Shifting Paradigms In The Non Aligned Movement Politics Essay

Shifting Paradigms In The Non aline political campaign g overnment activity EssayThe concept of Non align Movement or NAM is non a doctrine or a dogma. It is a process. It is a way of expression at issues in a particular way. It is against hegemony, against arm-twisting by the rich and the mightinessful.Non- congluti republic1does non mean isolation or impersonality. It is an self-directed elbow grease stressing that kingdoms should follow their possess policies without connector any of the power blocs (in the period when they had existed) and f everying at a lower place their influence. A non- adjust nation judges each(prenominal) issue on its deservingnesss. In opposite words, non- coincidence uph over-the-hills the rights of all shows to license and prime(a) of action in the spherical field. whiz of the fundamental aspects of non-alignment is its antipathy to military alliances and opposition to any form of imperialism.The stance Second cosmos War period w itnessed an era of awakening and compound of political and nationalist aspirations of subjugated people over the military man. The centuries old phenomenon of colonialism started crumbling and in conclusion gave way. Many in the altogether autonomous states came into existence in Asia and Africa after having throw off the yoke of overseas domination. It was overly a time when the insensate war mingled with the Soviet and the US blocs was getting intensified. The super powers well-tried to win over these newly independent countries to their respective blocs. But close to of them abhorred the estimate of composure to any of the super powers or for political argument towards any of them. They wanted to pursue an independent foreign polity of their possess rather than toeing the line of any power bloc. It was this strategy of not joining either of the two power blocs and following an independent foreign constitution that came to be known as Non-alignment.The newly inde pendent countries intimatelyly in Asia and Africa had almost identical problems of economy, government, development, etc. and in that respectfore they had many views in parklandplace on dry land affairs. These Afri atomic number 50 and Asian countries thus sought to sustain in charge their problems at a conference held at Bandung in Ind angiotensin-converting enzymesia in 1955. cardinal Asian and Afri scum bag nations attended it. India, China and Ind unmatchablenesssia played a in the lead subprogram at this conference. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the then prime minister of India, the then Chinese Prime minister of religion Chou-En-Lat and the then Pre spatial relationnt Sukarno of Indonesia expressed complete personal identity of views. The electric shock of this conference was felt in the fall in Nations likewise. This was also the number one of the Non-Aligned Movement. These Afro-Asian countries decl ared themselves neutralists. The epithet non-aligned was adopted at a ensuant conference held at Belgrade in 1961.SCOPE OF searchDuring the credit line of preparing the final submission, the savant police detective has essentially tried in crush the following primary research dubiousnesss, namelyThe extent to which the Non Aligned Movement has affected the valet de chambre politics?Indias role concerning the Non Aligned Movement considering that it is one of the embeding members and has recently emerged as a globular stinting officeiness?The extent to which the current debate on the contemporaneous signifi put upce of Non Aligned Movement relevant?Measures can be taken to ensure that Non Aligned Movement emerges as a stronger force in current world politics?LIMITATION OF RESEARCHWhile trying to try concrete answer to the research headers formulated above, the savant research put to worker has intended to micturate this final research submission which is both explanatory and exploratory in scope. Also, the educatee researcher has i ntended to critically analyze the research question framed for the purpose of final research submission.In relation to the above, the student researcher has tried to salute an overview of the Non Aligned Movement, historical evolution, its major constituent to global politics, pros and cons associated with the same, etc. through this final research submission.Also, the student researcher has tried to essentially compare Indias initiatives with that of the other(a) countries of the world and examine the various(a) measures adopted by them in altering the Non Aligned Movement.LIMITATION OF RESEARCHThe student researcher submits that not much literature has been available on the same in the NUJS university library and other prominent libraries in Kolkata. Hence, the student researcher has relied on the electronic resources for completion of his final research submission.Also, this submission is, in no way, to be considered exhaustive and thither shall be masses of scope for fu rther research. Having said this, the student researcher has tried, within his special(a) capabilities, to critically analyze the research questions framed for the purpose and present a value neutral submission.METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCHSince the present submission offered no scope for empirical research, the research methodology adopted by the student researcher was entirely doctrinal.The student researcher has analysed the research questions by fashioning a value neutral study of the same. In doing the same, the student researcher has not let his own opinion influence the research questions or the research as