Academic Script

Lesson 43

India and the Non-Aligned Movement

Introduction

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) came into being amidst the collapse of the colonial system

and the fervour of independence movements in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and various other

regions of the world. Its foundation occurred at the peak of the Cold War when global politics

were polarized between the United States and the Soviet Union.

During its early days, NAM played a pivotal role in the decolonization process. Its actions and

advocacy were instrumental in facilitating numerous countries' and people's freedom and

independence.
By providing a platform for nations that refused to align with any major power bloc, NAM

became a significant force driving decolonization efforts, empowering nations to shape their

destinies independently.

Throughout its rich history, the Non-Aligned Movement has been a cornerstone in preserving

world peace and security. By adhering to the principles of non-alignment, mutual respect, and

peaceful coexistence, NAM member countries have actively contributed to diffusing

international tensions. By promoting diplomacy and dialogue over aggression and conflict, NAM

has served as a symbol of hope and fostering understanding and cooperation among nations. Its

commitment to neutrality and its emphasis on resolving disputes through peaceful means have

not only prevented unnecessary escalations but have also encouraged the global community to

embrace diplomacy as the preferred path to resolving international conflicts.

NAM's enduring dedication to these ideals continues to shape the international landscape,

promoting a world where nations can coexist harmoniously, free from the spectre of war and

hostility.

Evolution of NAM

A new international context was brought about with:

● The creation and strengthening of the socialist bloc after the defeat of fascism in World

War II

● The collapse of colonial empires

● The emergence of a bipolar world characterized by the formation of two military blocs

(NATO and the Warsaw Pact)

This context necessitated the establishment of multilateral coordination forums among the

countries of the South. In this context, underdeveloped countries, predominantly in Asia and

Africa, recognized the imperative need to unite for the common defense of their interests. Their

goals included strengthening their independence, preserving sovereignty, fostering cultural and

economic revival, and ensuring the well-being of their people.

Additionally, these nations asserted their strong commitment to peace by declaring themselves

"non-aligned," abstaining from affiliations with either of the two military blocs. The leaders who

gathered in Bandung, despite differing political and ideological views, found common ground in

their shared program, including the political decolonization of Asia and Africa. This shared

agenda marked a significant step towards independence.

Additionally, they unanimously agreed that political independence was a means towards the

larger goal of achieving economic, social, and cultural independence, underlining the

comprehensive development of their nations. The Bandung meeting served as a precursor to the

founding of the Non-Aligned Movement, established six years later at the First Summit
Conference in Belgrade from 1-6 September 1961. The conference was attended by the Heads of

States and Governments of 25 countries, along with observers from three other nations. The "Ten

Principles of Bandung" were established at the Conference, later becoming the core objectives of

non-alignment policy. Adherence to these principles became the fundamental criterion for

Non-Aligned Movement membership, representing the essence of the Movement until the early

1990s.

During the Fifteenth Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1960, the

creation of the Non-Aligned Movement gained momentum following the achievements in

Bandung. At this session, 17 new African and Asian countries were admitted, significantly

boosting the movement's formation. The founding fathers of the movement and its leaders played

a pivotal role in this process. It included Heads of State, from nation such as Gamal Abdel

Nasser of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Ahmed Sukarno of Indonesia, Jawaharlal Nehru of

India and Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia.

This First Summit of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was convened by the leaders of

India, Indonesia, Egypt, Syria and Yugoslavia. On 26 April 1961, the Presidents of the Arab

Republic of Egypt (Nasser) and Yugoslavia (Tito) addressed the Heads of State and Government

of 21 "non-Aligned" countries. President Tito suggested that taking world events and the rise of

international tensions into account, a conference should be held to resist the policies of force and

a constructive settlement of conflicts and other issues of concern in the world.

