Has the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Lost Its Relevance in a Multipolar World?
Introduction
- There is renewed debate each time the NAM Summit takes place about the relevance of this movement, as both the cold war and bipolar world have ended. Strong opposition from the USA to the movement along with scepticism from member nations also adds further edge to this debate.
- NAM was formed by third-world countries with an intention to remain outside the two military blocks (NATO and Warsaw Pact) in the post-World War world. India was among the founding members along with Indonesia, the then Yugoslavia, Egypt, and Ghana.
- Arguably, the power that was held by the USA and Russia after WW has eroded and given way to emergence of regional powers such as China, Japan, and India. It is therefore important to reconsider the relevance of the NAM.
- Main idea of the essay: In a multipolar world, NAM may not seem relevant, but it needs to be reinvented in order to address the present geopolitical situation rather than writing it off altogether.
Body
Role of the NAM thus far:
- In the bipolar world, NAM provided avenues to newly independent countries to exercise independence in political and economic decision-making.
- NAM offered India an opportunity to position itself on the world stage through this innovative forum and assume a leadership role post-independence.
- NAM has helped member countries in developing friendly and cooperative relations, which has also helped them further their own economic interests.
Why is NAM still relevant?
- Even though the Warsaw Pact is dead, its counterpart NATO is still functioning with USA’s leadership. So if NATO is still relevant, NAM can certainly evolve to counter the neo-colonial ambitions of certain countries.
- NATO is accused of carrying out arm-twisting policies, unilateral military interventions, and gunboat diplomacy. In such scenario, there is a need for an organization like NAM that can stand up for non-NATO nations.
- There is a moral need for NAM, as it can voice concerns for poorer nations and stand against the injustice by powerful nations.
Do we need a new approach to international relations?
- The International environment in which the NAM was born has changed drastically. The cold war has ended and the hegemony power has shifted, with even China being accused of practising neo-colonial policies in Africa. NAM needs to comprehend and address this new reality.
- It is argued that NAM has weakened, as even some member-states such as the Gulf countries have become puppets of the US. Countries like India need to instil new vigour into the movement while keeping its own pragmatic interests in mind.
- New considerations in the international environment such as ethnic conflict, violence based on religion, and rising socio-economic inequalities among and within nations have emerged. NAM has to reinvent itself in order to address these matters.
Conclusion
- NAM has played an important part in giving decision-making freedom to countries and developing cooperative relationships.
- With the advent of the multipolar world, and the NATO. Warsaw Pact rivalry gone, NAM seems irrelevant; NATO is still very much functional and neo-colonialism is being practised by powerful nations.
- India in the past has argued in favour of the continuance of this forum and should take the lead in ensuring that the movement is relevant again by redefining its goals to suit the current environment that is fraught with regional conflicts and multiple inequalities.
Notes
- Keywords: NAM, relevance, multipolar world
- The topic of international relations is fairly common for this paper, so it is advised that you prepare around the major contemporary Issues.
- Do not spend your precious time in explaining in detail what NAM is; rather focus on answering the question being asked about the relevance of NAM in a multipolar world.
- Although the answer should be India-centric, one can always consider the perspective of other countries as well.