a whole, to the maximum extent possible.NON ALIGNMENT endeavor ITS ORIGINS, IDEOLOGY AND A LITTLE MOREThose who were not with us were against us. StalinA country must lean to be on one side or the other and a ordinal base path does not exist. Chinese Communist Supremo MaoThe term non-alignment has a detail meaning. Many westerly scholars mean by non-alignment, neutrality or neutralism only but that might not be a correct interpretation. Schwarzenberger2has suggested some related terms- isolationism, non- loading, neutrality, neutralization, uni subsequentalism and non involvement. Isolationism stands for policies of space varying from the known isolation of the US before the First World War to postures of inoffensiveness in transnational affairs. Non commitment refers to politics of detachment for other powers in a triangular or multicorner dealingship. Neutrality describes the political and efficacious status of a country at war, with respect to belligerents. Neutralization agency a permanent neutral status of a particular state which it cannot give up under any circumstances, eg. Switzerland is a neutralized state. Unilateralism is set with policies of calculated risks such as the destruction of own nuclear weapons at ones own instance. Non involvement means keeping outside(a) from the ideological peel between the different super power s, though permitting a certain floor of flexibility when absolutely unavoidable.Non-alignment has a broader meaning than all the above mentioned terms and thus has a distinct character. It means a nation pursue such a policy need not be neutral under all circumstances. Un the give care neutrality, non alignment bearings at keeping away but it keeps away not from a particular conflict or issue but from a persisting international tension like insensate war. Since military alliances were an important aspect of common cold war, non alignment by nature insisted on shunning from these alliances. It is, therefore, a foreign policy perspective that advocates freedom from commitment to any power bloc it stresses on the freedom of choice and action in external affairs. The policy of not aligning with any bloc, but at the same time being friendly to everyone, so that it might be feasible to befool a moderating impact on international relations, came to be popularly known as non-alignme nt. It would modify a nation to judge each issue on merit and decide upon its course independently without being influenced by any commitment or bias.Non-alignment is neither a passive nor a negative policy. In so far as the negative appearance of the term non-alignment is concerned, it should be understood in the foreground of the slipway of contemplating of Indian people who feed expressed many positive and constructive ideas through negative expressions, such as Ahimsa and Apramad.As a positive concept it has several dimensions. It is pictorial that non-alignment should oppose certain values and at the same time grow some others which are in harmony with its basic orientation. The chief goals of the non-aligned shamment in the fifties and the sixties were decolonization and the preservation of international sleep. Of late, it has been bestow positively for attaining of a new international sparing holy order and a new information order based on equity, justice, freedom a nd obliteration of exploitation and dominance. It is positive since it get hold ofs for certain goals and values.As an activist and energetic policy, it takes specific sides on the merits of each case. This implies issue bound tilts in non alignment are considered legitimate and the concept, therefore, does not imply equidistance from any of the existing superpowers. But at the same time, it also rejects the idea of natural allies recently coined to unloosen certain alliances of the non aligned states with certain powers. It is thus an active policy as it envisages an active role for the non aligned countries in the world affairs.For the sake of a more efficient and global lobbying power, 29 independent African and Asian countries met in the Indonesian city of Bandung between 18 and 24 April, 1955 with the receive of elaborating upon the principles of tranquil co-existence and creating the Dasa Sila Bandung (Bandungs Ten Principles).3None of them wanted to join any of the bloc s, therefore, they chose non-alignment, which later on, first in Cairo, June 1961, then, in Belgrade, phratry 1961, was extended and formalised in the form of NAM. To quote Calvocoressi The principal achievements of the Bandung Conference were that they had met and got to know one some other (most of them were new to international politics) that they had laid the foundations for joint action at the United Nation and, through solidarity, increased their security, their status and their diplomatic weight in the world that they had attracted new men like Nasser to the group and make it big that they were making the giant powers take them seriously and treat their policies as respectable.4Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda elaborated on the goodness of this concept in 1964 in these words It is a determination to preserve independence, sovereignty, to respect such independence and sovereignty in such states and to decline to take sides in the major ideological struggles which rend the w orld. We will not hitch our posture to any nations engine and be drawn along their railway line.5The criteria of non alignment determined as early as June 1961 at Cairo wereA country should follow an independent policy based on peaceful coexistence and non alignment, or should be showing a trend in