NAM:GENESIS

The rapid decolonization process that followed after thg Second„yorld War
brought into existence numerous states in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean which
were mostly small or middle-sized and were
They faced twin tasks of nation-building as well as tackling the internal
societies. Alongside they had a Herculean task of
dissenting forces within their
underdevelopment and working towards development. It is these
coping up with
nations whose governments came together undertheumbrella
post-Second World War also witnessed the outbreak of Cold War resulting
of the two major powers, the United States a«€fie Soviet
in the hostilities
Union. The Cold War was further fuelled when the USA adopted a policy of
containment of Communism throughout the world, as the USSR was doing the
same by giving support to the national liberation [Link] ultimate
milita acts and counter pacts, an increase in arms race, gradual
result was
Movement the-world into different_b ocs, and the threat of nuclear war,
polarizat
Non-Aligned which could result in the total annihilation of mankind. The
over their_ownproblems of development and shared a
states that wa
to
camps_andenvisioneqza position of neutrality [Link] NAM
originatedunder the leadership of Jawahar a Marshal Tito
(Yugoslavia), Kusno Sukarno (Indonesia), Kwame Nkrumah (Qhana) and
Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt). They forged a strong coalition of states from
CONTENTS Asia, Africa, Europe, The Arab World and Latin Americ@.andthe Caribbean.
Sharm el-sheikh The rationale behind the adoption of the policy of non-alignmentby the
to
Bandung developing countries reflects numerous_objectiyes, each_differing from one
Movement—From Relations state to the other. For instance, in the case of India, her objectives
of Anternational restedon the pillars of peace, freedom from colonialism, racial equality and
Contemporary non-alignment, which were very much grounded in her experiences of colonial
NAM in
Riervoabnlceectlf rule and her freedom struggle against British colonialism. The Cold War that
emerged immediately after the conclusion of the Second World War and the
strategies of superpowers to maintain their spheres of influence resulted in the
formationof military pacts like the Australia, New Zealand, United States
a Security Treaty (ANZUS, 1 Sept, 1951), Central Treaty Organization, also
developing world andis known as Baghdad Pact, 1955, (CENTO, 1958-1979, dissolved in 1979) and
belongs to the mostly
(NAM) developing world, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, or the Manila Pact (SEATO, 8 Sept, 1954,
Movement states of the Conferencein 1961withthe dissolvedin 1977), to which India's neighbour Pakistan was being drawn into,
Non-Aligned middle-sized Belgrade
The small and from the promptedIndia to embark upon the policy of ron-alignment. Nehru made it
coalition of its roots
[Link] The clear that India would belong to one camp—the camp of peace, goodwill and
IfNOIRer ntries are its members. fromtimeto [Link] essential aspect of the policy of non-alignment is, in the words
than 100c and they meet
more structure issues of Nehru, "the enlargement of freedom and replacement of colonization by free
conferencesand
now organizational support for some specific and independent countries and a large degree of cooperation among nations .
a to garner
coulel devisedregionsof the world global The Arab leaders' choice of the policy of
tiillipnalileroent changing the existing from their desire to ward off a confligcin-tlxeirarea between the great powers, or
primarily aiming at order. In at them a pretext for intervention. The Suez Crisis was an
elations, and
international just, equal
creating
movement.
is an 168
 NAM: Genesis 169
NAM:GENESIS
The rapid decolonization process that
followed after
brought into existence numerous states in Africa War
or Asia and the Caribbean
were mostly small middle-sized and were which
underdevelope&and-politically
we They faced twin tasks of nation-building as well
as tackling the internal
dissenting forces within their societies. Alongside they had
a Herculean task of
coping up with underdevelopment and working towards development.
It is these
nations whose governments came together under theumbrella of
post-Second World War also witnessed the outbreak of
theNAM.
Cold War resulting
in the hostilities of the two major
powers, the United States and the
Soviet
Union. The Cold War was further fuelled when the USA adopteda policy of
containment of Communism throughout the world, as the USSR was doing .9

