The Non-Aligned Movement: A Brief History

The Non-Aligned Movement is a movement uniting the countries that declared non-participation in military-political groupings and blocs as the basis of the course of their foreign policy. It included countries that did not belong either to the communist or capitalist camps.

The Non-Aligned Movement, whose history officially began in 1961, aimed to uphold the interests of the developing Third World countries in the cold war. The hostile rivalry between the superpowers (the USSR and the US) has caused confrontation among many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. One of the main goals of the movement was to hold a conference of African and Asian countries, which served as a prologue to its formation. 29 countries took part in the work. The chairman of the conference was Jawaharlal Nehru.

Among the inspirers of the movement were also Yugoslav leader Joseph Broz-Tito, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesian leader Ahmed Sukarno.

The first three decades after its creation, the movement played an important role in promoting decolonization, democratization of international relations, and the emergence of new independent states. However, gradually it lost its influence in the international arena.

Initially, the Non-Aligned Movement developed 10 principles, according to which it sought to implement its own independent policy. They have not changed in the past half-century. Today, as before, attention is focused on recognizing the rights of countries to follow strategies that are in line with collective interests, guarantee development, maintain peace and security through cooperation in resolving international problems.

Currently, the Non-Aligned Movement unites 120 countries. This is 60% of the size of the UN. It occupies a niche of political unification, which in the international arena opposes the actions of the West in relation to a number of developing countries.

The countries of the movement are characterized by a policy of peaceful coexistence, independence from the military blocs of superpowers, open support for liberation movements.

The Non-Aligned Movement held 15 summits. Today it has regained its strong positions and has the opportunity to play a prominent role in international politics in accordance with international events.

Iran during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the participants in the movement proposed practical ways of cooperation that should ensure the attainment of common ideals (resistance to sanctions, ensuring peace and security, refusal to insult religions, fighting against the onslaught of the West, reforming the UN, combating drug smuggling and Terrorism, support for the accession of member countries to international organizations). In turn, the Non-Aligned Movement supports Iran's nuclear rights.

At present, analysts consider it necessary for the movement to become more active, for which a review of its principles is necessary. It is today the second international organization after the UN , capable of realizing big plans. However, the problem lies in the weak internal structure of this organization, the dissimilarity of the policies and economies of the participating countries, the lack of common will, which is explained by different political interests.