Context: India may pitch for Global South & Africa outreach as the External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India takes part in Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda.

EAM Jaishankar to Represent India at Uganda NAM Summit

• NAM Summit: 19th edition of NAM Summit is scheduled from January 17 to 20.
• It will be preceded by a foreign ministers’ meeting from January 15. 
• EAM is also expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines. 
• NAM Host: Uganda will be the chair of the NAM grouping during 2024-2027.
  • Uganda prepares to host two pivotal events in January 2024 i.e. NAM Summit and the 3rd South Summit organized under the Group of 77 and China. 

About Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• Context and Concept of NAM: Shri V K Menon coined the term “non-alignment” during his 1953 United Nations speech. Later, Indian Prime Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru incorporated it in his 1954 Colombo speech, outlining the Panchsheel (five restraints), which subsequently formed the foundation of the Non Aligned Movement.

The Historical Roots of Non Aligned Movement (NAM): Its Origin

• The basic concept for the group originated in 1955 during discussions that took place at the Afro-Asian Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia. 
  • The first summit of NAM took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in 1961. 
• Leaders who played Crucial roles were India’s PM  Jawaharlal Nehru, Yugoslavia’s President Josip Broz Tito, Egypt’s President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ghana’s President Kwame Nkrumah, and Indonesia’s President Sukarno.

Basis of Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• The concept of non-alignment was based on the Third World desire not to become involved in the East-West ideological confrontation of the Cold War. 
  • Third World: A former political designation originally used to describe those states not part of the first world (capitalist states) led by the U.S. or the second world (communist states) led by the Soviet Union. 
• Focus: Third world wanted to focus on national independence struggles, the alleviation of poverty, and economic development. 

Member Countries of Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• NAM comprises 53 countries from Africa, 40 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean, and one from Europe (Belarus). 
• Observers: There are 18 countries and 10 international organisations that are observers at NAM. 

Must Read: India To Host Second Global South Summit

India and Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• Founding Member: India is one of the founding members of the NAM and hosted the 7th NAM Summit in 1983 in New Delhi. 
• Utility of NAM for India: It has provided a high profile and strong voice to India in international fora and affairs.  India can leverage initiatives like NAM to emerge as leader of the Global South. 
  • India’s Presidency of the G20 in 2023 has made the concerns of the Global South placed at the forefront of the G20 Leaders Agenda.
  • For instance, the Voice of the Global South Summit convened by India witnessed participation of about 130 countries. 

Current Relevance of Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• Utility of NAM in the World Order: Given that more than half of the world still suffers from the issues relevant to NAM, it can be helpful in the following areas:
  • Restructure and democratise international organisations such as the UN, IMF and the World Bank. 
  • Foster cooperation in the areas of food cooperation, population, trade and investment.
  • Ensure equitable international flow of trade and transfer of technology. 
  • Oppose interventionism and imposition of economic conditions on developing countries. 
• Enhance South-South cooperation: Amid a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape (Post Cold War), the focus of the movement is turning towards promoting South-South cooperation.
  • Common problems faced by the Global South such as foreign debt and poverty are identified as priority areas. 
• Ensuring Access to 4Fs to the Developing World: NAM can play a significant role in ensuring availability of Food, Finance, Fuel and Fertilizers to the developing world with certainty, transparency, and equity.
• Coordinated, Inclusive and Equitable Response by the World to Crisis: NAM can promote international solidarity in the fight against the global crisis.
  • The Indian Prime Minister engaged in the online NAM Summit, themed “United against COVID-19,” addressing the pandemic crisis. The Summit aimed to foster global solidarity in combating COVID-19 and mobilize states and international organizations to collectively tackle the pandemic.
• Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes: NAM serves as a platform for negotiating and peacefully resolving disputes between developed and developing countries on various topics. It ensures fair decisions that favor each party involved.
• Platform for Deliberation: An important advantage of the NAM summits is the opportunity it provides to leaders of the movement to meet and deliberate with each other on issues of bilateral, regional, and international concern. 

What Challenges Are Associated with the Non Aligned Movement (NAM)?

• Losing Relevance for India: NAM is not so relevant to India today as India’s key national interest is to become one of the central pillars of global politics. 
  • For instance, the EAM of India recently said that NAM was an idea born in a particular temporality, and believes that India, taking the concept of independence of action from NAM, should move beyond it to respond efficiently to contemporary developments.
  • At the 2019 NAM summit in Azerbaijan, and the 2016 NAM Venezuela summits, India was represented at the Vice President level. This marked the second time in a row that the Indian Prime Minister missed the summit.
• NAM’s Purpose is Fulfilled: The main objective of the NAM was to keep the newly independent third-world countries out of the non-necessary issues that might suck them in if they chose either of the blocs. Since the cold war has ended the purpose of NAM no longer exists, so even the NAM should cease to exist. 
  • Further, the most crucial part of NAM’s agenda was that of pushing for the decolonization of all the colonized countries which is also been achieved.  
• Tool for Pushing Agenda: NAM has been criticized for sometimes deviating from its original purpose and being misused as a tool by member states to advance their individual agendas.  
  • For instance, the Azerbaijani Presidency of NAM pushed Pakistan’s agenda and also witnessed China trying to push its agenda as an observer to the grouping. 
• Toothless Organisation: Today, the second-largest international organisation of states after the UN is largely toothless. As NAM is not in a position to act even as a forum for displaying solidarity. 
  • The NAM has no charter and there are no strict rules on whether the member countries have to defend each other’s actions. 

Way Forward to the Non Aligned Movement (NAM)

• Tackling Rising Inequality: According to an Oxfam report, the richest 1% of the world population today holds more than 70% of global wealth. In the backdrop of rising inequalities between the North and South, between the rich and poor, and between the classes of capitalist and labour, NAM is more necessary today. 
  • NAM provides a platform for developing nations to collectively address economic disparities, promoting a more balanced and inclusive global order.
• Enlarging NAM’s Area of Interests: To be able to continue to have an impact on global politics, NAM urgently needs fresh topics and themes to concentrate on. NAM’s spectrum could be enlarged with many worldwide issues like greenhouse gas emissions, health concerns specially AIDS, drug trafficking, rising instances of poverty, food crisis and unemployment. 
• Pushing Reforms in International Order: The time is right for NAM to evaluate the past and formulate future policies for the Non-aligned countries to change the existing international order. 
  • None of the NAM countries can face these new realities alone. Hence, the countries of NAM must continue to stay and act together for common thought and action.
• India and NAM:India remains committed to the principles and objectives of the Non Aligned Movement, including the long-standing solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause.

Conclusion

While the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) faces challenges and debates over its relevance, it remains a crucial platform for developing nations, and India continues to affirm its commitment to NAM’s principles and objectives, emphasizing the need for collective action to address contemporary global issues.