing countries, the movement and
its policies can be directly linked to the decolonisation process with the initial years of political
engagement in world affairs characterised by anti-imperialist slogans and the denunciation of
colonialism, apartheid, racism and Zionism. Occasionally, one comes across over-complicated
theories for being a member of NAM2, but in essence membership was reliant upon an empathy
for national liberation movements and a dis like for being drawn into one of the alliances that
characterised the Cold War stand-off.3 In this sense, non-alignment meant the rejection of
control by the superpowers of the time and the adoption of a foreign policy stance that implied
resistance against East–West pressures and solidarity with Third World interests relating to
strategic world political and economic issues.4 Non-alignment in this sense should not be taken
too literally though: some members at the time had difficulty in hiding their ideological
preferences, and development aid – with the normal strings attached – has the unavoidable
tendency to effect changes in allegiances.

The brainchild of the leaders of Egypt, India, and Yugoslavia, the Non-Aligned Movement was
conceived during the height of the Cold War with the stated purpose of buffering the power of
the United States and its NATO alliance and the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact.

As a loose and diverse political grouping of countries strung together, comprising populations
at different levels of desperation, NAM occasionally lost control over internal divisions and

1
K.Y Daud ,” Non-Alignment Movement : Belgarde to Durban”.

2
See for instance P. Willetts, The Non-Aligned Movement: The Origins of a Third World Alliance, 1978. For
other more “down to earth” contributions see E. Agaev/ S. Krylov, “Non-Aligned Movement: 116 Nations”,
Int’l Aff. 52 (2006) 46 et seq.; A. Orlov, “The Non-Aligned Movement: 40 Years After”, Int’l Aff. 48 (2002), 49
et seq.; K. Tassin, “Lift Up Your Head My Brother: Nationalism and the Genesis of the Non-Aligned
Movement”, Journal of Third World Studies 23 (2006), 147 et seq.

3
Sanjay Kumar Jha,” International politics in the Third World” (New Delhi: Anmol Publications,1994)
4
Sunil Khilnani , Rajiv Kumar and ors , Non Alignment 2.0 : A Foreign and Strategic Policy For India in the 21
st Century ( Penguin 2014 ) 145-149

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and changing objectives5, during its history of 45 years. However, from the initial de
colonisation issues, through the rough waters of finding a niche after the watershed changed in
world politics in the early 1990s, to the current agenda for a north-south dialogue on issues of
common interest, NAM has somehow survived many setbacks to remain an important voice of
international relationships.6 Although derided as a relic of the past, no longer available in the
current socio-political arena, it has defined itself during the 1990s to play a more significant
role in shaping the major debates of the time. In this context the movement has also refocused
its attention on the UN reform.7

The question then arises: What happened when the cold war came to an end and the world no
longer forced to confront the issues of U.S.-Soviet rivalry? 8 One might reasonably expect that
a movement founded on the principles of non-alignment in a bipolar world would dissolve or
lose relevance after the end of this rivalry. However, this is not the case 9. The Non-Aligned
Movement has continued to vote based on consensus in most major international organizations,
maintaining a puzzling amount of cohesion in divisive votes across a wide spectrum of issues.
The confusion gives rise to a plethora of fundamental questions First, how have NAM voting
patterns changed over time? Second, what explains these voting patterns? And principally, why
has the NAM continued to exist after the fall of the Soviet Union? On this last question, I argue
the NAM has persisted due to a rise in counterhegemonic ideology that has united many third
world countries against the perceived hegemony of the United States.10

5
J. Graham, “The Non-Aligned Movement after the Havana Summit”, Journal of International Affairs (1980)
34,152 et seq.

6
In September 2006, when the 14th Non-Aligned Summit took place in Havana, Cuba, the Russian President,
Vladimir Putin, with immoderate aspirations, stated that Russia and NAM were “united in responsibility for the
world’s destination” and the “desire to counteract confrontations and sup- port cooperation”, Statement
accessible at <http://www.cubanoal.cu/ ingles/index/html>. During the 2006 Havana Summit, UN Secretary-
General Kofi Annan also described the movement’s collective mission as more relevant than ever in view of the
growing divide between rich and poor countries, Doc. SG/SM/10636 of 15 September 2006.

7
H.J. van Eikema Hommes, Major Trends in the History of Legal Philosophy, (North-Holland Pub. Co 1979)
276.
8
S. Kalyanarayan ,’ Was the Non-Alignment Movement ever relevant for India’(Swarajya , Sep 29)
<https://swarajyamag.com/world/was-the-non-aligned-movement-ever-relevant-for-india > as accessed on 24th
August 2019.
9
DB Kabi “Non Alignment Movement and the new world order”, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress,
(2002) Vol 63 < http://www.jst0r.0rg/stable/44158187 >
10
ibid 6

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 History of the Non-Alignment Movement in the
National and International Milieu

In September 1961, 25 states met in Belgrade11, Yugoslavia in the first Conference of Non-
Aligned states. Organized by Presidents Tito of Yugoslavia, Nasser of Egypt, and Sukarno of
Indonesia along with Prime Minister Nehru of India, this conference discussed anti-colonialism
and self-determination, sovereignty and non-interference, an end to discrimination and
apartheid, general and complete disarmament, the significance of the United Nations, and the
promotion of economic development.12 The 1961 Belgrade Conference resulted out of six years
of diplomacy between the primary non-aligned founders – Tito and Nasser. Many theorists cite
the Afro- Asian Conference in Bandung in 1955, the first conference of Third World states, as
the precursor to the Belgrade Conference .13 This Conference was held in Bandung on April
18-24, 1955 and gathered 29 Heads of States belonging to the first post-colonial generation of
leaders from the two continents with the aim of identifying and assessing world issues at the
14
time and pursuing out joint policies in international relations. However, the events that
transpired between Bandung and Belgrade played the most important role in forming the NAM
– most notably, the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian crisis and the increasing coordination among
Nehru, Nasser and Tito these crises produced The Suez and Hungarian Crises also increased
Third World solidarity, helping unite states around the issues of anti-colonialism and anti-
imperialism.15
The principles that would govern relations among large and small nations, known as the "Ten
Principles of Bandung",16 were proclaimed at that Conference. Such principles were adopted

11
Radoslav Stojanovic ,’The Emergence of Non-Alignment Movement ‘ a VIEW FROM Belgarde
<https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1868&context=jil > accessed on 24th
August 2019.

12
Attar Chand, ‘‘Ideology Strategy Prospects’’ in Non-aligned World Order, pp. xxxvii-xxxviii.

13
Peter Willets, ‘‘Main Meeting of Non-aligned’’ in The Non-aligned Movement,196-Havana.

Bimal Prasad, ‘‘The Evolution of Non-Alignment’’, in Issues Before Non-alignment: (Past & Future, ICWA,
14

New Delhi,1983) p.41.

