A PROJECT REPORT ON:

NON-ALIGNMENT : CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. BIBHUTI KALYAN MAHAKUL
(FACULTY FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE)

SUBMITTED BY:
BHARAT RAJ
ROLL NO.-51
VTH SEMESTER

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

24TH AUGUST, 2015

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH

TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Link]

TOPIC
PAGE NO.

1.

CERTIFICATE OF DECLARATION

2.

INTRODUCTION

4-5

3.

OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE

4.

OBJECTIVES
7

5.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
7

MEANING AND CHARACTERISTICS OF NON-ALIGNMENT

8-10

7.

BASIS AND ORIGIN OF NON-ALIGNMENT

10-13

8.

NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT

13-15

9.
10.
11.

CRITICISM OF NON-ALIGNMENT
CONCLUSION
BIBLIOGRAPHY

15-16
17
18

Certificate of Declaration

I hereby declare that the project work entitled Non Alignment : Conceptual Analysis submitted
to HNLU, Raipur, is an original work, which has been done by me under the able guidance of Dr.
Bibhuti Kalyan Mahakul, Faculty Member, HNLU, Raipur.

Bharat Raj
Roll No. 51
SEM-V

Introduction
The term Non-Alignment in general refers to people (or countries) who are not aligned with
other people (or countries) in a pact or treaty.1 To be precise, in context to this project it refers to
the efforts to retain independence of thought, judgment and action under conditions of cold-war
which generated military alliance and agreements of all sorts.2
Non-alignment is an Indo-Anglican word. Non words are not common in English, while non
seems to be an inevitable component of Indian philosophy and philology.
With the only exception of the Random House Dictionary, no other dictionary recognises non
words.
So, as a concept, Non-alignment owes its origin to India. It was during our national
independence movement, says Subimal Dutt in his memoirs ' With Nehru in the Foreign Office',
that "the principle of non-alignment was accepted by the Congress at Haripura session (1939)."
The term "non-alignment" itself was coined by V. K. Krishna Menon in 1953 remarks at the
United Nations. Jawaharlal Nehru used the phrase in a 1954 speech in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In
this speech, Nehru described the five pillars to be used as a guide for Sino-Indian
relations called Panchsheel(five restraints), these principles would later serve as the basis of the
Non-Aligned Movement. The five principles were:

Mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty

Mutual non-aggression

1 [Link] (visited on August 16th, 2015).

2 [Link] (visited on
August16th, 2015).
4

Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs

Equality and mutual benefit

Peaceful co-existence

Its purpose is to enlarge the areas of peace and co-operation. So, the essence of non-alignment
lies in the freedom and independence of a country to judge each issue as it arises on its own
merits, as it affects the national interests, of the country concerned and the interest of peace in the
world but not on the basis of a predetermined attitude because of alignment with one great power
or another.
In this new order, the States should not be discriminated against because of their history, their
social origin and size. The new nations joined this movement with different backgrounds,
traditions and perceptions of themselves and their interests.
Each had a strong sense of national identity along with a common passion for an international
order based on equality. It means to be friendly with all but only on a footing of equality and
reciprocity and not be hooked to military alliance.3

3 [Link] (visited on August 16th, 2015).

5

Overview of Literature

1. V N Khanna, International Relations, 5th Edition, Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd., 2013
The book provides an insight into international relations from the beginning of First
World War, end of Cold War, to the present era. It has made analysis of major
international events, which will prove helpful for a student or anyone interested in getting
to know about such events.
In relation to this project in particular, the meaning and origin of non-alignment has been
dealt with in detail, which proved highly helpful towards completion of this project.
2. Peu Ghosh, International Relations, Third Edition, PHI Learning Private Limited, 2013
This book tends to provide a deeper insight into International Relations, with detail
descriptions of major international events. It provides precise knowledge, as every piece
of knowledge and anecdotes have been provided with proper citations.
The details about Non-alignment have been deeply dealt into in this book, with precise
knowledge of even minor events, which helped in gaining an even greater understanding
about the topic.
3. Singham, A.W. and Shirley Hune, Non-alignment in an Age of Alignments, Lawrence Hill
and Co., Westport, USA and Zed Books Ltd., London
An internationally acclaimed book dealing principally with the concept of NonAlignment and the movement which resulted from the concept. In relation to this project,
it provided an insight into the formation and objectives of the Non-Alignment Movement.

