The Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War as an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain independent or neutral. 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.

India’s experience with the policy of non alignment: 

• NAM played an important role during the Cold War years in furthering many of the causes that India advocated: Decolonisation, end to apartheid, global nuclear disarmament, ushering in of new international economic and information orders.
• NAM enabled India and many newly born countries in 1950’s and 1960’s their sovereignty and alleviated the fears of neo-colonialism.
• South-South Co-operation: NAM together with the Group of 77 (G77–largely made up of NAM members) succeeded to keep Third World issues on the agenda in most UN forums, effectively supported independence movements in third world country.
• Soft-Power Leadership: NAM made India a leader for many countries who didn’t want to ally with the then global powers USA or USSR. India became a soft-power leader which still holds good till date.
• Balanced friendship: India’s non-alignment gave her the opportunity to get the best of both the global superpowers of the time in terms of aid, military support etc. This was in line with her objectives of national development.

India’s lost opportunities due to NAM:

• There was no mutual agreement to support in case of aggression on a member country.
• India faced such a situation when China attacked her in 1962 and Pakistan in 1965.
• India was against the West in isolating the communist China, but the blind friendship had led to Chinese aggression in 1962. The USA didn’t extend military support in 1962 to India. This has serious repercussions in the economy almost leading to a famine.
• India’s muddied relation with China was encashed by Pakistan. Pakistan supported China and it became her all-weather friend, the repercussions of which are seen even today in the form of CPEC and constantly troubled Kashmir region.
• The lack of foreign funds, protectionism driven by NAM also led to delayed growth of India. China which was in a worst condition than India during independence surged ahead and is today the largest economy in the world.

NAM’s authority is slowly eroding:

• The end of cold war lead to unipolar world and now tending towards multi-polarity. The NAM is now reached irrelevance.
• NAM could not push for reforms in the global bodies like UN, IMF, WTO . Thus, it has dissuaded many developing countries from pursuing it.
• Disputes within the Global South countries. Example: India-Pak, Iran-Iraq. This has paved way for the blocs to enter.
• Inability to find solution to the West-Asian crisis. Withdrawal of one of the founder members- Egypt, after the Arab Spring.
• Most of the members are economically weak; hence they have no say in world politics or economy.

The form and nature of non alignment that would work for India in the current scenario:

• As the current foreign secretary put, NAM is a basis of our foreign policy. However, India should be aligned on issue basis and not ideological basis.
• It gives us the capacity to be flexible, gives us the capacity to maintain our decisional autonomy.
• This gives India the required Strategic autonomy that is the kind which a nation can exercise depends on its specific circumstances such as size, location, comprehensive national power, and the nature of the threats among many other things.
• India should also be pragmatic and look at alliances which suit her interests the best. Alliances are not a “permanent wedlock” or some kind of“bondage”. They are a political/military arrangement to cope with a common threat. When the shared understanding of the threat breaks down, so does the alliance.

Conclusion:

India is a large and globalised economy with “big stakes in all parts of the world”. Its foreign policy must focus on a pragmatic assessment of India’s interests and the best means to secure them — including partnerships and coalitions — against current and potential threats. A newer, reformed NAM 2.0 can be looked at to continue NAM as our foreign policy.