15
Arjun Subramaniaml (ed.), ‘Non-Alignment 2.0’ (The Times of India, March 27 ,2012)

16
M.K.Narayanan (ed.), Non-alignment to multi-alignment, (The Hindu, January 5 2016)

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later as the main goals and objectives of the policy of non-alignment. The fulfilment of those
principles became the essential criterion for Non-Aligned Movement membership; it is what
was known as the ‘quintessence of the Movement’ until the early 1990s.17
In 1960, in the light of the results achieved in Bandung, the creation of the Movement of Non-
Aligned Countries was given a decisive boost during the Fifteenth Ordinary Session of the
United Nations General Assembly, during which 17 new African and Asian countries were
admitted. 18A key role was played in this process by the then Heads of State and Government
Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru of India,
Ahmed Sukarno of Indonesia and Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, who later became the
founding fathers of the movement and its emblematic leaders.19
Six years after Bandung, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was founded on a wider
geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was held on September
1-6, 1961.20 The Conference was attended by 25 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Yemen,
Myanmar, Cambodia, Srilanka, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India,
Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,
Yugoslavia.21
The Founders of NAM have preferred to declare it as a movement but not an organization in
order to avoid bureaucratic implications of the latter.
The membership criteria formulated during the Preparatory Conference to the Belgrade
Summit (Cairo, 1961) show that the Movement was not conceived to play a passive role in
international politics but to formulate its own positions in an independent manner so as to
reflect the interests of its members.

17
Bimal Prasad, ‘‘The Evolution of Non-Alignment’’, in Issues Before Non-alignment: Past & Future,
(ICWA, New Delhi,1983) p.41

18
Sally Morphet ‘ Multilateralism and Non-Aligned Movement: What is Global South Doing and Where is it
Going’ < https://www.jstor.org/stable/27800545?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents > as accessed on 24th
August 2019
19
Devaki Jain and Subha Chacko ,’ Walking together : the journey of the Non-Alingned Movement and the
Women’s movement’ ( Volume 19, September 2009)
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/27752143?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents > as accessed on 24th August 2019.
20
Arshad Rasool and Arihal Pulwama ,’ Non –Alignment Movement in the 21st century : Relevant or
Redundant ? …. A Debate , ISOR Journal of Humanities And Social Science (2013) 11(4)
<http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol11-issue4/I01146470.pdf?id=6311 > as accessed on 25th
August 2019.

21
Mehta S J, “Non- Alignment- Mission Accomplished” Indian Express (Bombay, October 3 ,1991)

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Thus, the primary of objectives of the non-aligned countries focused on the support of self-
determination, national independence and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States;
opposition to apartheid; non-adherence to multilateral military pacts and the independence of
non-aligned countries from great power or block influences and rivalries; the struggle against
imperialism in all its forms and manifestations; the struggle against colonialism, neo-
colonialism, foreign occupation and domination; disarmament; non-interference into the
internal affairs of States and peaceful coexistence among all nations; rejection of the use or
threat of use of force in international relations; the strengthening of the United Nations; the
democratization of international relations; socioeconomic development and the restructuring
of the international economic system; as well as international cooperation on an equal footing.
Since its inception, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has waged a ceaseless battle to
ensure that peoples being oppressed by foreign occupation and domination can exercise their
inalienable right to self-determination and independence.22

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries played a key role in the
struggle for the establishment of a new international economic order that allowed all the
peoples of the world to make use of their wealth and natural resources and provided a wide
platform for a fundamental change in international economic relations and the economic
emancipation of the countries of the South.

The ten principles of Bandung are as follows :

“Respect of fundamental human rights and of the objectives and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations.”

1. “Respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.”

2. “Recognition of the equality among all races and of the equality among all nations, both
large and small.”
3. “Non-intervention or non-interference into the internal affairs of another -country.”
4. “Respect of the right of every nation to defend itself, either individually or collectively, in
conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.”

22
Vanaik Achin, “National Interest: A flowed notion, Indian Foreign Policy Since , 1991” (Economic and
Political Weekly Vol XLI,No 49 ,2006)

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5. “Non-use of collective defence pacts to benefit the specific interests of any of the great
powers.”
B. “Non-use of pressures by any country against other countries.”
6. “Refraining from carrying out or threatening to carry out aggression, or from using force
against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.”
7. “Peaceful solution of all international conflicts in conformity with the Charter of the United
Nations.”
8. “Promotion of mutual interests and of cooperation. “
9. “Respect of justice and of international obligations.”23

The Non-Aligned Movement that resulted from this Belgrade Conference has grown and
spread in the years since Belgrade, now entailing 118 members.24 The movement has also
adapted significantly since its creation, shifting its focus to economic issues throughout the
1970s and slowly moving its power base towards more left-leaning countries During the 1970s,
the NAM began to exercise its power and influence by negotiating consensus among NAM
states prior to votes in the United Nations, thus going against its original goal of avoiding bloc
politics In the period following, the NAM adapted to stay relevant through its focus on the New
International Economic Order (NIEO)25 and through its influence at the United Nations With
the fall of the Soviet Union, the movement once again found itself searching for relevance. The
years following further demonstrated the impressive adaptability of the movement and its
priorities, as the NAM managed to maintain relevance in an age far different from the one in
which it was conceived .The Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has gathered a growing
number of States and liberation movements which, in spite of their ideological, political,
economic, social and cultural diversity, have accepted its founding principles and primary
objectives and shown their readiness to realize them. Historically, the non-aligned countries
have shown their ability to overcome their differences and found a common ground for action
that leads to mutual cooperation and the upholding of their shared values26.
Several events such as the Uruguay Round of the World Trade Organization and the 1995 Non-
Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (NPT RevCon), along with the increasing perception

23
‘History and Evolution of Non-Alignment Movement ‘ (Ministry of External Affairs ,August 22 2012)
<https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?20349/History+and+Evolution+of+NonAligned+Movement > as
accessed on 25th August 2019.
24
Ibid 23
25
ibid 24
26
Andre Munro ‘ Non-Aligned Movement ‘ (Encyclopedia Britannica)
<https://www.britannica.com/topic/Non-Aligned-Movement > as accessed on 25th August 2019.

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of U.S. hegemony further united the movement in Third World solidarity. 27Currently, the Non-
Aligned maintains significant power in the United Nations, running coordinating bureaus in
each major U.N. city and meeting prior to most major international conferences and votes.28

➢ In the Context of India

The roots of Non-Alignment were in India's experience as a colonised country and the Indian
Independence struggle based on the principles of Ahimsa and Satyagraha enabled India to be
able to determine its fate in an international system domineered politically by entetes formed
during the Cold War and in terms of economics by the conflicting ideologies of Western
capitalism and Soviet communism.29 As commented by Rejaul karim Laskar a scholar of
India's foreign policy and a believer in the congress party dogma which was the ruling party of
India for the most part of the Cold War years, the Non-Aligned movement was the "formula"
formulated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders of the newly
independent third world countries to "safeguard" their independence "against complex
international situation demanding allegiance to either of the two warring superpowers”. The
postulations of nonalignment, as segmented by Nehru and his successors, ensured the
protection of India's freedom of action in the International arena in manner of refusing to
associate or align India with any bloc, specifically those led ushered by the United States or
30
the USSR; India embraced the principals of nonviolence and international cooperation as
means of resolving international disputes. Nonalignment was a congruous feature of Indian
foreign policy by the late 1940s and received almost unquestioning allegiance among the
Indian elite.

