Non-Alignment in the Era of the Global South

Context (ORF): At the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, themed ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence,’ the Kampala Outcome document was adopted.

• Uganda, as the NAM Chair from December 2023, aims to strengthen NAM and promote unity among the Global South.

NAM in a Multi-Polar World

• Evolution: Non-alignment has evolved, with developing countries now opting for issue-based alignments instead of strict non-alignment.
• Flexible Security Arrangements: Countries balance risks (dependency) and rewards (defense support) by seeking security support from great powers while avoiding close entanglements. Flexible partnerships typically carry fewer risks.
• Formal Alliances: Characterized by institutionalized defense ties and mutual defense responsibilities (like NATO). These involve formal treaties and legislative assessment.
• Informal Alliances: Developed based on common ground and collaboration without formal laws (e.g., the US-Israel relationship since 1967, the Sino-Vietnamese alliance during the Vietnam War).
• Issue-Based or Multi-Alignment Partnerships: Involve fewer obligations and less binding arrangements (e.g., arms sales). These do not guarantee military support in crises (e.g., American relations with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia as multi-alignment partnerships).

Evolution and Relevance of NAM in the Global South

• Inconsistent Commitment: Many Global South countries maintain military ties with external powers, such as French bases in Francophone countries and Soviet support for Angola and Ethiopia during the Cold War.
• High External Debt: External debt, particularly from Western sources, hinders non-alignment principles. For example, Africa’s total external debt was US$824bn in 2021.
• Cold War Leverage: Non-aligned nations leveraged the US-USSR rivalry during the Cold War. Today, modern non-alignment persists, illustrated by Africa’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Active Diplomacy: The Global South is evolving from colonialism and Cold/proxy wars to active diplomacy and multiple alliances.
• Strategic Autonomy: Countries adopt strategic autonomy and multi-alignment to protect their interests and avoid conflicts (e.g., Ethiopia’s memberships in BRICS and partnerships with the US).
• NAM Membership: The popularity of NAM has increased; all African countries except South Sudan are NAM members.
• Economic and Military Alliances: Alliances are now based on economic or military convenience rather than ideological affinity.
• Dismantling Foreign Military Sites: Dismantling foreign military sites is a prerequisite for any new non-alignment to work in the Global South.

Reforming NAM: Way Ahead

• Permanent Secretariat: Establish a secretariat for greater global impact.
• Self-Sufficiency: Focus on resource control and attract investment from wealthy nations.
• Reframe Non-Alignment: Update the concept, promoting independence and avoiding power blocks.
• Regular Updates: Regularly revisit NAM’s goals to address economic challenges.
• New Threats: Tackle climate change, terrorism, and pandemics.
• Tech Cooperation: Collaborate on AI and emerging technologies to bridge the digital divide.
• Global Solidarity: Promote a fair, inclusive global governance system.
• Symbol and Name: Introduce a new symbol and consider renaming it (e.g., ‘Southern Solidarity Organisation’).