India and NAM

The term "non-alignment" was coined by V.K. Menon in his speech at the United Nations in

1953. Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru later used this term during his speech in 1954 in

Colombo, Sri Lanka. Nehru's concept of non-alignment brought India significant international

prestige among newly independent states that shared its concerns about the military

confrontation between the superpowers and the influence of former colonial powers.
By laying the foundation stone of the Non-Aligned Movement, India established a significant

role for itself as a leader of the newly independent world and in multilateral organizations like

the UN. Six years after the Bandung meeting, the Movement of Non-Aligned countries was

founded on a broader geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, held on 1-6

September 1961.

The Conference was attended by 26 countries, including 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,

and Yugoslavia. The founders of NAM chose to declare it as a movement rather than an

organization to avoid bureaucratic implications. The membership criteria established during the

Preparatory Conference for the Belgrade Summit in Cairo in 1961 demonstrate that the

movement was not designed to play a passive role in international politics.

Instead, its purpose was to formulate independent positions that reflected the interests of its

members. The primary objectives of non-aligned countries included supporting

self-determination, national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of states. They

opposed apartheid, avoided multilateral military pacts, and sought independence from great

power influences. They also fought against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism,

foreign occupation and domination.

Additionally, NAM focused on:

● Disarmament

● Non-interference in other states' internal affairs

● Peaceful coexistence

● Rejecting the use or threat of force

● Strengthening the United Nations

● Democratizing international relations

● Promoting socioeconomic development

● Restructuring the international economic system

● Fostering international cooperation on an equal footing

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Non-Aligned Movement played a pivotal role in advocating for

a new international economic order. This order aimed to enable all nations to utilize their wealth

and natural resources while fostering significant changes in international economic relations. It

was instrumental in the economic emancipation of Southern countries. In its 63 years of

existence, the Non-Aligned Movement has welcomed an increasing number of states and
liberation movements. Despite their diverse backgrounds, these entities have embraced its

founding principles and objectives, demonstrating their commitment to realizing them.

Principles of Bandung

The fulfilment of these principles became the essential criterion for Non-Aligned Movement

membership and were considered the "quintessence of the Movement" until the early 1990s.

The principles were as follows:

1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter

of the United Nations.

2. Respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

3. Recognition of the equality among all races and of the equality among all nations, both

large and small.

4. Non-intervention or non-interference into the internal affairs of another country.

 5. Respect of the right of every nation to defend itself, either individually or collectively, in

conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

6. Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defence to serve the particular

interests of any of the big powers.

7. Seeking settlement of international disputes by peaceful means and negotiations.

8. Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation.

9. Respect for justice and international obligations.

10. Respect for the principles of non-alignment.

The movement played an important role in supporting nations struggling for independence in the

Third World and showed great solidarity with the most just aspirations of humanity. It

contributed to the victory in the struggle for national independence and decolonization of various

nations, thus gaining considerable diplomatic prestige. In the 1960s and 1970s, successive

Summits transformed "non-alignment" into the "Movement of Non-Aligned Countries,"

encompassing nearly all Asian and African nations. It became a forum for coordinating efforts to

secure economic and political rights for the developing world. Post-independence, conferences

increasingly focused on economic, social, and political concerns. An example of this was the

introduction of the concept of a "new international economic order" at the Algiers Conference in

1973. In the late 1980s, the movement confronted a significant challenge due to the collapse of

the socialist bloc. Some perceived the resolution of the clash between the two opposing blocks as

the start of the decline for the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries.

The core principle that gave rise to the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, non-aligned from

antagonistic blocs, remains relevant despite the end of the Cold War. The dissolution of one bloc

has not resolved the world's pressing issues. In fact, renewed strategic interests focused on
domination are gaining strength, posing new and more dangerous challenges for underdeveloped

nations.

During the 14th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Havana, Cuba, in September 2006,

the Heads of States reaffirmed their commitment to the ideals, principles, and purposes upon

which the movement was founded, as well as the principles and purposes enshrined in the United

Nations Charter. The Heads of States firmly believed that the absence of two conflicting blocs

does not diminish the need to strengthen the movement as a mechanism for political coordination

among developing countries. They acknowledged the imperative to revitalize the movement,

emphasizing the importance of concrete action, unity, and solidarity among its members. These

steps are essential for reaffirming the movement's identity and its capacity to influence

international relations.