The term "Non-Alignment" was construed by V.K Menon in his 1953 speech at the UN which
later made use of by Nehru during his speech in 1954 at Colombia and Sri Lanka.31 In this
speech, Nehru enunciated on the five pillars to be made use of used as a guide for strengthening
Sino-Indian alliance, first put in foray by Chinese premier Zhou Enlai famously referred to as

27
Jurgen Dinkel ,’ The Non-Aligned Movement and the North-South Conflict’ (the Wilson Centre, April 15
2019) < https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/the-non-aligned-movement-and-the-north-south-conflict > as
accessed on 26th August 2019 .
29
‘Non-Alignment Movement and India ‘ India today ( January 16, 2019)
<https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/class-12-arts-pol-science-crash-course-
nonaligned-movement-1432213-2019-01-16 > as accessed on 26th August 2019.
30
‘Non Alignment Movement ‘ ( Dristhiias , 24 April 2019) < https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-
points/Paper2/non-aligned-movement-nam > as accessed on 26th August 2019 .
31
ibid 30

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the Panchsheel agreement (five restraints), which would later operate as the foundation of the
Non-Aligned Movement. Jawaharlal Nehru was the draughtsman of the Non-Alignment
Movement. The five principles were:

1. “Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty”

2. “Mutual non-aggression”
3. “Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs”
4. “Equality and mutual benefit”
5. “Peaceful co-existence”32

Nehru’s theorisation of non alignment bestowed on India appreciable international prestige

among newly independent states that sympathised and shared India's concerns on the military
confrontation between superpowers on the third world countries and effect of the former
colonial powers.33 New Delhi used the Non-Alignment mechanism to institute a significant
role for itself as a leader of the newly independent world in such multilateral organisations as
the UN and the Nonaligned Movement.34 Signing of the “Entete of Peace, Friendship, and
Cooperation” between India and the Soviet Union in 1971 and India's unaccredited
participation in the internal affairs of its smaller neighbours in the 1970s and 1980s tainted
New Delhi's image as a nonaligned nation and led some political theorists to believe that in
reality, nonalignment was applicable to India's relations with countries outside South Asia.35

32
Clause Arpi ‘ The Panchsheel Agreement ‘ ( Geopolitics , 5 August 2015)
<http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/the-panchsheel-agreement/ > as accessed on 36th August 2019
.

33
S.D.Muni,"Non-alignment and security parameter" in K.P.Misra (ed.) (Nonalignment: Frontier and Dynamics,
New Delhi, 1982) p. 160.

34
Nehru's speech in Parliament on 9-12-1958, Cited a, Appadorai in J. Black and K. Thomson Eds, Foreign
Policies in a World of change, New York, 1963, p.485.

35
Sunday, Calcutta (Kolkata 18 March, 1979) p.1

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 Evolution of Non - Alignment Movement

➢ POST COLD WAR:

A policy of non-alignment has been defined as the “desire and ability of an independent
country... to follow an independent policy in international affairs, its desire and ability to make
up its own mind, to take its own decisions or not take them, after judging each issue separately
and honestly on its own merits”.36 The official version of the policy as formulated at the First
Conference of Non-Aligned States held at Belgrade in September 1961.37

NAM was adopted as a means of obtaining maximum economic concessions from both blocs,
recognizing that to make permanent military arrangement with one bloc would close off the
other as a possible source of supply, markets and foreign aid. Therefore, to be non-aligned is
“to maximize opportunities to meet domestic economic needs, while minimizing
dependencies.” Further, non-alignment was a reflection of “strong sentiment of opposition to
Western domination of international affairs.” Opinions differ on the relevance of NAM in the
post-Cold War setting. To begin with, according to A.P. Rana, the NAM played a notable part
in addressing to the national security problems of weaker states in a highly stratified
international security environment. Also, in the spectre of “hot-war”, the NAM has been able
to carve out a diplomatic sphere of influence, authority and hegemony in the “power vacuums”
of the world comprising the emerging states of Afro-Asia. Infact, the NAM represented the
“viability” of the continuing freedom struggle of the “weak” nations in the World of the
“strong”. Further, in the context of “balance of terror which existed between the cold war
antagonists, the NAM acted as a “balance” or a “Third Force”. With the end of the Cold War,
“the confrontations have been replaced by dialogues, negotiations and accommodation”
between the super powers. Also, the processes of disarmament and detente have been
“progressing in much broader areas.”38

There was a methodology in 1961. The methodology underwent changes in the 70s, 80s, and
90. Again the methodologies are being adjusted but the objectives have not changed...I don't

36
G.H. Jansen, ‘Afro-Asia and Non-Ąlignment’ (London, 1964), p. 202.
37
Peter Lyon, ‘Non-Alignments at the Summits: From Belgrade 1961 to Havana 1979 - A perspective view’
(1980) vol. 41 IJPS < https://www.jstor.org/stable/41854996> accessed 23 August 2019.
38
Deba Bandya Kabi, ‘Non-Aligned Movement and the New World Order’ (2002) vol. 63 IHC
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/44158187> accessed on 23 August 2019.

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think we have shifted (in our foreign policy) and I don't think it should be seen as black or
white, it is always shades of grey," Vice President Hamid Ansari said.39 Vice President,
however, emphasised that the Non Aligned Movement has been evolving and must continue to
evolve to stay relevant to the times. It (NAM) has continuously evolved since its inception in
1961 and therefore it must evolve. Any organisation if it does not respond to the requirements
of the day loses its relevance. So whatever our priorities of the day are that is to be determined
collectively by consensus. Those priorities have to be addressed there is no way out of it. In
1961, Tito hosted the first NAM meeting in Belgrade, where 29 states gathered to lay out this
new order. Their bravura was sneered at in Washington, where the Government suggested that
non-alignment was merely capitulation to the Soviet Union. The Soviets, meanwhile, saw an
opportunity in the NAM, where a newly free Cuba, with close ties to the Soviets, had begun to
assert its leadership despite its tiny size. NAM announced that it would push for an alternative
economic order and that it would campaign against the arms race that had put the fear of nuclear
annihilation across the planet. These were halcyon days for NAM, asserting its moral authority
against war and poverty. Over the course of the past 60 years, the NAM has seen an erosion of
its authority.40 The Third World debt crisis of the 1980s crushed the economic ambitions of
these NAM states. By the time NAM gathered in Delhi in 1983, it was a shadow of its origins.
In NAM they had wished the centuries away, but now, awash in debt, they had to settle for the
present. The Soviet Union collapsed, the U.S. bombed Panama and Iraq, and history seemed to
end with American ascendency. Proud nations queued up to curry favour with Washington,
settle accounts at the International Monetary Fund and begin to sniff their noses at platforms
such as NAM.

