16
A wave of the future
Non-alignment is already a factor to reckon with in contemporary international life. The non-aligned nations constitute a majority of members of the United Nations and the combined population of non-aligned countries is more than half of mankind. The impact of non-alignment has been a tonic and a blessing to the newly-emerging independent nations. It has helped them to preserve and consolidate their hard won independence.
We can look back with satisfaction that the philosophy of non-alignment was prophetic and we are confident that even in this over armed and turbulent world it represents the wave of the future. Since the Belgrade Summit of 1961 we can catalogue an impressive record. Decolonisation is virtually complete. Liberation movements of yesterday now rightly wield the reigns of power. Non-alignment has made a lasting contribution towards the maintenance of world peace, and prevention of global and local conflicts. It has been in the vanguard of the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism.
It has focused attention on the major economic issues facing the world and has made a constructive contribution to building up a consensus for the evolution of a new economic order, based on the principles of justice and equality.
A World without War
But there is no scope for complacency. It is not sufficient to dwell on the past. We have to understand the continuing challenges and threats. We must map out how non-alignment can help to steer in realising our aims of a world, free of military bloc politics, a world with independent nations, co-operating with each other to safeguard peace, a world moving towards disarmament, a world in which the rich and the poor countries join hands in rectifying economic disabilities, under-development and social imbalances.
We are still far from a world without war, without want and without conflict or tension. It would, therefore, be unwise and premature for anyone to take a rosy view of the world and conclude that military alliances and confrontation have become things of the past. In fact, we find that some of the military alliances which were so far dormant are being revived again. Besides an economic dimension is being added to them so as to secure for the member countries of the alliances, a lion's share of the non-renewable resources and raw materials of the world.