support to the the

same by giving national [Link]
ultimate
result was military acts and counter pacts, an increase in arms race, gradual
polarizati e_world into different ocs, and the threat of
nuclear war,
which could result in the total annihilationof [Link] newlyindependent
states that wantedto_tide over their own problems of development and shared a
similarkind of exploitative colonial pasty_wantedto belong,to neither of the
camps nd envisioneOfosition of neutrality [Link] NAM
originated under the leadership of Jawahara NehruÅIndia),Marshal Tito
(Yugoslavia), Kusno Sukarno (Indonesia), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana) and
GamalAbdel Nasser (Egypt). They forged a strong coalition of states from
Asia, Africa, Europe, The Arab World and Latin America and the Caribbean.
The rationale behind the adoption of the policy of non-alignmentby the
developingcountries reflects numerous_objectives,each differing from one
state to the For instance, in the case of India, her foreign policys&jectives
rested on from colonialism,racial equality and
non-alignment,which were very much grounded in her experiences of colonial
rule and her freedom struggle against British [Link]
Cold War that
emergedimmediately after the conclusion of the Second World
War and the
strategiesof superpowers to maintain their spheres
of influence resulted in the
formationof military pacts like the Australia,
New Zealand, United States
SecurityTreaty (ANZUS, 1 Sept, 1951),
known as Baghdad Pact, 1955, Central Treaty Organization, also
(CENTO, 1958-1979, dissolved in 1979) and
SoutheastAsia Treaty Organization,
or the Manila Pact (SEATO, 8 Sept, 1954,
dissolvedin 1977), to which
India's neighbour Pakistan was being drawn into,
promptedIndia to embark
clearthat India would upon the policy of ron-alignment. Nehru made it
belong to one camp—the camp of peace, goodwilland
[Link] essential
OfNehru, "the aspect of the policy of non-alignment is, in the words
and independentenlargement of freedom and replacement of colonizationby free
countries
The Arab leaders' and a large degree of cooperation among nations".
[21

from their choice of the olic of non-alignmentprimarilyarose

de ward Off a conflict in their area between the great powers, or
at an rat
them a pretext for intervention. The Suez Crisis was an
 Major Objectivesof NAM 171
Nehru at the first NAM Summit at Belgrade in 1961 said
"We call ourselves
non-aligned countries. The word 'Non-Aligned' may be differently
interpreted,
but basically it was coined and used with the meaning of being Non-Aligned
with the great power blocs of the world.. .Non-aligned has a negative meaning.
But if we give it a positive connotation, it means nations which object to lining
up for war purposes, to military blocs, to military alliances and the like. We
keep away from such an approach and want to throw our weight in favour of
peace".[6]Krishna Menon, once replying to a reporter's insistent questioning
said, "Yes, in a sense non-alignment is an ugly word; it is a negative word but
when you use it in the way we do, it becomes positive". Professor J.
Bandyopadhyaya contends that the negative nomenclature bears the imprint of
India's cultural heritage, which expresses many positive values in the negative
terminology.
Nehru, the architect of non-alignment, once said, "I have not originated
non-alignment; it is a policy inherent in the circumstances of India for freedom,
and inherent in the very circumstances of the world today" .17]He also confessed
to the Indian National Assembly that "the natural result of our non-alignment
has been that neither of the big blocs looks upon us with favour. They think that
we are undependable, because we cannot be made to vote this way or that way"
Krishna Menon, too, had observed that "Non-alignment is more or less a residue
of historical circumstances,...we cannot align with the west with its
„ [81
colonialism, and there is no question of course of joining the Soviet bloc
The Bandung Conference of 18—24April 1955 in Indonesia was an Afro-
Asian Conference, and it marked the beginning of the non-alignmentmoyement
althoughit was fcrmally initiated at the Belgrade [Link]-im1961. As
Prof.V.P. Dutt observed that non-aligned countries "despite their inner
contradictions,their oft-differing needs, their lack of military muscle and
power, and their economic backwardness, have become some kind of a force to
„ 191
reckon with and at least one significant factor in international affairs .

MAJOROBJECTIVES OF NAM
The leaders of 25 non-aligned countries met at the Belgrade Conference in 1961
to create an independent path in world politics that would shield them from
becomingpawns in the struggle between the major powers. Their common
concerns became the fundamental principles upon which the non-aligned
countriesbased their decisions and activities. They are a commitment to:
E Peace and disarmament, especially the reduction of tensions between the
majgc_powers.
Ind9gndence, including the right ofself-determination-ofall colol!ial
Fples and the right of equality between all races.
• Economic
equality, with an emphasis on restructuring the existing
international economic order, particularly with respect to the growing
and perststent inequality
between the rich and the poor nations.
 172 Non-Aligned Movement the world inforn
restructuring
on c
Cultural equality, with an emphasis opposing
and systems.
information st—support for the
the Western monopoly of
through
Universalismand Inuililateralism
guidelines of the Moveme
the underlying to enunciate them un
These principles have been formally made
this point that
frorn its beginning,and no attemptwasshould be noted at
the Sixth Summit in Havana in [Link] to these basic principles,
commitment
the non-alignedcountriessharea Movement as the Movement is a comple
are ideological differences within the histories, languages, religions
grouping of states representingdifferentsocial and economic systems.
cultures and a variety of political, of the Movement, but
to influence the course
differences sometimes have come
tendenciesthe Movement continues to reflect
it can be said that despite such
policies that reduce StrUctural
one single primary concern—toengage in
inequality in the global system.

GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT—FROMBANDUNG TO PORLAMAR

The growth of NAM can be traced through various major meetings from one
Summit conferenceto anotherwithin the context of global events. The various
Summitconferencesof NAM whichhave been held till date are as follows:

Place Year
Bandung (Indonesia)
1955
Belgrade (Yugoslavia)
1961
Cairo (Egypt)
1964
Lusaka (Zambia)
1970
Algiers (Algeria)
197Å
Colombo (Sri Lanka)
1976
Havana (Cuba)
1979
New Delhi (India)
Harare (Zimbabwe) 1983
Belgrade (Yugoslavia) 1986
Jakarta (Indonesia) 1989
Cartagena(Colombia) 1992
Durban (South 1995
Africa)
Kuala Lumpur 1998
(Malaysia)
Havana (Cuba) 2003
Sharm el-Sheikh 2006
(Egypt) 2009
Tehran (Iran)
Porlamar 2012
(Venezuela)
2016
 Contributionof NAM 187
frotn interventionor interferencein the internalaffairs of
(d) Abstained
another country.
the right of each nation to defend itself singly or
(e) Respect for conformity with the
collectively,in Charter of the United Nations.
acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against
(f) Refrainedfrotn
the territorial integrity or political independenceof any country.
(g) Settled all international disputes by peaceful means, in conforjnity with
the Charter of the United Nations.
interests and cooperation.
(h) PromotedInutual
(i) Respect for justice and international obligations.

CONTRIBUTION OF NAM
TheNAM, which was born in the backdrop of the Cold War tensions between
the two superpowers, worked for peace, security, disarmament, independence,
developmentand cooperation among nations. In short, it can be said that
NAM's contribution-canbe best assessed
Détente,Disarmament, Development, Democratization and Dissemination.
From its inception, the Movement primarily focused on peace and
disarmamentand the need for peaceful coexistenceamong states. There was
also a strong support for freedom struggle against the colonial rule in Algeria,
Angola,Tunisia, South Africa and Cuba. The process of decolonizationalso
receivedsupport and attention in Mozambique and other Portuguese colonies,
French Somaliland, Southern Rhodesia, Aden and Oman. The Movement
vehemently criticized the apartheid in South Africa and even went to the extent
of breakingoff diplomaticties with South Africa.
In the economic front, the NAM drew attention to the rising neo-
colonialism,and in the Lusaka Summit it was stated that "classical colonialism
is trying to perpetuate itself in the garb of neo-colonialism—a less obvious, but
in no way a less dangerous means of economic and political domination over the
developing countries". Therefore, the NAM demanded a revision of the unequal
globaleconomic structure with a New InternationalEconomic Order based on
equity and justice.
As far as the institutionalization of NAM was concerned, a major resolution
was adopted in the Colombo Summit with the composition and mandate of the
CoordinatingBureau. Another important step was the setting up of the Press
Agencies Pool of non-aligned countries with a view to foster cooperation in the
field of informationand mass media and set up a New World Informationand
CommunicationOrder (NWICO) also known as New International Information
Order. The NAM also highlighted the need for collective self-reliance among
the developing countries, which would augment their development and help in
the establishment of New International Economic Order (NIEO). In other
words,it sought a South—Southcooperation.
 Iss