➢ POST GLOBALISATION:

By the early 1990s, several important powers of NAM began to back away (Argentina left in
1991). Yugoslavia crumbled, with war tearing apart its promise. India went to the IMF and
gestured to the U.S. that its days of non-alignment had gradually come to a close. Over the past
few years, countries with a more sceptical attitude towards American power have held the
mantle of NAM - South Africa (1998), Malaysia (2003), Cuba (2006), Iran (2012) and now

39
‘Hamid Ansari downplays PM Narendra Modi skipping NAM summit’ The Economic Times (New Delhi, 16
Sept. 2016) <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/hamid-ansari-downplays-pm-
narendra-modi-skipping-nam-summit/articleshow/54358542.cms?from=mdr> accessed 22 August 2019.
40
Vijay Prashad, ‘The Margarita Mirror’ The Hindu (New Delhi, 22 Sept. 2016)
<https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/The-Margarita-mirror/article14634932.ece> accessed 22 August
2019.

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Venezuela (Egypt, which presided over NAM from 2009, was convulsed in the Arab Spring
during its presidency).41 NAM oscillated between suspicion of U.S. motives and attempts to
regenerate the economic engines of its members.

India argued vehemently against those who felt that NAM had outlived its utility. Since the
essence of non-alignment was freedom of thought and action, India insisted that it was valid
whether there was one bloc or no bloc. Even while building alliances with others, we availed
of the NAM umbrella to promote our national strategies when it suited us. The very lack of
homogeneity and unity in NAM enhanced its utility for us. One forum where we effectively
used the NAM constituency was the working group on UN reform, where we blocked an effort
by the U.S. and others to add Germany and Japan as permanent members and close the doors
for further expansion. We fought to keep Egypt within it when every Arab country wanted it
to be ousted in 1979 after the Camp David agreements. Indira Gandhi risked a bear hug from
Fidel Castro as she took the NAM gavel to save it from the uncertain leadership of Iraq. Had it
not been for India, NAM would have been wound up at a ministerial meeting in Ghana in 1991
soon after the collapse of the Berlin wall. It was characterized as the “last gap of the old style
radicals”.42

Secondly, it may be observed that the process of “globalization” and the compulsion to
participate competitively in the international markets have forced many nations to give up their
diplomatic perspectives on “ideological” lines. Infact, “pre-determined” ideological
perspectives have given way to “raw, earthly values and the pulls of the market place” as the
international system is increasingly becoming “populist” if not “democratic.”

An effort was made in 2012 to craft a ‘Non alignment 2.0’ in the context of the new global
situation, India’s growing importance and the rivalry between the U.S. and China. The report
moved the concept of non-alignment away from its origins. It reiterated that India needed to
move quickly to extend its global rule and influence. But the authors said India’s big challenge
would be to aim at not just being powerful but to set new standards foe what the powerful must
do. India’s legitimacy in the world will come from its ability to stand for the highest human

41
Surander Singh, ‘Nam in the Contemporary World Order : An Analysis’ (2009) vol. 70 IPSA
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/42744031> accessed 23 August 2019.
42
T.P. Shreenivasan, ‘A new NAM for the new norm’ The Hindu (New Delhi, 8 March 2018)
<https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-new-nam-for-the-new-norm/article22986339.ece> accessed 22
August 2019.

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and universal values and at the global level, “India must remain true to its aspiration of creating
a new and alternative universality.”

➢ IN THE MODI ERA:

NAM is anathema today even to those who helped shape it and reveled in it for years. India
was one of its leaders, if not the leader. India had a stake on its integrity and India toiled
tirelessly to keep it on the middle road, not to be hijacked by Cuba to the left or Singapore to
the right. In a situation where the world is no longer bifurcated between two dominant powers,
non alignment today will require managing complicated coalitions and opportunities in an
environment that is not structurally settled. The policy of “strategic autonomy” recommended
that India should not take sides in the rivalry between China and Russia. For its strategic and
foreign policy to be successful, India must sustain domestic economic growth, social inclusion
and democracy.

Coming as it did in the wake of a strategic partnership with the U.S., a revival of NAM, even
with caveats of various kinds, did not seem to appeal either to Manmohan Singh government
or the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, NAM was
nothing but a relic of the Nehruvian past and it did not form part of his vocabulary.

As he pursued his priorities of development, security, neighborhood and the diaspora,

maintaining a constituency of the poor nations of the world had no place. In his transactional
foreign policy, it is easier to act alone rather than as the spokesperson of a group. It was no
wonder, therefore, that he did not find it necessary to attend the NAM Summit in Venezuela in
2016. India, which conceived and nursed the concept, was ready to cast it into the dustbin of
history.

Into the second half of his term, Mr. Modi’s balance sheet shows and altogether different
scenario. As a close defence partner of the U.S. and a member of the “Quadrilateral”, India is
right in the U.S. camp. Both china and Russia, which have been identified as adversaries in the
U.S. world view, have their problems with India. Doklam and Maldives have shown that China
is in no mood for a compromise. In fact, China has attributed the increase of its defence budget
to the formation of the Quadrilateral, which is being seen as a direct threat to China.

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The first NAM summit that will not be attended by an Indian PM is in Modi era, except for
1979 when caretaker PM Charan Singh skipped the summit in Havana.43 Much has been made
of Modi’s decision to skip the summit, considering that NAM counts Jawaharlal Nehru as one
of its founding fathers. It is believed that the pursuit of a US-centric foreign policy could be
one of the main reasons, since one of NAM’s founding principles was to stay neutral during
the Cold War. “We have been aligned with the Americans post globalization”.44 And it’s not
just happened under Modi. Even the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) did it. They staked
their government over the nuclear deal. India’s engagement with the US has been a continuous
process; in fact, we can even say PM Modi is reaping the harvests of previous regimes. NAM
continues to represent space for action in pursuance of the collective interests of the developing
world… especially on subjects such as the reform of the global economic system and
disarmament. At the United Nations, NAM is an influential grouping on a range of issues such
as UN peacekeeping and disarmament.45

India’s foreign policy has finally ridden itself of Cold War power politics trappings in favor of
a comprehensive rendezvous with super powers. Several reasons can adduce India’s budge
from non-alignment to multi-alignment foreign policy especially after the cold war.
Undeniably, policies adopted by India since the beginning of this century had helped generate
a climate of trust across the gamut of warring nations and long-time antagonists. A spirit of
accommodation and productive solutions to major regional and international challenges had
also made India more acceptable to most nations. The Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement in the
first decade of this century was in this respect truly a “game changer’’. India is looking as a
positive, stabilizing influence as far as the global as well as regional concerned. Non-alignment
clearly had left no place in this milieu.13 Nowadays the most of countries are formally
members of NAM, but all these countries are involved in alignment with any other power blocs.
It will provide a noteworthy chance to the developing countries for deepen its bilateral
relationship with any other world power such as US, Russia and China in the changing global
arena. The emergence of China as an economic power, it is providing a big alternative to the

