The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was created and founded during the collapse of the colonial system and the independence struggles of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions of the world and at the height of the Cold War. During the early days of the Movement, its actions were a key factor in the decolonization process, which led later to the attainment of freedom and independence by many countries and peoples and to the founding of tens of new sovereign States. Throughout its history, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries has played a fundamental role in the preservation of world peace and security.

While some meetings with a third-world perspective were held before 1955, historians consider that the Bandung Asian-African Conference is the most immediate antecedent to the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement. This Conference was held in Bandung on April 18-24, 1955 and gathered 29 Heads of States belonging to the first post-colonial generation of leaders from the two continents with the aim of identifying and assessing world issues at the time and pursuing out joint policies in international relations.

The principles that would govern relations among large and small nations, known as the "Ten Principles of Bandung", were proclaimed at that Conference. Such principles were adopted later as the main goals and objectives of the policy of non-alignment. The fulfillment of those principles became the essential criterion for Non-Aligned Movement membership; it is what was known as the "quintessence of the Movement" until the early 1990s.

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.

In 1960, in the light of the results achieved in Bandung, the creation of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was given a decisive boost during the Fifteenth Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly, during which 17 new African and Asian countries were admitted. A key role was played in this process by the then Heads of State and Government Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Ahmed Sukarno of Indonesia and Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, who later became the founding fathers of the movement and its emblematic leaders.

Six years after Bandung, the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries was founded on a wider geographical basis at the First Summit Conference of Belgrade, which was held on September 1-6, 1961. The Conference was attended by 25 countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Yemen, Myanmar, Cambodia, Srilanka, Congo, Cuba, Cyprus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yugoslavia.

The Founders of NAM have preferred to declare it as a movement but not an organization in order to avoid bureaucratic implications of the latter.

Current relevance of Nam

Why this Question arises ?

Perhaps it is not an exaggeration to say that today we are living in an altogether new world--the end of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, 15 new republics in place of the erstwhile Soviet Union. A united Germany and a new Europe as a socio-economic and political entity. Some people argue that the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was the product of cold war and bipolarism: and that since the cold war is ended and the Soviet Union is no more, NAM has lost its relevance..

According 'to some others NAM's task has, by and large  been accomplished. For instance, colonies have gained independence, apartheid is being dismantled. the cold war is ended. foreign bases are losing relevance and when alliances are disintegrating there is no more heed for non-alignment.

There are others who think that NAM should be disbanded because its present performance is not as dynamic as it was in the 'last and it is characterised by slow response to today's deep and rapid changes on the international scene. They cite the example of NAM's poor response to the recent Gulf crisis.

Current relevance

The relevance of NAM can be traced from the following points-

Preservation of the world peace- NAM after so many years of foundation it still abide by its founding principles, idea and purpose i.e. to establish peaceful and prosperous world. It promoted disarmament and even prohibited invasion of any country, henceforth creation a sovereign world order.

Preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty- Nam proved its repeated relevance with the ideal of preserving independence of every nation. This policy will survive long lasting till the time sovereign nation state exists irrespective of any periodical, marginal changes, in the existing system all over the world. It has repeated relevance in every stage till the concept of international relation exists. So weather world is uni-polar, multi-polar or bi-polar NAM as policy will grow stronger.

Platform of Third World nations- Third world countries fighting against sociological- economical problems since they have been exploited for long time by other developed nation, after end of colonization their new motives is to look forward for development. In this situation NAM acted as a protector for these new formed small countries against the western hegemony. Not only this it empowers the member states to take its own decisions without any external influence.

Support of United Nations- NAM total strength compromises of 120 developing countries and most of them being member of UN general assembly. IT represents 2/3 members of general assembly hence NAM members can act as important block for the reforms in UNO.

promoting equitable world order- NAM promotes equitable world order. It specifies same ideal foreign policy for all nation. It act as bridge between political difference existing in the international environment. It arose as consensual policy on burning topic of current world politics to which the vast majority of nation could subscribe.

Check on big power ambitions- NAM constitute of 120 developing nation and this overwhelming strength of this third world nation act as a check on big power ambitions. It stood as a unifying force against the traditional foreign policy of great powers and strictly restricts imperialism, nationalism and universal-ism.

Base of South-South co-operation- NAM act as catalyst to foster the co-operation between south -south nation. It raises issues that is of major concern for the south countries. It initiate economic, political and social development corners to achieve the desired result of moving from developing to developed nations.

Integral part of foreign policy- NAM as foreign policy is very much relevant till today even after the disintegration of USSR. Many developing nation including India still follows NAM policy as its major international and foreign policy tool. The policy to avoid colonization and imperialism continues to remain valid for all small and developing countries.

Peaceful settlement of International disputes- NAM since its foundation act as platform that protects the interest of developing countries. It protect it from the huge and influential power in the international sphere, so if disputes arises between developed and developing nation at any point of concerned topic then NAM act as platform which negotiate and conclude disputes peacefully securing the favorable decisions for each member nation.

Alternative world power- NAM with passage of time emerged as the alternative world power. With its strength and its motive to democratize the international system proved its qualification as alternative world order which would promote equality and peace all over the world and even provide new dynamics to the existing world's politics.

Criticism of US policy- NAM played active role in criticizing the US policy on various events. US action such as invasion of Iraq and the war on terrorism, Iran and North Korea's nuclear plant have been attempted to stifle by US have been brought to notice by NAM as violation of human right and committing roughshod means to denounce the sovereignty of smaller nations.

Cultural diversity and human rights- NAM is said to be the protector of human rights and propagated the existence of cultural diversity. They even promoted societal-cultural concept and the tolerance of religion. NAM always remain active to secure the human right of every nation and if found it being violated it stand for its protection.

Sustainable development- NAM supported the concept of sustainable development. They even determine what are the factors which hinders the development and discuss it at large where ever get the platform including United Nations.

How can NAM be strengthened?

Its role in the present century would be strengthened by more South-South cooperation, which would mean, by and large, collaboration between and among the NAM countries and defending their interests from fast expanding economic and technological power of the North. NAM should develop a progressive agenda on the fundamental values of democracy, human rights and multiculturalism. The preservation and consolidation of democracy throughout its membership is a major challenge. NAM’s spectrum could be further enlarged with the increasing concern worldwide over environmental issues over greenhouse gas emissions, health concerns especially AIDS, drug trafficking, rising instances of poverty, food crisis and unemployment mostly within the NAM members and LDC countries, the rising digital divide between the rich and poor and fight against all shades of extremism, xenophobia, ethnic nationalism and regional wars

Conclusion: Non- Alignment has not lost any of its relevance rather it has stood the test of time.As world is going towards another cold war like situation between USA and China , so  importance of NAM is increasing .