Need For Revitalising NAM

The 19th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) concluded recently in Kampala, capital of Uganda. In the conference held from January 15 to 20, leaders and participants of different member states reviewed the global state of affairs since the 18th NAM Summit and also discussed the role and relevance of the Non-aligned Movement in the present geopolitical context. Nepal’s participation in the 19th NAM Summit was at the highest level with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ leading the delegation. Addressing the 19th NAM summit, Prime Minister Prachanda laid special emphasis on the need for enhancing and expanding the role of non-aligned movement in the present global state of affairs. According to Prachanda, NAM is as relevant as it was during the time of its foundation and the complicated international scenario demands more active role of the NAM movement. 

The non-aligned movement was founded at the height of the Cold War between the US-led alliance and the Soviet Union-led Walshaw Pact group. The countries aligned with US-led alliance were called the first world whereas the Soviet Union and countries of its alliance were referred as the Second World. The rest developing and the least developed countries were better understood as the Third World. So the NAM was the organisation or alliance of the Third World countries. In other words, NAM in itself is third alliance. Now the geopolitical connotation has changed especially after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact that gave the rise of unipolar world with the United States remaining only super power. The NAM was necessary during the Cold War marked by rivalry between the two super powers as many countries of the ‘Third World’ could not afford to side with any of the two rival blocs but chose to remain neutral.

Equal partnership

The NAM, therefore, became an appropriate forum for the countries wishing to have equal partnership and friendship with all countries irrespective of their ideological orientation and strategic alignment. But the international situation and scenario are markedly different at present. Now the countries in the world are categorised into two groups - Global North and the Global South. The industrialised and developed countries are understood as the Global North whereas the developing and the least developed countries are referred as the Global South. Now a debate has kicked off in the international fora and academia:  Is the NAM necessary in the present situation or is it just a waste of resources, energy and time? Critics are of the view that since such rival strategic alliances do not exist, the NAM has lost its relevance. 

When the NAM was founded, many of the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America were either just liberated or waging national liberation movements against colonial and imperial powers. The principles of the NAM during its founding days were, thus, anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism. These slogans, thus, had an appeal to many countries in the world that had. The NAM, thus, became a common platform for them to push forward their common agendas and concerns. The NAM was founded on the basis of ‘Ten Bangdung Principles, which were later modified to five principles of peaceful co-existence or ‘Panchasheel’. Thus, NAM was effective during those days. In the changed international scenario, NAM needs to retrospect and make soul-searching what it did, where it failed and what it needs to do in the present context. 

Nepal’s foreign policy is based on the principle of ‘non-alignment. The five principle of peaceful co-existence continue to guide Nepal’s foreign policy and diplomacy. The Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal has incorporated these principles as the basic guiding principles of Nepal’s foreign policy. This, in itself, is the testament of Nepal’s unflinching faith and commitment to the NAM and its principles. Moreover, Nepal’s geographic location and geo-political situation also does not allow it to align with any strategic and military alliance. Nepal, thus, strictly adheres to the principles of non-alignment. 

The five principles of peaceful co-existence or ‘Panchsheel’ are more important for Nepal as these principles have their original roots in Nepal. Lord Buddha, who was born in Nepal, propounded the ‘Panchsheel’ consisting of five codes of human conduct and international relations some 2500 year ago. Despite its vigour and significance in the past, the NAM has, definitely, lost its original charm but not its relevance. The NAM has to be remodelled and if necessary, renamed to cater the need of present day reality. Its principles, objectives and functions, too, are required to be modified, which alone can justify its existence and relevance. 

The world and international balance of power definitely changed over the years and decades. The world is no longer bipolar nor will the present state of unipolarity stay forever. The world scenario has changed and is will keep on changing, continuously and steadily, which is the law of nature. The nature of international rivalry has changed and so are the players. China has emerged as a formidable challenger in the global power politics. Several other countries are also rising fast as potential global power. The US-led unipolar world order has come under threat. This requires stronger international movements to bring the developing countries together into a common forum for collectively safeguarding their common and shared interests refraining from siding with any of the poles, groups and blocs.

Noble causes

The Non-aligned Movement has a lot more to accomplish in fully realising its noble causes and common goals of peace, justice and democracy. So far as Nepal is concerned, Nepal always champions and defends the core values of the movement. Nepal wants revitalisation of the Non-aligned Movement to achieve its lofty goals in the present world. Nepal knows the value of peace more than others because we, at present, are in the process of institutionalising peace and inclusive democracy, for which the principles of NAM are our principal guidelines.

Nepal is desirous to make NAM a more vibrant and effective international organisation, in which it wants to play an active role. However, Nepal’s diplomatic manoeuvring, lately, appears not to have been as effective as it used to be at international forums like NAM and also in the overall conduct of its diplomacy. The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) requires reforms in itself with newer strategies and concepts to work better in coping with the newly emerged international situation and in achieving the shared objectives of the member countries.

(The author is former ambassador and former chief editor of this daily. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)