Increasing relevance of NAM

We would not be exaggerating if we say that the Non-aligned movement (NAM) is coming into its own once again. It is not the case that NAM was a spent force in international politics over the past few decades, but there did not seem to be any visible effort on the part of NAM to assert itself with any special vibrancy over the years on issues which should have had its deep concern.

With NAM reaching a milestone in terms of years in existence, that is, on it notching 50 years as an international political movement, we believe we are obliged to reflect awhile on how NAM could be of continued service to the less powerful sections of the world community. In other words, how could it render itself increasingly relevant?

When NAM saw the light of day in Belgrade in 1961, it had come into being in response to international political realities which were of utmost importance to the Third World. Clearly, the poor countries of the world were up against a set of gruelling challenges on the economic, political and cultural fronts and it was plain that they were losing out in the face of these obstacles to their general progress. For instance, the international trading regime of those times was weighted against Third World export commodities and as a consequence the Third World was not in a position to benefit greatly through economic exchanges with the First World in particular.

Besides, the more powerful of the world erected protectionist and other barriers against Third World exports, thereby depriving the developing countries of substantial export revenue. Generally, the First World could twist the rules of international economic exchanges to their benefit and ensure the steady undermining of Third World economic interests.

We are by no means being exhaustive with these observations on the then economic grievances of the powerless of the world but, as should be expected, political disability stemmed from economic impoverishment. The developing countries could not be a force of any consequence in the 'councils of the world' because they were veritably the 'Wretched of the Earth' and could do very little to change the relations of power globally, in their favour. Accordingly, the developing countries were in a position of powerlessness and could do very little or nothing to change their economic and political situation.

Cultural subjugation of the developing countries followed from this powerlessness on the economic and political fronts. An avalanche of alien values and aspiration was unleashed on the Third World by the Top Dogs of the international order and the transnational media were the primary instrument in this process, besides controlling all information net works and projecting to the world misleading impressions of the Third World and its realities.

It was out of this world situation that NAM was brought into being by the developing countries. NAM and the principles it stood for were seen as essential tools in the fight against domination of the international system by the First World or the most powerful countries of the industrialized West. For instance, the principle of equi-distance between the Eastern and Western power blocs, enabled NAM to speak collectively about the needs of the world's poor and to campaign for them. In other words, NAM was a historic necessity.

However, NAM failed to sustain its vibrancy in the decades following the seventies. This was primarily because the oppressed internalized the value structure of the oppressor and preferred to adopt the development models handed down to them by the foremost international financial institutions. For instance, economic liberalization or the adoption of the market system was seen by many developing countries as the paths to growth.

The developing countries are hopefully now seeing the error of their ways. Economic development in the real sense has come to only a few Third World countries. Besides, the West is in economic gloom. The development package marketed by the West has visibly failed.

Over and above all this, the developing countries are continuing to be dictated to by the West. Sri Lanka's current squabbles with the West prove the point. Clearly, NAM should be revived and made a bulwark against Western interference in the legitimate affairs of the Third World. Let this be NAM's hour!