Non-Aligned movement (NAM), which is conceived in the context of a bipolar world, may not suit for a multipolar world. But, a revived form of cold war conditions that has been emerging now had exposed the need for a revived NAM. Discuss (200 words)
Refer – The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 7 years
KEY POINTS
· NAM developed and adopted during the cold war era by newly independent countries, who did not want to join any of the existing blocs.
· India was among the founding member of NAM. But, it seems irrelevant today as the world has transitioned from a bi-polar to a multipolar world.
· World is witnessing the rise of new world powers like China, India thus is moving towards multi-lateralism. Most of the nations today have strong economic and defence ties with either USA or China.
· Emergence of new regional groupings like G20, BRICS which have clearly laid down scope and objective of engagement and the outcomes, overshadow NAM which does not have any of these.
Revived cold war conditions
· The United States has identified both China and Russia as its adversaries.
· Russia has just announced that it has invincible doomsday machines and display its military might.
· Cuba is in the dog house again and the “axis of evil” has emerged once again under Iran’s leadership.
· This time it is a three-cornered Cold War, without any corner having committed countries to act together as military allies.
Need for a revived NAM
· With no viable grouping to protect the interests of the weak and the poor in a situation like this, a NAM like structure stands necessary.
· India’s legitimacy in the world will come from its ability to stand for the highest human and universal values and at the global level, “India must remain true to its aspiration of creating a new and alternative universality.”
· As a close defence partner of the U.S. and a member of the “Quadrilateral”, India is right in the U.S. camp.
· Both China and Russia, which have been identified as adversaries in the U.S. world view, have their problems with India.
· Doklam and the Maldives have shown that China is in no mood for a compromise.
· In fact, China has attributed the increase of its defence budget to the formation of the Quadrilateral, which is being seen as a direct threat to China.
How the revival should be?
· An obvious way is to revive NAM by breathing new life into it and making it fit to deal with the new norm.
· A partnership of near equals like IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) with similar interests without any ideological conflict is probably the best model to follow.
· Something on the lines of the G-15 organised by India and like-minded countries some years ago could be put together with the objective of dealing with climate change, terrorism and protectionism.
· The members may have links with the U.S., China and Russia, but should be able to work together without the undue influence of the three.