Objectives

1) To explain the meaning of the term non-alignment.

2) To describe the origin of non-alignment in international relations.
3) To provide a brief idea about the Non-Alignment Movement..

Research Methodology
This project work is descriptive & analytical in approach. It is largely based on the analysis of
the concept of Non Alignment. Books & other references as guided by faculty of Political
Science were primarily helpful for the completion of this project.

Meaning and Characteristics of Non-Alignment

The term non-alignment has a specific meaning. Many western scholars tagged it as neutrality or
neutralism Schwarzenberger made many synonymous terms- isolationism, non-commitment,
neutrality, neutralization, unilateralism and non-involvement.
*

Isolationism stands for policies of aloofness (unfriendliness) varying from the known

isolation of the US before First World War to postures of in offensiveness in international affairs,
*

Non-alignment refers to politics of detachment (lack of involvement/ indifference) for

other powers in a triangular or multi-corner relationship,

*

Neutrality describes the political and legal status of a country at war with respect to the

belligerents. It has little meaning expectant the time of war.

*

Neutralization means a permanent neutral status of a particular state which it cant give

up under any circumstances, e.g. Switzerland is neutralized state.

*

Unilateralism is identified with policies of calculated risks such as the destruction of own

thermo-nuclear weapons at ones own stance.

*

Non-involvement means keeping away from the ideological struggle between the different

super powers, though permitting a certain degree of flexibility when absolutely unavoidable.
Non-alignment has a broader meaning and thus has a distinct character. It means that a nation
pursuing such a policy need not be neutral under all circumstances. It can participate actively in
world affairs under exceptional circumstances. Unlike neutrality, non-alignment arms at keeping
away but it keeps away not from a particular conflict or issue but from a persisting international
8

tension like cold war. Since, military alliances were an important aspect of cold war, nonalignment naturally insisted on shunning from these alliances. Any military alliance - either
bilateral or multilateral formed during cold war days was a violation of non-alignment
movement. It is, therefore, a foreign policy perspective that advocates freedom from
commitment to any power blocs, it stresses on the independence of choice and action in external
affairs.4
Characteristics of Non-Alignment
1) Not aligning with anyone, but keeping friendly relations with everyone - The policy
of non-aligning with any bloc, but at the same time being friendly to everyone, so that it
might be feasible to have a moderating impact on international relations, came to be
popularly called as non-alignment. It would enable a nation to judge each issue on mort
and decide upon its course independently without being influenced by any previous
commitment or [Link]- alignment is neither a passive nor a negative policy. It should
be understood like the meaning of some terms ahinsa, apramad which have positive
meanings.
2) Non-Alignment as a positive concept - As a positive concept it has several dimensions.
It naturally opposes certain values and promotes others which are in harmony with its
basic orientation. The chief goals of it in the 50s and 60s were decolonization and the
preservation of international peace, of late, it has been contributing positively for
attaining a new international economic order and a new information order based on
equity, justice, freedom and the eradication of exploitation and domination. It is positive
since it strives for certain values and goals.
3) Non-Alignment as an activist and dynamic policy - As an activist and dynamic policy
it takes specific sides on merit of each case. This implies that issue bound tilts in nonalignment are considered legitimate and the concept, therefore, does not imply
equidistance from both the super powers. But at the same time it rejects the idea of
natural allies recently coined to justify certain alliance 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 world affairs, Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda elaborated on the
4 V N Khanna, International Relations, 5th Edition, Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, Delhi, p. 389-391.
9

goodness of this concept in 1964, in these words:It is a determination to preserve

independence, sovereignty, to respect such independence and sovereignty in other state
and to decline to take sides in the major ideological struggles which rend the word.. We
will not hitch our carriage to any nations engine and be drawn along their rain way
line.
The disintegration of alliance system in recent years is indeed a vindication of the non- aligned
position. Subsequent, to the process of disintegration, non-aligned movement, has increasingly
concentrated on economic issues and emancipation.5