party favour of such a policy.It should consistently endure supported movements for national independence.It should not be a member of multilateral military alliances concluded in the context of great power conflicts.If it has conceded military bases, these concessions should not encounter been made in the context of great power conflicts.If it is a member of a bilateral of regional deference agreement, this should not have been made in the context of great power conflicts.Another vital feature of Non-alignment is that it has been unconnected not only to the two power blocs of power but also to the creation of a third bloc- the bloc of the Non aligned nations. The policy is not based on the desire to build up a third force or a third bloc. There is nothing like Indias Monroe Doctrine and there was nothing like Nehru Doctrine, behind Indian non alignment. The aim of non alignment is to build a third area of peace, an area which rejects war, cold war, alliances and supports peace in a a positive way and believes in cooperation. Non Aligned states have always opposed, and very achieverfully, the attempts to transform the group into a non aligned bloc. Non alignment is a movement but is not back by any formal organisational structure or constitution.However, Indias effort to burst institutionalization proved futile as in the Algiers Summit (1973)6it was decided to have a co ordination bureau within the host nation of each blossom as the Chairman for the period between that summit to the next summit. The original strength of the Summit was 25 which was subsequently elevated to 36. The Bureau meets at least once a year and deals with matters of common interest fr om time to time. It also takes decision regarding the next summit. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation and coordination among the member states inside the UN and help them in making united efforts for the actualization of the goals of the non aligned movement. As per the Lusaka Conference (1970)7decision to hold non aligned summits at the interval of every three years, the same are held on a regular basis since then. The Foreign Ministers of member states usually meet sometime before each summit mainly to prepare the agenda for the summit. These developments indicate the growing institutionalization of non alignment is a reality and does not appear to be reversible. Some grad of permanence in structure and regularity in behaviour conventionalism have been injected into it.NON ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT AND THE INDIAN PERSPECTIVEIn passel 7 of Encyclopedia Britannica (Micropaedia Section) on page 380, there is an entry which is most revealing of the mind set of the West. The word Non- Alignment is no doubt mentioned. However, the commentator is directed to see neutralism. And that is that.8India has been one of the founding members and one of the most greedy proponents of the theory of non- alignment. In fact, it is sometimes attributed solely to the initiatives of our first Prime Minister Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru. Nehru was not only the architect of Indias non-aligned foreign policy but also played a major role in espousing the cause of the third-world countries. In the prevailing turbulent state of global affairs, charting a non-aligned foreign policy posed a big challenge and it was only due to the knowledge and skill of Nehru that he succeeded in doing so.The principles guiding the foreign policy of Indias impermanent government that was formed just prior to gaining independence was enunciated by Nehru on September 7, 1946. In a radio address, Nehru, who then headed the interim government, say that India would not join groups of states that were aligned a gainst each other but would strive to establish friendly relations with all countries. Nehru had already conceived of a enveloping(prenominal) association of the Asian countries for evolving a common foreign policy. During his visit to southeasterly Asian countries in March 1946, Nehru not only secured the support for his idea but also got the needed consent from leaders of Burma, Indonesia and so on for holding a conference for that purpose.At the 14th NAM Conference held in capital of Cuba in September 2006, the purposes and principles of NAM was reiterated in the Declaration on the Purposes and Principles and the division of the Non-Aligned Movement in the Present International Juncture, which was adopted on September 16, 2006.9The Heads of State and Government of the member-nations of NAM also reaffirmed their political will to strengthen the Non-Aligned Movement. The Havana Summit10also declared that one of the major Purposes of NAM in the present international situation was To continue pursuing universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament, as well as a general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control and in this context, to work towards the clinical of arriving at an agreement on a phased program for the complete expulsion of nuclear weapons within a specified framework of time to rid of nuclear weapons, to prohibit their development, production, acquisition, testing, stockpiling, transfer, use or threat of use and to provide for their destruction.The Havana Summits reiteration that it is imperative that the Movement continues to be in the front-line in the struggle to change and transform the present unjust international order, certainly did not go down well with the US establishment, which perceives the revival and reactivation of NAM as an inherent threat to its interests.Addressing the 32nd Annual US-India