43
T.P. Shreenivasan,‘A new NAM for the new norm’ The Hindu (New Delhi, 8 March 2018)
<https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-new-nam-for-the-new-norm/article22986339.ece> accessed 22
August 2019.
44
Sachin Parashar, ‘Policy makeover? PM may skip NAM meet in Venezuela’ The Times of India (New Delhi,
2016) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Policy-makeover-PM-may-skip-NAM-meet-in-
Venezuela/articleshow/53730547.cms> accessed 24 August 2019.
45
Nikita Doval, ‘Narendra Modi skips NAM summit, the first Indian PM to do so’ (2016)
<https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ectxbpHsJ2XUmRkXXqVbpL/Hamid-Ansari-leaves-for-Venezuela-to-
attend-17th-NAM-summit.html> accessed 22 August 2019.

16 | P a g e
NAM countries for engaging with the Dragon. “The NAM countries engaged in some recent
developments;

a) Criticism of US Policy & Hegemony

b) South-South Cooperation

c) Reforms in international organizations like, UN, IMF and WTO

d) Anti-Zionism

e) Cultural Diversity and Human Rights

f) International Terrorism

g) Climate Change

h) Sustainable Development

i) Platform of Developing & Third World Countries.”46

India has emerged on the efficacy of strategic autonomy and non-alignment in Indian foreign
policy. There is a thinking that Modi needs to jettison the redundant policy of non-alignment
that the UPA government professed in the post-Cold War garb of strategic autonomy.

Also, it is necessary to understand that in the present geo-political order where the US and
China have distinctly emerged as rivals India has greater room for manoeuvrability. Further,
India does not require playing the role of a swing power akin to China in the 1970s and 80s.

In this emerging geo-political order where there is a common synergy among nations on growth
and development, India under Modi does not require to jettison the non-alignment principles
but to focus on fulfilling the two goals of domestic economic reform and external stability
underscored in the principle. Simply put, non-alignment is essentially a route to great power
status – a strategy that is independent of external forces by prioritizing national interest and
ensuring strategic manoeuvrability.

46
Bimal Prasad, ‘The Evolution of Non-Alignment’ (1983) ICWA p.41.

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 ➢ Effects of NAM on Non-Aligned countries:

The non-aligned countries are facing financial crises and the problem of debt and poverty,
especially from the second half of the 1990's. Stunning currency collapses in Mexico (1995),
Southeast Asia (1997), Russia (1998), and Brazil (1999) have pushed the subject to the fore
front (Blinder, 1 999). The recent unprecedented upheavals in international financial markets
also tremendously have affected these countries. Though various internal and external factors
are responsible for such, financial crises, but the unequal international financial system and
financial institutions play important role in the financial problems of the poor countries. IMF's
neo-liberal adjustment policies are economically, socially and politically unsustainable. They
are inappropriate for solving the problems of the Third World countries (Auvinem, 1996). The
profits of the World Bank projects always go largely to the foreign companies and banks rather
than to the developing countries (Hahnai, 2001). The non-aligned countries are demanding
democratization and transparency in the decision-making processes of the world bodies. These
countries are also demanding financial aid for development and eradication of poverty, so that
their old debts can be written off. Financial resources should be transferred from the developed
to the developing countries. There is a need of a new international initiative to bring structural
reforms in the world s financial system with more effective regulation and stronger systems of
multilateral consultations and surveillance. For this economic environment, cooperation among
the developed and the developing countries is a must, which is possible only through North-
South dialogue.

➢ Challenges to Non – Alignment Movement

Nehru had upheld the non-alignment to project India’s great power aspirations. In fact, non-
alignment was the only and best principle available to Nehru in the post-Independent India
confronted with precarious domestic and external environment. Internally, India was
confronted with settling the fate of some five-hundred odd princely states. Coupled with this,
was the linguistic movements that shook the very fabric of the nation. With the Pakistani
invasion on the northern frontiers, the question of Kashmir loomed large. Also, the
establishment of a Communist regime in China followed by its invasion of Tibet created a

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grave situation in the north. Above all, the emergence of bipolar politics in the post-War era
put India in a precarious situation. After the hard earned independence, Nehru’s primary
concern was economic rejuvenation to propel India to the ranks of a great power status. And
for India’s rise the preeminent necessity was peace in the external frontier. In this context,
Nehru propagated non-alignment that gave freedom of action to pursue national rejuvenation.47
This rationale also drove him to join hands with China knowing fully well the irredentist
aspirations of the newly emerged Communist government. Clearly, non-alignment was born
out of the difficult external and internal security conditions. However, this great power
aspiration floundered on the 1962 debacle. This however, does not signal the failure of non-
alignment. Rather, the quest for great power status failed because there was a disjuncture
between theory and praxis. The weaknesses in the domestic front coupled with the external
volatility of Cold War politics had derailed Nehru’s great power vision. Today India is better
positioned. It is the third largest economy in Asia and fourth in the world. Also, externally,
India does not require to take sides and instead engage both the US and China. More
importantly, there is an alignment today that was absent in Nehru’s time between Modi’s dream
of making India strong and prosperous and the external environment wedded to the principles
of growth and prosperity.48

NAM is facing serious challenges on structural and functional basis. The question-of its
Relevance is the most important challenge in the post cold war era. Non-aligned countries
themselves proposed the idea of renaming and merging with the third world movement.49
Terms like 'third bloc', 'third force', and 'third camp' or 'bloc of nations' have confused the
identity of the movement. Loose and flexible criteria of membership, lack of unity and
solidarity among member states, lack of institutionalization, lack of charismatic leadership, and
problem of the external interference, are some of the fundamental challenges. Further, the lack
of agenda and commitment towards the movement is a serious problem for the movement. It
is being argued that the movement becomes alive temporarily during its summits and countries
pay only lip service to the principles of NAM. Once the official conferences get over each
country sticks to its own way.

47
B.M. Jain, ‘Globalisation and India Challenges and Opportunities’ (1995-96) IJAA
<https://www.jstor.org/stable/41950390> accessed 24 August 2019.
48
Abanti Bhattacharya, ‘Why Non-Alignment has greater relevance in Modi’s india’ (2014) IDSA
<https://idsa.in/idsacomments/NonAlignmentinModisIndia_abhattacharya_290614> accessed 24 August 2019.
49
‘Non-aligned nations face new challenges’ (2016)
<https://www.twn.my/title2/resurgence/2012/263/cover02.htm> accessed 24 August 2019.