Inspired by the principles and purposes introduced to the Non-Aligned Movement by the

Bandung principles and during the first NAM Summit in Belgrade in 1961, the Governments of
the member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement adopted the following principles during

their 14th Summit in Havana during 11-16 September 2006.

1. Respect for the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and

International Law.

2. Respect for the sovereignty, sovereign equality, and territorial integrity of all states.

3. Recognition of the equality of all races, religions, cultures, and nations, both big and

small.

4. Promotion of dialogue among people, civilizations, cultures, and religions and the

promotion and consolidation of tolerance and freedom of belief.

5. Respect for and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all,

including the effective implementation of the right of people to peace and development.

6. Respect for the equality of rights of states, including the inalienable right of each state to

determine freely its political, social, economic, and cultural system, without any

interference whatsoever from any other state.

7. Reaffirmation of the validity and relevance of the movement’s principled positions

concerning the right to self-determination of people under foreign occupation and

colonial or alien domination.

8. Non-interference in the internal affairs of other states. No state or group of states has the

right to intervene either directly or indirectly in the internal affairs of any other state.

9. Rejection of unconstitutional changes of governments.

10. Rejection of attempts at regime change.

11. Condemnation of the use of mercenaries in all situations, especially in conflict situations.
12. Refraining by all countries from exerting pressure or coercion on other countries,

including resorting to aggression or other acts involving the use of direct or indirect

force.

13. Total rejection of aggression as a dangerous and serious breach of international law,

which entails international responsibility for the aggressor.

14. Respect for the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence, in accordance with

the Charter of the United Nations.

15. Condemnation of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and systematic and

gross violations of human rights, in accordance with the UN Charter and International

Law.

16. Rejection of and opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by

whomever, wherever, and for whatever purposes, as it constitutes one of the most serious

threats to international peace and security. In this context, terrorism should not be equated

with the legitimate struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign

occupation for self-determination and national liberation.

17. Promotion of the Pacific settlement of disputes.

18. Reaffirmation that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of

people to determine their own political, economic, social, and cultural systems and their

full participation in all aspects of their life.

19. Promotion of multilateralism and multilateral organizations as the appropriate

frameworks to resolve issues through dialogue and cooperation.

20. Support for efforts by countries suffering internal conflicts to achieve peace, justice,

equality, and development.

 21. The duty of each state is to fully and in good faith comply with the international treaties

to which it is a party, as well as to honour the commitments made in the framework of

international organizations and to live in peace with other states.

22. Promotion of shared interests, justice, and cooperation, regardless of the differences

existing in the political, economic, and social systems of the states, on the basis of mutual

respect and the equality of rights.

23. Solidarity is a fundamental component of relations among nations in all circumstances.

24. Respect for the political, economic, social, and cultural diversity of countries and people.

India’s Role

The Bandung Conference, held in 1955 in Indonesia, was a significant event in the context of the

Cold War and the decolonization process in Asia and Africa. India played a crucial role in the

conference and its aftermath. India, along with other Bandung Conference participants,

condemned colonialism and racial segregation. India supported anti-colonial movements in

Africa and Asia and spoke against apartheid in South Africa.

India emphasized solidarity between Asian and African countries, fostering cultural, economic,

and political cooperation between these regions. India promoted economic cooperation among

developing nations. This included trade agreements, technology sharing, and developmental aid

to support other newly independent countries in their nation-building efforts. India, inspired by

Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and social justice, promoted these principles

internationally, influencing global movements for civil rights and social change. India pursued a

policy of nuclear disarmament and advocated for global nuclear non-proliferation while

emphasizing its right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy for development. India's active

participation and leadership in the NAM, following the Bandung Conference, established its

global diplomatic credentials. The principles of non-alignment, anti-colonialism, and peaceful

coexistence continue to be part of India's foreign policy legacy.