Business Council run across which was found to be an appropriate occasion to publicly convey to Ind ia that it should jettison NAM in Washington D C, on June 27, 2007, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza sieve, posed a seemingly innocent question What is the meaning of non-alignment? Immediately after be the question, the Secretary of State herself went on to declare It has lost its meaning11Rice had prefaced her question with the following remarks in order to create a alliance for our future and to fully realise it, we are going to have to move past old ways of thinking and old ways of performing. And I know that there are some who still berate about non-alignment in foreign policy. But maybe that made backbone during the Cold War when the world really was divided into rival camps.The fact is, neither Rices dismissal of the relevance of Non-Alignment nor the memory lapse of many of those at the point of affairs in the Indian government at present, can make the concept of Non-Alignment irrelevant. On the contrary, it is high time that the US administration moved past old w ays of thinking and old ways of acting the sooner the US depart fromed militarism and eschewed belligerency, the better it would be for all humanity However, the fact remains it is the signals the Indian government has been transmitting over the last few years by acting contrary to the aims and objectives of NAM that have emboldened the US administration to give a call to India to abandon NAM. In a damage control exercise, the government of India was forced to chop-chop reiterate its commitment to NAM.12However, the said Press Briefing by the translator of the Ministry of External Affairs in response to Rices statement was so legal brief that it provides further proof that the government of India did not intend to pay literally nothing more than mere lip service to the cause of NAM. It would be a complete betrayal of the cause of NAM if the government of India, as one of the founding members, fails to take on the mantle of responsibility and play a leadership role in propagating the cause of NAM by acting in accordance with its principles and proceeding to fulfill its purposes.The government of Indias present disposition towards NAM does not appear to be too favourably placed. Contrary to the explicit solution of Nehru in 1947 that We do not intend to be the play things of others, there are apparently quite a few at the helm of affairs in India today, who are not averse to India playing indorse fiddle to the United States. Some groundwork was undertaken for realizing Mahatma Gandhis vision of a integrity World in the form of the Action Plan for a nuclear Weapon Free and Non-violent World, which Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had placed before the UN widely distributed Assembly in 1988. However, after Rajiv Gandhis assassination in 1991, the government of India chose to step in a different direction. Thus, Mahatma Gandhis counsel in 1947, that It is up to you to have a bun in the oven the whole world, not merely Asia but deliver the whole world from that wickedness, from that sin of war and destruction, remains unheeded. Only a vigilant and sound public and a strong and active mass movement can force the government of India to pay heed to the eloquent advise of Gandhi and Nehru and cause it to uphold the tenets of NAM and act accordingly.HAS THE MOVEMENT LOST ITS RELEVANCE? A intervention IN THE LIGHT OF THE FORMAL END OF THE COLD WAR AND COLONISMThe 58-Year old NAM has remained an object of immense applause as well as pitiless objurgation passim its existence. The US dubbed it as immoral and non sense. The Western Scholars disdain the NAM ever since the latter was reckoned as an important factor in international politics. Notwithstanding this criticism, NAM remained a potent and powerful force in the cold war era. It took bold stands on issues affecting the newly independent and growing countries and was decidedly, a force that neither of the two super powers could afford to ignore.The NAM as a movement of the small, newly-i ndependent and maturation countries has been determined to carve out an independent path of development and not to remain an appendage of any colonizing power or superpower. This objective helped NAM in making a significant top dog throughout the cold war era. The crusade against imperialism and racism met with greater success with large number of colonies the list of the UN and NAM as sovereign and Independent nation states. The economic concerns were related to the North- South great economic divide, dubious role of the international financial institutions, poverty and above all the vitality for a strong South-South cooperation. The search was for a New International Economic position (NIEO) envisaging the restructuring of the global financial and monetary structure on just and upright grounds. NAM played the role of cooling effect in ensuring global peace in the midst of cold war rivalry.NAM has been subjected to more ruthless criticism in the post-cold war period than in its long career. In the changed international scenario-the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the end of the cold war, the question has been posed as to whether NAM remains valid or not, it is often argued that since Non-alignment was natural and brought up in the cold war context why should it not be renounced in the post-cold war world ? But there can be a counter question. The cold war is over. The War sawing machine Pact has been dismantled, the Soviet Union has disappeared. Is the North Atlantic Treaty make-up (NATO) relevant? The