NAM Summit

PM Narendra Modi skipping the summit, marking India’s transformation from a non-aligned country to one which is supposedly multi-aligned.

• NAM held its first conference Belgrade Conference in 1961 under the leadership of India, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana, and Indonesia.It has 120 members comprising 53 from Africa, 39 from Asia, 26 from Latin America and the Caribbean and 2 from Europe (Belarus, Azerbaijan). There are 17 countries and 10 international organizations that are Observers at NAM.
• Indian Prime Minister participated in online Summit of NAM Contact Group 2020 to declare solidarity during COVID-19 Pandemic- Themed ‘United against COVID-19’
• NAM leaders announced creation of a task force to identify requirements of member countries through a common database reflecting their basic medical, social and humanitarian needs in the fight against COVID-19.
• The policy of non-alignment was based on the five principles of Panchasheel-
• Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty;
• Non-interference in each other’s military and internal affairs;
• Mutual non-aggression;
• Equality and mutual benefit;
• Peaceful coexistence and economic cooperation.

Is NAM losing relevance

• Arguments in favour
• NAM is seen as based on alignments rooted in the legacies of colonialism and the ideology of the Cold War. With the end of cold war and changing world order NAM is seen as losing its relevance.
• Several members of the NAM including India have been strengthening their engagement with the developed world to invite capital, technology, better management practices, larger markets etc to improve the economic conditions of their citizens. These reduce scope for effective agenda for NAM bringing countries together.
• Confidence in and credibility of the movement has suffered in recent years because it has been relegated to the status of a talk-shop as it has been unable to adequately address problems and threats that accost the developing world.
• scant agreement between members on policies required to address challenges related to ensuring peace, security and economic development of developing countries.
• Alternative platforms like BRICS, IBSA, SCO and G20 etc have emerged with overlapping agendas
• Arguments against
• The philosophy and ideology of ''Non alignment'' lays emphasis on strategic independence and autonomy, and the ''Non-Aligned Movement'' on challenges faced by the developing world shall always remain relevant.
• NAM was a platform for autonomy of policy for newly independent and developing nations, an objective that remains relevant today.
• Developing countries share much in common, have similar experiences and shared aspirations, even as they represent diverse peoples, circumstances and levels of development. NAM is a large grouping that can shape global responses to such challenges, as it has done in the past.
• NAM remains an important platform for the leaders of the countries to meet and discuss with each other on issues of bilateral, regional and international concern.  

Way forward

• Climate change, environmental degradation, terrorism, radicalisation, poverty, public health emergencies etc are challenges that can only be faced together, not when world is divided. It requires collaboration, not coercion. In short, effective multilateralism remains the only answer. NAM can be that answer.
• India called for the need for NAM to keep pace with the changing times and reform and revitalise the current arrangements and working methods to pursue a positive and forward-looking and focused agenda.
• NAM should not be positioned as ‘for’ or ‘against’ any ideology or groups of nations. Rather NAM should identify select cross-sectoral challenges that require immediate attention. E.g. counter-terrorism, global governance reform, sustainable development, and South-South cooperation.
• A democratic, effective, flexible, credible, transparent and representative, multilateral organisation like NAM is imperative for 21st century world order. 

The ten principles of Bandung were:

• Respect of fundamental human rights and of the objectives and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
• Respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.
• Recognition of the equality among all races and of the equality among all nations, both large and small.
• Non-intervention or non-interference into the internal affairs of another -country.
• Respect of the right of every nation to defend itself, either individually or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Non-use of collective defence pacts to benefit the specific interests of any of the great powers and Non-use of pressures by any country against other countries.
• Refraining from carrying out or threatening to carry out aggression, or from using force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.
• Peaceful solution of all international conflicts in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.
• Promotion of mutual interests and of cooperation.
• Respect of justice and of international obligations