Basis and Origin of Non-Alignment

Two types of bases upon which this policy is relied:A. Negative Basis
1. Dissolution with military alliances - Single negative base of it is its opposition to military
alliances and cold war politics military pacts accelerated arms race, enhanced rivalry and
tensions and thus were considered harmful for world peace. This was the basic reason for
adopting non-alignment policy by newly independent nations.
B. Positive Basis
2. Ideological Basis - These nations thought it better to evolve their own ideologies and
system except (capitalism and communism) that may conform is their indigenous need and
traditions and fulfils the aspirations of their people. So, they promoted to pursue the path of nonalignment.
3. Independent Foreign policy - The principle of freedom of opinion or independence of
judgment in the conduct of foreign affairs was the main basis on which the edifice (construction)
of non-alignment was erected.
5 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).
10

4. Economic basis - Many nations were economically backward and were in dire need of capital
and technical knowhow forachieving the goal of economic development and self-reliance. This
goal could possibly be achieved in a better way if they maintained cordial and friendly with both
blocs and gain maximum economic benefits from without any political string. Though these
countries were charged as having double alignment, they succeeded to flow help from both
power blocs.
5. Strengthening UNO - Many Afro-Asian nations had calculated the points behind league of
Nations failure and so they remained non-aligned to strengthen UNO and its Principles.
The rapid decolonization process that followed after the Second World War brought into
existence numerous states in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean which were mostly small or middlesized and were underdeveloped and politically weak. They faced twin tasks of nation-building as
well as tackling the internal dissenting forces within their societies. Alongside they had a
Herculean task of coping up with underdevelopment and working towards development. It is
these nations whose governments came together under the umbrella of the NAM.6
The origins of NAM, can be traced back to the late 1940s, and can be viewed as a reaction by
many developing nations to the growth of Cold War blocs and ideological rivalries following the
end of the Second World War. A number of these countries had only recently liberated
themselves from colonial rule, and they were anxious to avoid new entanglements.
Nonalignment had its origins in India's colonial experience and the nonviolent Indian
independence struggle,which left India determined to be the master of its fate in an international
system dominated politically by Cold War alliances and economically by Western capitalism and
Soviet communism. The principles of nonalignment, as articulated by Nehru and his successors,
were preservation of India's freedom of action internationally through refusal to align India with
any bloc or alliance, particularly those led by the United States or the Soviet Union; nonviolence
and international cooperation as a means of settling international disputes. Nonalignment was a

6 Peu Ghosh, International Relations, Third Edition, PHI Learning Private Limited, p. 164.
11

consistent feature of Indian foreign policyby the late 1940s and enjoyed strong, almost
unquestioning support among the Indian elite.7
Outstanding contribution of newly independent states of Asia, Africa and Latin America is giving
of concrete shape to the abstract concept of non-alignment. This concept gained currency
(prevalence) in 1955 at Bangdurg Conference, albeit (although) it was upper most in the mind of
Pandit Nehru as early as 1946. However, as a movement it was formally established in 1961 at
Belgrade Conference. It was as such a post-war phenomenon of the time when cold war at its
height and the world was divided into two power blocs. Some of the newly independent
countries visualized the danger to their newly gained independence in aligning with either of the
two blocs. Their involvement in cold war was fraught /burdened with gloomy prospects of their
economic, social and political development. They wanted to conserve their scarce natural and
capital resources for the reconstructing of their backward economics. This could be feasibly
/possibly only if they shunned alliances and power struggle and strived for peaceful atmosphere.8
Most notable among the leaders of this emergent grouping of states were Yugoslavia's Josip Broz
Tito, who was intent on avoiding the yoke of Soviet imperialism, and India's Jawaharlal Nehru,
who was a principal leader of his country's successful struggle to gain independence from the
United Kingdom. Also prominent in the emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement and the
development of its initial political orientation were Egypt's Gamel Nasser, Indonesia's Sukarno
and Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah. Although these figures were very different personalities from
diverse economic and political backgrounds, they shared a common aversion to EastWest
ideological confrontation and championed economic development, liberation from colonialism
and nuclear disarmament.
An important event in the development and crystallisation of NAM was a meeting of 29 Asian
and African states in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955, six years before the Belgrade
conference. The Bandung Conference condemned colonialism in all of its manifestations an
7 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).
8 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).
12

implicit censure of both Western and Soviet behaviour and adopted ten principles on
promotion of world peace and cooperation, which subsequently figured prominently in NAM
goals and perspectives.9

