Context: Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated that NAM members should harness the initiative to advance Global South aspirations and “re-purpose” the movement at the 19th NAM mid-term ministerial meeting in Kampala, Uganda.
Genesis and Formation of NAM
- The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) originated from the Asia-Africa Conference held at Bandung (Indonesia) in 1955.
- It emerged during the independence struggles of Asia, Africa, and Latin America amid the Cold War rivalry between the U.S. and the USSR.
- The movement was led by Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Josip Broz Tito (Yugoslavia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), and Sukarno (Indonesia) — the founding fathers of NAM.
- The idea was to remain independent of both military blocs — NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
Principles and Objectives
- NAM’s foundation rests on the “Ten Principles of Bandung” adopted at the 1955 Bandung Conference.
- It is also guided by the Five Principles of Panchsheel (1954) — mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, and peaceful coexistence.
- The first NAM Summit was held in Belgrade, 1961.
- NAM aims to promote independence in foreign policy, peaceful coexistence, anti-colonialism, and international cooperation.
Membership and Structure
- NAM currently has 121 member countries, including India.
- Africa – 53, Asia – 39, Latin America & Caribbean – 26, Europe – 2.
- It also has 18 observer countries and 10 observer organizations.
- NAM has no formal charter or permanent secretariat, reflecting its informal and consensus-based nature.
Challenges Faced by NAM
- Shift from a bipolar to a multipolar world order has reduced NAM’s centrality.
- Emerging plurilateral groupings like QUAD and I2U2 dilute its non-aligned stance.
- Ideological and economic dependence of many NAM members on major powers limits independent decision-making.
- Regional organizations such as ASEAN, SCO, and BRICS address regional issues more effectively.
- Global challenges like climate change, cyber security, and pandemics demand collective responses beyond NAM’s framework.
- Internal divisions and leadership deficit weaken its ability to take clear global positions.
- The approach of multi-alignment is increasingly seen as more pragmatic in the current geopolitical environment.
Current Relevance of NAM
- Reforming the UN System: NAM supports UN Security Council reforms for a more democratic and representative structure.
- Protecting Sovereignty: Advocates self-determination, territorial integrity, and political independence of nations.
- Core of Developing Nations’ Foreign Policy: For countries like India, NAM ensures independence of action in external affairs.
- Unifying Voice for the Global South: Acts as a platform for South-South Cooperation and collective bargaining on global issues.
- Promoting Multilateralism: Upholds peaceful coexistence, diplomacy, and opposition to imperialism.
- Recent stances such as condemnation of Israel’s war and call for UN democratisation reflect its enduring relevance.
- The concept of Active Non-Alignment (ANA) advocates a proactive, solution-oriented role, unlike passive neutrality.
Non-Alignment vs Neutrality
| Aspect | Non-Alignment | Neutrality |
| Nature | Political concept | Legal concept |
| Constitutional Status | Not part of constitution | Can be permanent in constitution |
| Approach | Active participation and friendship with all | Non-involvement and passive stance |
| Objective | Promote cooperation, peace, and autonomy | Avoid participation in conflicts |
Conclusion
- NAM remains relevant as long as exploitation, inequality, war, and poverty persist.
- It must redefine its objectives to address multipolar realities and emerging global challenges.
- By evolving with the times, NAM can continue to act as the moral and political voice of the developing world.
Q- Analyze the role of NAM in promoting South-South Cooperation and advancing the aspirations of the Global South. What are the constraints it faces in fulfilling this role? (15 Marks, 250 words)
