Non-Aligned Movement

Objective: To know meaning of

non-alignment, its formation,
growth, objective and Nehru’s
role in non-aligned movement
 Meaning of Non-Alignment
• Non-Alignment means that nations which are
non-aligned judge each issue on its own
merits and do not toe the line of one or the
other super power.
• In other words, it is a group of states that are
not formally aligned with or against any major
power bloc.
 Meaning of the Non-Alignment
Movement (NAM)
• The NAM was shaped and originated during
the end of the colonial system and the
freedom brawls of the peoples of Africa, Asia,
Latin America and other regions of the world
and at the height of the Cold War.
• In history, the movement of Non-Aligned
Countries has played a essential role in the
safeguarding of world peace and security.
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• The Bandung Asian-African Conference is the
most direct originator to the creation of the
NAM.
• This Conference was held in Bandung on April 18-
24, 1955 & gathered 29 Heads of States.
• These states belonged to the first post-colonial
generation of leaders from the two continents
with an aim of categorizing and considering world
issues at the time and following out joint policies
in worldwide relations.
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• In this process key role was played 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.
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• 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. The Conference was attended by 25
countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Yemen, Myanmar,
Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.
Factors responsible for the
formation of NAM
• Non-Alignment emerged as a reaction against
the system of military alliances – as a
consequences of the cold war between the
two power blocs
• Intense nationalism as a mark of freedom
movement in Asia and Africa countries
adopted, “a policy of keeping out of alliances
in general and military pacts in particular.”
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• Asian and African countries were
underdeveloped and needed financial &
technical assistance from both the power
blocs
• Afro-Asian countries looked at arms race as
dangerous for world peace. They also realised
that the peace without which there could not
be real development and they would
strengthen UNO by being non-aligned
 Formation & Growth of the
NAM
The Bandung Conference
NATO had been set up in 1949 and in the early
1950s military alliances had begun to be
forged in Asia
India along with China, proclaimed the 5
principles of Peaceful Co-existence
(Panchsheel)
 Five-Principles became the
Bedrock of the NAM
• Panchsheel means, “five principles of Moral Conduct.”
based on Buddhist philosophy
• India and China on Tibet emphasized five principles of
Peaceful Co-existence. In 1955 President Sukarno of
Indonesia hosted a conference of 29 Asian and African
nations at Bandung.
• Five principles are as follows:
A. Mutual respect for one another’s territorial integrity
B. Non-aggression
C. Non-interference in one another’s internal affairs
D. Equality and working for each other’s benefit, and
E. Peaceful co-existence
 Achievement of the conference
• NAM leaders showed complete unity and
agreement with each other, especially in
supporting the aims and objects of the UN.
 Belgrade Conference 1961
• Attended by 25 nations
• 27 point declaration – conference adopted 27 point
declaration which contained an appeal to the super
powers to maintain peace and security in the world
a. All forms of colonialism
b. The policy of racial segregation being practiced in
South Africa & in other parts of the world. The
Declaration called for complete Disarmament.
c. In few years NA became a major force in the world,
with over a hundred countries following in it.
 Objectives of the NAM
• Abolition of Imperialism and Colonialism –
NAM believed in the self-determination,
equality & freedom of all nations
• Maintenance of International Peace – NA
worked for the international peace & security
and course implemented by them was best
designed to prevent war
• End of Racism – NAM rejected all forms of
racial discrimination
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• Disarmament – The criteria of NA determined
as early as 1961 was that a country should not
be a member of any of the military alliances. It
favored Disarmament in particular the
possession of nuclear weapons
• Helping the UN – NAM stressed the need to
strengthen the United Nations to carry on its
functions effectively
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• Creation of a New International Economic Order (NIEO)
– NAM leaders shifted their emphasis from political to
economic matters and called for reform of institutions
such as International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World
Bank and World Trade Organisation (WTO)
• Protection of Environment – Called for global
cooperation to protect environment
• Cultural Equality – Need for cultural equality through
restructuring the existing information order
• Enforcement of Human Rights – one of the major
objective of NAM to put into effect Human Rights
 Nehru’s role in the NAM
It was his conviction that the nations of Asia and
Africa should not become Super Powers’
playthings.
Asian Relations Conference – before India’s
independence ARC was convened in New
Delhi in March 1947, where Nehru said, “we
have no designs against any body; ours is the
great design of promoting peace and progress
all over the world.”
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• Enunciated the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-
existence
• Nehru’s contribution to Deliberations at
Belgrade – issued a statement on the Danger
of War and Appeal for Peace. He was largely
responsible for the adoption of the said
statement. He emphasized on negotiations for
peace and disarmament
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• Opposition to the very Idea of Power Blocs
and Strong Condemnation of Acts of
Aggression – Korean Crisis of 1950s was the
first test of non-alignment. Indian strongly
condemned N. Korean aggression against S.
Korea. Due to which India was offered
chairmanship of the International Control
Commission sponsored by the UN in Indo-
China. Followed by condemning the Anglo-
French action in Egypt on the Suez Canal issue
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• India established itself as a Powerful Force in
World Affairs & World Peace – his policies
which stood for friendship & cooperation with
all nations, and peace in the world. He
pleaded for Disarmament as the only means
of preserving peace in the world
 Role of the NAM in a changing world
• World Peace, Disarmament, development &
human rights have been the main subjects of
discussion in all the conferences. Despite that
each summit has also drawn its attention on
some new and current issues
• In 70’s the NAM, condemned the activities of
the multinational corporations which
damaged the economy of the poor nations
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• For the first time state sponsored terrorism was
condemned in the 10th NA summit at Jakarta 1992
• In 13th summit held at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt 2009, a
resolution was passed attacking International Terrorism
and calling for a just settlement of the Palestinian issue
• 16th Summit held at Tehran in Iran, theme was ‘Lasting
Peace Through Joint Global Governance.’ whereas,
NAM insisted zero tolerance towards acts of terrorism.
Also geared up World Bank & IMF’s policies to the
advantage of the developing nations and a bold move
to reform the structure and functioning of the UN
security council.
• Confusion among its members could be seen
on issues like Afghan Crisis, Iraq war, Iran
Nuclear Programme, & Human Rights violation
because of international terrorism
• Discussion-
Do you still think that NAM has been successful
in achieving its objectives?