The ten principles of Bandung

1. Respect of fundamental human rights and of the objectives 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. A. Non-use of collective defense pacts to benefit the specific interests of any of the great
powers.
B. Non-use of pressures by any country against other countries.
7. Refraining from carrying out or threatening to carry out aggression, or from using force
against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.
8. Peaceful solution of all international conflicts in conformity with the Charter of the United
Nations.
9. Promotion of mutual interests and of cooperation.
10. Respect of justice and of international obligations.

Non-Alignment Movement
9 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).
13

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is a group of states which are not formally aligned with or
against any major power bloc. As of 2012, the movement has 120 members and
17 observer countries.
The countries of the Non-Aligned Movement represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations's
members and contain 55% of the world population. Membership is particularly concentrated in
countries considered to be developing or part of the Third World.
The non-aligned countires devised a flexible organizational structure and they meet from time to
time in different regions of the world to garner support for some specific issues and also to
promote their objectives. The NAM has been a major movement in international relations,
primarily aiming at changing the existing global structure and creating a more just, equal and
peaceful world order. In essence, it is an anti-imperialist movement.10
Members have at times included the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Argentina,
Namibia, Cyprus, and Malta. Although many of the Non-Aligned Movement's members were
actually quite closely aligned with one or another of the super powers, the movement still
maintained cohesion throughout the Cold War. Some members were involved in serious conflicts
with other members (e.g. India and Pakistan, Iran and Iraq). The movement fractured from its
own internal contradictions when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Although the
Soviet allies supported the invasion, other members of the movement (particularly predominantly
Muslim states) condemned it.
NAM has sought to "create an independent path in world politics that would not result in
member States becoming pawns in the struggles between the major powers." It identifies the
right of independent judgment, the struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism, and the use
of moderation in relations with all big powers as the three basic elements that have influenced its
approach. At present, an addition goal is facilitating a restructuring of the international economic
order.

10 Singham, A.W. and Shirley Hune, Non-alignment in an Age of Alignments, Lawrence Hill and Co.,
Westport, USA and Zed Books Ltd., London, 1986, p.1.
14

NAM does not have a formal constitution or permanent secretariat, and its administration is nonhierarchical and rotational. Decisions are made by consensus, which requires substantial
agreement, but not unanimity.11
Because the Non-Aligned Movement was formed as an attempt to thwart the Cold War, [6] it has
struggled to find relevance since the Cold War ended. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, a
founding member, its membership was suspended[7] in 1992 at the regular Ministerial Meeting of
the Movement, held in New York during the regular yearly session of the General Assembly of
the United Nations.[8][9] The successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have
expressed little interest in membership, though some have observer status. In 2004, Malta and
Cyprus ceased to be members and joined the European Union. Belarus remains the sole member
of the Movement in Europe. Azerbaijan and Fiji are the most recent entrants, joining in 2011.
The applications of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Costa Rica were rejected in 1995 and 1998,
respectively.
The 16th NAM summit took place in Tehran, Iran, from 26 to 31 August 2012. According to
MehrNews

agency,

representatives

from

over

150

countries

were

scheduled

to

attend. Attendance at the highest level includes 27 presidents, 2 kings and emirs, 7 prime
ministers, 9 vice presidents, 2 parliament spokesmen and 5 special envoys. At the summit, Iran
took over from Egypt as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement for the period 2012 to 2015. The
17th Summit of the Non Aligned Movement is to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2015.12

Criticism of Non-Alignment
Scholars especially Western have bitterly criticized non-alignment as a selfish policy, a baseless
ideology and an opportunistic attitude,

11 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).