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 Relevance of Non – Alignment Movement Today

According to many critics, NAM is no longer relevant because of the changed international
environment, from Bi-polar to uni-polar. The world was earlier divided in two ideologies –
Communism & Capitalism. As of now, since the cold war has ended, there is no question of the
free countries aligning to either of the sides. But whatever the world is – bipolar, multi-polar
or unipolar, non-alignment as a foreign policy of the small / weak states will continue to remain
valid. In other words, the policy will last as long as the sovereign nation states exist.50

Non-alignment with the hegemony of great powers- The declaration of the Jakarta Summit
conference 1992 assured, NAM has contributed to the ending of bipolar in the world and to the
elimination of the cold war. Membership of the NAM has more than quadrupled from about
25 states in 1961 to 118 today. There could be no hope of survival in the age of nuclear bombs,
if war happens. Therefore, NAM is then a pioneer nuclear destruction. It demanded complete
elimination of all nuclear weapons. The movement also stood opposed to the treaties on WMD
(Weapon of Mass Destructions) which were not universal in nature.51

Further, it looks after the interest of all Third World countries. Pursuit of equality in world
affairs through pooling the diplomatic resources of Third World states in international forums.
Equality should here be understood in political-economic terms. NAM together with the Group
of 77 (G77–largely made up of NAM members) succeeded to keep Third World issues on the
agenda in most UN forums and agencies due to their numerical strength. In the UN General
Assembly NAM played a significant role in transferring the permanent seat in the UNSC
previously filled by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to mainland China. This can also help
India getting a UNSC membership.52

Thus, the major thrust of NAM is the creation of a new world based on rational, democratic,
equitable and non-exploitative inter-states relation. The Non-Alignment countries have to learn
to manoeuvre among them and to successfully face the menace of new colonialism that is
sought to be imposed through various WTO round. Thus, the NAM continued to be relevance
so long as there is exploitation, war, hunger, poverty and disease on the earth. Its goals do not
merely serve the national interest of member state but it stand to promote the cause humanity.

50
Attar Chand, ‘‘Ideology Strategy Prospects’’ in Non-aligned World Order
51
Peter Willets, ‘‘Main Meeting of Non-aligned’’ in The Non-aligned Movement,196-Havana
52
Hari Jai Singh: India and Non-alignment World, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1983

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Perhaps the most important role for NAM today lies in framing a concrete economic agenda
for a just and fair international economic order. The WTO rules and procedures have failed to
provide adequate economic gains to the Third World.53

‘‘Non-alignment has been responsible to ever changing international relations and that it has
been permissive of diversity and multiplicity of approaches consistent with a hard-core unity
on same irreducible, minimum principles.’’54 Since the end of the Cold War and the formal end
of colonialism, the Non-aligned Movement has been forced to redefine itself and reinvent its
purpose in the current world order. A major question has been whether many of its foundational
ideologies, principles can be applied to the contemporary issues.

The NAM has emphasized its principles of multilateralism, equality and mutual understanding
in attempting to become a stronger voice of developing and third world countries as well as an
instrument that can be utilized and promote the needs of member countries.

The concern of NAM since the beginning has been with the world peace in view of the nuclear
arms race and the dangers of nuclear war, instead of solving problem, it has been mostly
aggravated them. In the initial years, concern for international peace so overshadowed their
politics, that their other efforts for development were virtually ignored.15 The NAM had
always opposed the disarmament and nuclear expansion. We cannot ignore the role of NAM
in recent time. They represent nearly two third of the UN members and comprise 55% of the
world population. Many of US and USSR former ally partner are became a members of NAM.
All these factors indicated the importance and relevance of NAM in post-Cold War era.

The NAM is an international platform of developing and under developing countries. The
NAM produce a platform as ‘dialogue table’ for developing world and it has done lot of for
united these countries. These countries discuss their mutual problem and find a way to resolve
these problems. In the last NAM conference in Tehran, many countries criticized neo-
colonialism tactics of the major powers.55

Non- Alignment has not lost any of its relevance rather it has stood the test of time. NAM can
play the most important role in protecting the economic interest of the third world countries as
well as promoting south- south co- opretion.NAM should develop a progressive agenda on the

53
ibid
54
K.P.Mishra: ‘‘Conceptual Profile of Non-alignment ‘‘ in K.P. Mishra and K.R. Narayanan(ed.): Non-
alignment in Contemporary International relations, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 1983
55
Balwinder Singh, ‘Non-Alignment Movement: It’s Relevance In Present Context’
<http://granthaalayah.com/Articles/Vol5Iss6/34_IJRG17_A06_419.pdf> accessed on 27th August 2019

21 | P a g e
fundamental values of democracy, human right and multiculturalism. There are so many
worldwide issues like greenhouse gas emissions, health concerns specially AIDS, drug
trafficking, rising instances of poverty, food crisis and unemployment, NAM’s spectrum could
be enlarged with these increasing concern.56

➢ In the Context of the World :

Many scholars and academicians count a number of benefits that a number of countries
can get if the Non Alignment Movement is kept alive and run efficiently today. The can
be summed up as :
1. Strength in United Nations Organization : The current strength of Non -
Alignment Movement is 120. If the movement is alive and united, it constitutes
a major strength of the U.N.O. Hence, by uniting all, the countries can have an
influence over the world.57
2. Preservation of World Peace : If disputes arises between developed and
developing countries at any point of concerned topic then NAM act as platform
which negotiate and conclude disputes peacefully securing the favourable
decision for each member of nation.
3. Integral part of foreign policy: NAM as foreign policy is very much relevant
today. Many developing countries like India still follow NAM policy. The
policy to avoid colonization and imperialism continues to remain valid for all
small and developing countries.
4. Check on big power ambitions: NAM constitutes 120 developing countries and
act as a check on big power ambitions. It stood as a unifying force against the
traditional foreign policy of great power and strictly restricts imperialism,
nationalism and universalism.
5. Base of ‘South-South’ co-operation: NAM acts as catalyst to foster the co-
operation between South-South nations. It raises issues that are of major
concern for the south countries .It initiate economic, political and social

56
Rajini Arora, ‘Relevance of Non-Alignment Movement in Today’s Scenario’
<http://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT1704455.pdf> accessed 27th August 2019
57
Mishra K.P. Non-Aligned Movement [Lancers Books 1987,]

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 development corner to achieve desired results of moving from developing to
developed nations. 58
6. Voice of developing nations: NAM is emerging majority day by day. Each year
its strength increases which act as force and give its members to put their point
on internationals issues.
7. Alternative world power: NAM with passage of time emerged as the alternative
world power. With its strength and motive to democratize the international
system proved its qualification as alternative world power which would promote
equality and peace all over the world and even provide new dynamics to the
existing world’s politics.
8. Culture diversity and human rights: NAM is the protector of human right and
culture diversity. NAM always active to secure the human right of every nation
and if found it being violated it stand for its protection.
9. Peaceful settlement of international disputes: NAM since its foundation act as
platform that protect the interest of developing countries. If disputes arises
between developed and developing countries at any point of concerned topic
then NAM act as platform which negotiate and conclude disputes peacefully
securing the favourable decision for each member of nation. 59
10. Preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty: NAM proved it relevance
with the ideal of preserving independence of every nation. This policy will
survive long lasting till the time sovereign nation state exists irrespective of any
periodical, marginal changes, in the existing system all over the world. It has
repeated relevance in every stage till the concept of international relation exists
So whether world is uni-polar ,multi-polar, or bio-polar NAM as policy will
grow stronger.60