among the member countries

Despitedifferences on
as the Iran—Iraq u'ar, and
regionalissuessuch
Lebanon,Cenüal America, South Afnca, N
Afghanistan, in Relevance of N A IV
Movement in the field or
achievementsof the atnibia
and relations calls for solutton
Decolonization fntcrnationaland understanding on a grcafcr plane
The incoming Chairperson of NAM. negotiations
cannotbe denied. the United Nations. Under such changed the
in her closing address to the Indira G
IndianPrimeMinister historically and practically play the same role(
"the resolution to the summit cannot Cold War has replaced the "nuclear horny • with
1983)stated. dominating The end of the
cannot be issues underdevelopment, violence and tcrroosm topping tbc
have with [Link] with the security problem of the 'South to
only and getting
military solution. The per cent of the world
our can be no per cent of the wealth and the per cent—hold cytJJy
TheTenthNAMSummit at Jakarta in 1992, the
Eleventh hold almost 83 Such adverse economic global structure continues to negati
1995all calledfor an introspection into the formulation at C 1.4 per cent.[15J countries, and NAM has a definite role workangtowatds
platformofthe non-alignedstates thmugh a comprehensive of new affect the developingto help its member countries to alleviate the suffc•nngs of
Order
a New World
Cenario rated population.
of socio-economicand political fronts.
challenges
The Twelfthand the India's assertion at the Colombia Summit highlights that the culture and
Durbanconcededthat the non-aligned countries we newer not passé, but "The cold war had been so compulsive that
re standing
on a Summit logic of NAM are
a newera—"anera that offers great opportunit y yet the rationale of the origins of the Non-Aligned Movement and
poses special threshold many forgot
developing The Movement, to make danger Of it as only an exercise in acrobatics between the overwhelming blocs.
positive for the understood
contribution permanent principles of peace, struggle against dominations. cooperation
emerge as the The
of
millennium,
thevoice peoplesliving in the south power of in
the new between nations, and the establishment a world order more or less took a back
nobleprinciplesfor uhich the Movement and work But the culture ofpeace, cooperation, strivingfipranew:andjust world
was towards as long as the world is [Link] upon
and As Dr. Gov. SrÅzstava observed, order will continue an inequitable
worldis interdependent "it has to be International system.
as never before. The realized that
importantto achieve South-South
North-South Co-operation. Co-operation is
the I.K. Gujral, the Indian Prime Minister put forward certain proposals for
operation is essentialto ensure And North—South rejuvenation of NAM before the Twelfth meeting of the NAM Foreign
a world based
on tolerance
and genuine
Co- Ministers while highlighting the re-emergence of the new imperialism_orthe
NAMhasa definite
role to West. NAMv-he asserted, should assume Its supreme responsibility to deplore
membercountries and the need of the fundamentalism of glob;tlization and the market alongside addressing the
shouldact in unison the hour is that
roleandforgea and revive the the NAM- burning issues of terrorism, civil wars, ethnicity, human rights, res.egg_tfor
Movement's
betweensouth and
south, ultimately
assertive democratic ideals, poverty, underdeyeJopmenUand_Uemocratization of the
leading UnitedNations. He reaffirmed that NAM should strive for a more equitable
WorldOrder, and has to play a crucial
RELEVANCEOF developingcountries in the international fora. But to one's dismay, NAM has
NAMIN
CONTEMPORARY not made any remarkable breakthrough in either promoting the South—South
The question INTERNATIONAL cooperationor adopting a positive plan of action regarding the problems of
which is
betweenthe raised under
two
the erstwhile ideologically the given human rights and social justice, environmental degradation, trafficking of drugs
soviet Uniondrivenpower circumstances, when the rivalry and weapons, international terrorism other than expressing concerns about
have ceasedblocs led by the United them. Therefore, NAM should tide over such identity crisis and establish its
reedand around 1990 states and
relevanceof relevance and efficacy, once again, for it is an international platform 'ßhich
"ugoslaviahas followed by the
the end [Link] provides opportunity to small, poor and underdeveloped countries to have their
ofthe cold his
war observation for
Minic, a voices heard.[171
followed such Foreign Minister of
otiation
by the situation The need of the hour is an effort by all the ntember states to strengthen the
and cesswaotiln as One cropping out
accommodation.
Th e ' ofhoostij;tieusnbietolwaere'nisthe bargaining capacity of NAM, which can partly be done by reaffirming faith in
In
emergence many
of thisinstances, by dialogue, the Movement and by building a strong bond atnong its member states once
kind of again, and partly by organizing sonic' fortn of institutional machinery for
new situation in
 190
Non-Aligned
Movement
collective
bargaining with
the Chairman the developed was proposed by
of the south [Link] latter the former
President of Commission, Julius Nycrere, the
Third world Tanzania. In a report publishedin 1990, reaffirmed that in their
dealings with
countries are in bargaining-position
the sountries-or with
the transnational well-organized groupings of (he ill-
comorations. and that the Third World countries arc Often the
piéfåi@roödiseussions
with decides the agenda Of
meeting. The report the North which often is firmly of the
recommended, inter alia, "the Commission for
view that the
developing countries should establish a well-staffed Secretariat
the South that would provide support for analysis,
interaction, negotiation continuinginstitutional
technical foundation for
their collective and follow-UPaction—the towards this end and
function". [181 should work
establish The NAM the implementation of
a Secretariat to serve, coordinate and follow-up
its decisions. A need of the hour. The NAM COUntries
rejuvenated NAM is the
should come forward
with a vision to:
Reform and strengthen the United Nations
• Encourage the South—Southcooperation
• Strive for an equitable world order
reforms
• Consolidate the movement through necessary
of the movement by its members
Adhere to the principles and objectives
and build a common bargaining platform.

EXERCISES
1. Trace the origin and evolution of the non-aligned movement. What are its
objectives?
2. Discuss the growth of the non-aligned movement. Has the non-aligned
movement lost its relevance?
3. Write a note on the growth, significance and contribution of the non-
aligned movement. Is it relevant in the contemporary world?

REFERENCES
[IJ Singham, A.W. and Shirley Hune, Non-alignment in an Age of
Alignments,LawrenceHill and Co., Westport, USA and Zed BooksLtd.,
London,1986,p. l.
[2] Jaipal,Rikhi,Non-alignment:Origins, Growth and Potential for Worlds
Peace, Allied Publishers,New Delhi, 1983, p. 10.
[3] ibid., p. 52.
[4] ibid.,pp. 55—56.