12 [Link] (visited on August 18th, 2015).
15

1. Ambiguous concept - What non-alignment means? Is it positive or negative concept? The

term non-alignment is in common use but its true meaning hadnt been analyzed. As a
corollary, there is no popular understanding of the concept among the majority of the people.
Western scholars took the job of analysis but recently non-aligned countries scholars have
endeavored to analyze if scientifically and vividly.
2. Bloc Mentality - Many non-aligned countries are neither impartial nor judge issues on merit
because they suffer from bloc mentality. From time to time, they have chosen to associate
themselves with one or the other of the super powers, so closely that their status as non-aligned
might be under eraser, India, for example, in 1971, chose to conclude a treaty of peace and
friendship with the USSR.
4. Disunity - The diversity inherent among Third World nations badly affected its cohesiveness.
Non-alignment movement countries had many interstate or regional conflicts among themselves
which they failed to resolve amicably. Of the 200 odd conflicts in the1970s and 1980s, all of
them involving Third World countries, very few can be described as proxy wars promoted, by the
superpowers. In any case, the members are too diverse to have any impact.
5. Serious Dilemma - The Non-alignment movement is passing through a serious dilemma of
more members and less strength. The ideals of the movement have been diluted and it has
become increasingly tough to establish unity of purpose and coordination of action with the
group.
6. Hypocrisy - Relatively rich and prosperous countries of Non-alignment movement are not
kind enough towards their backward colleagues in the Third World, though they severally attack
the Western developed powers on that ground
8. Factionalism - Non-aligned countries might be divided into three categories; Radicals (Procommunist) Conservatives (pro-capitalist) and, Independent (Pro-non-alignment).Roughly half
of these countries can be considered truly non-aligned. This was evident in Havana Summit
1979, Groupism and differences were prevalent in 19th and 13th summits too.
10. Worthless declarations and conferences - Non-alignment movement declarations are
simply the reiteration of resolutions of the UN and its agencies. Host country spends a lot for
16

momentary prestige and international publicity. Its like a club and all it does, is to have summit
to make speeches which are seldom followed by any concrete action.
11. No result - Despite its all claims Non-alignment has nothing concrete to its credit in solving
any international or regional problems. Its the UN which is working hard.

Conclusion
Notwithstanding the criticisms, Non-alignment as a concept and the movement which emerged
from the concept has played a crucial role in international relations and has had several positive
impacts on the world affairs. Some scholars have recommended that Non-alignment movement
has to seek compromises, adjustments, accommodations and mutations in order to validate itself
in accordance with the growing complexities of the global scenario. End of cold war has replaced
the nuclear bomb with social bomb, with poverty, underdevelopment, violence and terrorism
topping the priority list.
Current Challenges facing the NAM include the necessity of protecting the principles of
International law, eliminating weapons of mass destruction , combating terrorism, defending
human rights, working toward making the United Nations more effective in meeting the needs of
all its member states in order to preserve International Peace , Security and Stability, as well as
realizing justice in the international economic system.
On the other hand, the long-standing goals of the Movement remain to be realized. Peace,
development, economic cooperation and the democratization of international relations, to
mention just a few, are old goals of the non-aligned countries.
17

During its nearly 50 years of existence, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has gathered a
growing number of States and liberation movements which, in spite of their ideological, political,
economic, social and cultural diversity, have accepted its founding principles and primary
objectives and shown their readiness to realize them. Historically, the non-aligned countries have
shown their ability to overcome their differences and found a common ground for action that
leads to mutual cooperation and the upholding of their shared values.
All in all, The Non-Aligned Movement, faced with the goals yet to be reached and the many new
challenges that are arising, is called upon to maintain a prominent and leading role in the current
International relations in defense of the interests and priorities of its member states and for
achievement of peace and security for mankind. It remains as much economically relevant today
as it was politically relevant in the days to cold war.

Bibliography
1. Peu Ghosh, International Relations, Third Edition, PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi.
2. Singham, A.W. and Shirley Hune, Non-alignment in an Age of Alignments, Lawrence Hill and Co.,
Westport, USA and Zed Books Ltd., London, 1986

3. V N Khanna, International Relations, 5th Edition, Vikas Publishing House Pvt Ltd, Delhi.
4. [Link]
5. [Link]
6. [Link]
7. [Link]
8. [Link]
9. [Link]

18

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