➢ In the Context of India :

In September 2016, when the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi skipped the Non
– Alignment Movement summit, speculations were raised on the foreign policy of

58
Jai singh , Hari. India and Non-alignment world [Vikas Publishing House,1983].
59
Fadia,B,L. International politics[Agra Sahitya Bhavan ,2010.].
60
Sinha, Ankita . Relevance of Non –Alignment movement [2012]

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 India, as to whether it will continue to be a non – aligned nation or will it move on to
become a multi – aligned nation as proposed by many. This is the first NAM summit
that will not be attended by an Indian PM, except for 1979 when caretaker PM Charan
Singh skipped the summit in Havana.61 This started a debate.
Much has been made of Modi’s decision to skip the summit, considering that NAM
counts Jawaharlal Nehru as one of its founding fathers. It is believed that the pursuit of
a US-centric foreign policy could be one of the main reasons, since one of NAM’s
founding principles was to stay neutral during the Cold War.
“We have been aligned with the Americans post globalization. And it’s not just
happened under Modi. Even the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) did it. They staked
their government over the nuclear deal. India’s engagement with the US has been a
continuous process; in fact, we can even say PM Modi is reaping the harvests of
previous regimes," says Pushpesh Pant, former professor of international relations at
the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). According to Pant, NAM as a concept was
relevant in a bi-polar world; “but the world order has changed since then and now our
association with it can mostly be seen as nostalgic". A news report by The Hindu, dated
19 August, quoted foreign secretary S. Jaishankar as saying, “Blocs and alliances are
less relevant today and the world is moving towards a loosely arranged order."
The term ‘‘non-alignment’’ owes its origin to India, ‘‘It should be understood in the
foreground of the ways of thinking of the Indian people who have been expressing a
whole lot of positive and constructive ideas through negative expressions such as
Ahimsa and truth’’. The basic idea of Non-alignment was also communicate non-
violent and peaceful co-existence with other power. India used non-violent as a
Gandhian method of peacefully conflict-resolution.62 The paramount concern of India
at the time of independence was to consolidate its freedom, to keep intact its option
open, to be able take decisions according to their own interests not because of other
choice. India often used NAM values to deal other countries in the world politics. The
Indian concept of NAM is value-based and dynamic in contemporary global scenario.
Non-alignment has been the bedrock of India’s foreign policy since its inception. In the
demise of Cold War, when the world is no longer divided between two power blocs,

61
Nikita Doval, ‘Narendra Modi skips NAM summit, the first Indian PM to do so’
<https://www.livemint.com/Politics/ectxbpHsJ2XUmRkXXqVbpL/Hamid-Ansari-leaves-for-Venezuela-to-
attend-17th-NAM-summit.html> accessed on 27th August 2019
62
Supra n8

24 | P a g e
the NAM has a renewed role to play in the new world order. On the eve of the 15th
NAM Summit held in Egypt, India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh underscored
the relevance of NAM in the post-Cold War era. He said “India will play its part in
strengthening the NAM”. From the time of its establishment till the present times, India
has immensely contributed to the movement. India was the founder member of it and
Nehru was the apostle of NAM. India adopted NAM as a feature of its foreign policy.
India always remained actively engaged in consolidating and strengthening the unity of
the Non-alignment Movement. India would play its part in strengthening NAM to
regain its moral high ground to address international problems which are the direct
concern and relevance to developing countries such as global warming, terrorism and
more democratizing in international institutions.
India's non-alignment as an instrument of foreign policy evolved through its continuous
interactions with the domestic conditions and external environment. This evolution was
marked by commendable staying power, a capacity to encounter volatile configurations
of power and flexibility to incorporate necessary changes demanded by the circum-
stances. A combination of factors such as an urge to follow an independent foreign
policy, the pragmatic choice of befriending a powerful socialist state like the USSR and
commitment to promote peace have shaped the praxis as well as the concept of India's
non-alignment. Over the years, after absorbing infinite complexities in the process of
multi-layered interactions with in the dynamics of world politics, India's non- alignment
has become an instrument of a middle-range power. During the process of its evolution,
India's non-alignment relentlessly inspired smaller Afro-Asian states which were
grappling to carve out their self-identity in a world torn between stereotype social
systems. Their eventual merger within the mainstream of the NAM transformed the
principal concerns of NAM from east-west tensions to north-south dialogue and the
NIEO. India's non-alignment, thanks to its economic strength, has, inevitably, an
important role to play in this scenario.
The important role NAM can play for India today are :
▪ Can be used as a platform to bring about disarmament.
▪ Voice of the South Bloc (Third World Countries)
▪ Stability in the rising multipolar world order
▪ Can help to contain the rise of China by raising a collective voice.
▪ A platform where India’s Leadership is recognized
▪ A unique platform of countries with dissimilar backgrounds and interests
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▪ Can be used to gather support for India’s quest to become a permanent member
of the UNSC.

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 Conclusion & The Way Ahead

As a veteran foreign policy expert said, NAM is like a patient who has slipped into a coma and
now in the ICU, and member-countries are like relatives coerced into marking their presence
at the risk of being labelled impolite or insensitive. The need of the hour is to do a thorough
assessment as long as NAM languishes in the ICU. And one should not forget that nothing
stops China from bringing the patient back to life and running the show as part of its fight
against western hegemony.

Its role in the present century would be strengthened by more South-South cooperation, which
would mean, by and large, a collaboration between and among the NAM countries and
defending their interests from fast-expanding economic and technological power of the North.
NAM should develop a progressive agenda on the fundamental values of democracy, human
rights and multiculturalism. The preservation and consolidation of democracy throughout its
membership is a major challenge. NAM’s spectrum could be further enlarged with the
increasing concern worldwide over environmental issues over greenhouse gas emissions,
health concerns especially AIDS, drug trafficking, rising instances of poverty, food crisis and
unemployment mostly within the NAM members and LDC countries, the rising digital divide
between the rich and poor and fight against all shades of extremism, xenophobia, ethnic
nationalism and regional wars.

Non-Alignment has not lost any of its relevance rather it has stood the test of time. It has served
the useful purpose of protecting and preserving the interest of the Third World countries well
in the past, so it is also expected to serve their interest well in the future to come. NAM can
play the most important role in protecting the economic interest of the Third World countries
as well as promoting south-south cooperation. Thus the philosophy of NAM is as relevant as
ever for the Third World.

