Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, is an international organization of over 100 states which consider themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. NAM focuses on national struggles for independence, the eradication of poverty, economic development and opposing colonialism, imperialism, and neo-colonialism. They represent 55 per cent of the planet's people and nearly two-thirds of the UN's membership.

The Origin of the Non-Aligned Movement

The term "Non-Alignment" itself was coined by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during his speech in 1954 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In this speech, Nehru described the five pillars to be used as a guide for Sino–Indian relations. Called Panchsheel, these principles would later serve as the basis of the Non-Aligned Movement. The five principles were:

Related Topics:
Indian - Jawaharlal Nehru - Panchsheel

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• Respect for territorial integrity
• Mutual non-aggression
• Mutual non-interference in domestic affairs
• Equality and mutual benefit
• Peaceful co-existence

The origin of the Non-aligned movement can be traced to a conference hosted in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. The world's "non-aligned" nations declared their desire not to become involved in the East–West ideological confrontation of the Cold War. Bandung marked a significant milestone for the development of NAM as a political movement.

Related Topics:
Conference hosted in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955 - Cold War

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However it was six years later in September of 1961, largely through the initiative of Josip Broz Tito, then-president of Yugoslavia, that the first official Non-Aligned Movement Summit was held. As well as Tito and Nehru, the other prominent world leaders instrumental in getting NAM off the ground were Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt and Sukarno of Indonesia.

Related Topics:
Josip Broz Tito - Yugoslavia - Gamal Abdel Nasser - Sukarno - Indonesia

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