non-aligned countries represent the will and voices of three-fourth humankind. In order to visualize its love goal the NAM needs to be especially innovative. The 21st century is for NAMs changeover under new democratic philosophy.The 22 page, Declaration issued after the meeting of NAM Foreign Ministers, held at Accrais September 1991, entitled A World in Transition from Diminishing Confrontation Towards Increasing Cooperation emphasized that N AMs new counsel must be on eradicating poverty, hunger, malnutrition and illiteracy and called on the international company to help. NAM supported the present efforts at strengthening the UN so as to assay it, more democratic, effective and efficient. There was consensus among the Foreign Ministers for a bridging Agreement between NAM and the Group of 77 and proposed that a study should be made direct of the modalities for reaching agreement between the two bodies for the introduction of a new system of periodic meetings of the joint coordination committee.The tectonic shifts in international relations over the last decade have challenged NAM to adopt itself to effectively undertake the new contemporary challenges. NAM should have a clear consensus on look issues of common concern to all of us. Multilateralism, reform of the UN system, global disarmament and combating global terrorism should be the political elements of this agenda. The collapse of Bipolarity and the rise of Unilateralism have tending(p) a unique cause to this developing body to strive for multilateralism in International relations. The issue of reforming the UN structure for a just world order has been going for long. The NAM should strive to restore the central role of the UN in the global economic issues, development and maintenance of peace and security in the world. Non-discriminatory, time-bound nuclear and general disarmament should be the objective towards which the movement should endeavour. The entire world today is facing a unique crisis in transnational terrorism, which is strike countrys political, economic and social edifice with immunity. The members within the NAM framework need to work out a realistic strategy to counter this danger in collaboration with the international community in a war footing. possibly the most important role for NAM today lies in framing a concrete economic agenda for a just and fair international economic order. The globalisation and liberaliz ation trends worldwide have generated complex economic problems. The rich- short(p) divide has widened. The WTO rules and procedures have failed to provide adequate economic gains to the third world. WTO summits have failed to reach a consensus on many issues.13Its role in WTO negotiations to earn and protect the trading rights and opportunities of developing countries and in muscling up their negotiating position and skills would be the chief concern. It should strive to reform and reorient the globalization process through a strong developmental agenda. NAM has an effective role to play in this regard provided member countries try to see the benefits from a unified tippytoe without any partisan considerations. South-South cooperation should become a major economic fat of the movement. Its role in the present century would be strengthened by more South-South cooperation, which would mean, by and large, collaboration between and among the NAM countries and defending their interes ts 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 multiculturism. The preservation and consolidation of democracy throughout its membership is a major challenge. NAMs spectrum could be further enlarged with the increase concern worldwide over environmental issues over green kinsperson gas emissions, health concerns especially AIDS, drug trafficking, rising instances of poverty and unemployment generally within the NAM members and LDC countries, the rising digital divide between the rich and poor and fight against all shades of extreme, xenophobia, ethnic nationalism, regional wars.Non-alignment is a dynamic policy and retains its continuing relevance in world affairs by adapting itself to the changing international context and the needs of non-aligned community of nations. Peter Wiletts, some other advocate of Non-alignment, holds the view that whether if will be a bipolar, multipolar or unipolar world, Non-alignment will have a place in it as an independent foreign policy. former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao commented The pursuit of nonaligned foreign policy is ever more relevant (today) than ever before. Nonalignment essentially consists of the espousal of the right to nations to independence and development, regardless of the bloc phenomenon. Whether there is one bloc or more at a given moment, the entreat for a nonaligned country would continue to be to maintain its independence, to take decisions according to its light, not tagging along itself, in advance to others . . . . . He went on to add Chimera of hegemony must not be pursued.On the other hand, introspection also needs to be done on account of the recent lackadaisical approach of the heads of many countries who have failed to appear for the Summits of NAM. A more dynamic agenda needs to be adopted and adhered to because there still exist a number of basic issues in the devel oping countries which need to be addressed at the earliest. Though there has been a formal end to the factors had originally led to the origins of the movement, yet the second and the third world nations find themselves grappling with a number of other issues which cannot be said to be any less significant.