The Nonalignment platform could play a meaningful role for developing countries. This
platform is the common voice of third world countries. It is considered as a positive and
constructive movement in across the world. India’s efforts for non-aligned countries has
appraised by everyone. Therefore, we can say that Non-aligned agenda has immense important
for future.

27 | P a g e
India and the third world countries today need to have a platform to put up their agenda and
have their voices raised. The Non – Alignment Movement can serve as a potential format. The
termination of cold war doesn’t mean that an end of world power domination/ hegemony. The
NAM is too relevant in present context because the third world countries are being subjected
to supremacy and exploitation on all kind of issues from economic to political and cultural.
The aspirations of these countries are being crux down. Economic relations having become
more essential in these days and the inner contradictions in G-8 groups, the NAM as a grouping
can create a space for itself. The NAM would be proved a platform of developing countries in
bargaining with the developed countries. There is not denying the fact that India considered
NAM as a powerful force to reform the international system. India should try to utilize NAM
as a voice of developing world. The NAM countries should adopt a constructive approach to
combat Islamic radicalism across the world. It is high time for NAM countries to sort-out
longstanding regional and international problems by international consensus.

India should play a positive role to strengthening the NAM as a global movement. India needs
to utilize NAM forum as a ‘collective consciousness’ of developing and third world countries.
The current unstable international security architecture posed a big challenge for NAM
countries. The NAM plat forum can fulfil the aspirations of developing and third world
countries. The NAM countries should not join any military alliance and must be abiding the
agenda of NAM. The NAM countries should not have neutral against any ill-deeds of
Superpowers. The NAM countries should have pro-active vis-à-vis to global challenges. The
NAM countries should tackle problems with coordinative approach. That is why; we can say
that the importance and relevance of NAM is growing day to day. We should not have
undermined the expansion of NAM as a global movement.

But its not too late for India to identify the potential of the movement and adopt it as an integral
vehicle to carry forward the procession of its development. The place where India stands today
in respect of other hegemonic countries like USA and China, NAM can serve as a unique and
exclusive platform for India to go an become the global leader. NAM, if promoted by India as
well as the world will offer the following benefits.

• Preservation of the world peace -NAM after so many years of foundation it still abides
by its founding principles, idea and purpose i.e. to establish the peaceful and prosperous
world. It promoted disarmament and even prohibited invasion of any country,
henceforth creation a sovereign world order.

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• Preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty - Nam proved its repeated
relevance with the idea of preserving the independence of every nation. This policy will
survive long lasting till the time sovereign nation-state exists irrespective of any
periodical, marginal changes, in the existing system all over the world. It has repeated
relevance in every stage until the concept of international relation exists. So weather
world is unipolar, multipolar or bi-polar NAM as the policy will grow stronger.
• Platform of Third World nations - Third world countries fighting against sociological-
economical problems since they have been exploited for a long time by other developed
nation, after the end of colonization their new motives is to look forward to
development. In this situation, NAM acted as a protector for these new formed small
countries against the western hegemony. Not only this it empowers the member states
to take its own decisions without any external influence.
• Support of UN - NAM total strength compromises of 118 developing countries and
most of them being a member of UN general assembly. IT represents 2/3 members of
general assembly hence NAM members act as important vote blocking group in UN.
• Promoting equitable world order - NAM promotes equitable world order. It specifies
the same ideal foreign policy for all nations. It acts as a bridge between the political
differences existing in the international environment. It arose as consensual policy on
burning topic of current world politics to which the vast majority of a nation could
subscribe.
• Check on big power ambitions - NAM constitute of 120 developing nation and this
overwhelming strength of this third world nation act as a check on big power ambitions.
It stood as a unifying force against the traditional foreign policy of great powers and
strictly restricts imperialism, nationalism, and universalism.
• Base of South-South co-operation - NAM act as a catalyst to foster the co-operation
between south -south nation. It raises issues that are of major concern for the south
countries. It initiates economic, political and social development corners to achieve the
desired result of moving from developing to developed nations.
• Integral part of foreign policy - NAM as foreign policy is very much relevant till today
even after the disintegration of USSR. Many developing nation including India still
follows NAM policy as its major international and foreign policy tool. The policy to
avoid colonization and imperialism continues to remain valid for all small and
developing countries.

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 • Peaceful settlement of International disputes - NAM since its foundation act as a
platform that protects the interest of developing countries. It protects it from the huge
and influential power in the international sphere, so if disputes arise between developed
and developing nation at any point of a concerned topic then NAM act as a platform
which negotiates and conclude disputes peacefully securing the favorable decisions for
each member nation.
• Alternative world power - NAM with the passage of time emerged as the alternative
world power. With its strength and its motive to democratize the international system
proved its qualification as alternative world order which would promote equality and
peace all over the world and even provide new dynamics to the existing world's politics.
• Voice of developing nations - NAM is emerging as majority day by day, each year its
strength increases which act as a force and give its members to put their point on
international issues. For example-NAM recently challenges the Ban-ki-moon decisions
on Srilanka panel plausible.
• Integral component of north-south co-operation - NAM act as a unifying force
representing developing countries interest. Hence it plays an important role in north-
south dialogue on different issues and accomplishment of different goals for the
betterment of the world.
• Criticism of US policy - NAM played an active role in criticizing the US policy on
various events. US action such as invasion of Iraq and the war on terrorism, Iran and
North Korea's nuclear plant have been attempted to stifle by the US have been brought
to notice by NAM as violation of human right and committing roughshod means to
denounce the sovereignty of smaller nations.
• Cultural diversity and human rights - NAM is said to be the protector of human rights
and propagated the existence of cultural diversity. They even promoted the societal-
cultural concept and the tolerance of religion. NAM always remain active to secure the
human right of every nation and if found it being violated it stands for its protection.
• Sustainable development-NAM supported the concept of sustainable development.
They even determine what are the factors which hinder the development and discuss it
at large wherever they get the platform, including the United Nations.

Hence the relevance of NAM is well justified from all the above-mentioned points. NAM since
its formation always abides by its principle and purpose to attain peace and to keep itself non-
aligned to any power blocks. The success of NAM can be well traced from its ever-growing

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membership each year. Even after the end of the cold war the membership drastically increased
and it's still increasing at a rapid speed justifying its perpetual relevance in the present
international environment. Further, NAM as a policy of weak and small state will continue to
remain valid as long as there is a concept of sovereign nation-states and perpetual war for
power. NAM propagated the concept of sovereign states based on independence and equality
will continue forever irrespective of the existence of bipolar, unipolar or multi-polar world
system. NAM nature and scope changed but its relevance thrives to the height of success in the
contemporary world. In-fact its relevance is being more prominent than ever before, in the
present scenario, NAM nature is more inclined towards economic relevance than political
relevance. Hence NAM in the present time is well embedded in the international politics, its
role has a vital impact and it emerged as the powerful creed which is more powerful than the
two power block put together at that time.

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