Kadirgamar Quarterly - Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of ...

Importance of a Strong Non-Aligned Movement for Small Powers: A Sri Lankan Perspective
by Nipunika O. Lecamwasam, Student Article from our Diplomatic Training Institute (BIDTI)
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was not only an expression of objection to power bloc
politics, but was also a platform to the North-South Dialogue that aired the economic grievances
of former colonies. Sri Lanka as a small power was an active member in the movement and held
its leadership from 1976 to 1979. NAM thus became an important element of Sri Lanka’s foreign
policy as it accorded great international significance to the newly independent island.
Yet the ending of the Cold War questioned the existence of NAM. The initial purpose of the
movement of maintaining a neutral political space was no longer relevant in the emerging power
structure where rival political camps did not subsist.
The essay expects to analyze the prudence of Sri Lanka’s continued association with an obsolete
and irrelevant Movement.
Globalization and the resultant interdependency it has created are increasingly endorsing the possibility of an imperial
West in terms of economy and culture. If NAM’s objectives can be altered to disassociate itself with the imperialism
of the West (not the West itself) non-alignment could denote a different meaning than the original: non-alignment with
Western imperialism. These re-defined objectives would benefit NAM countries in general and Sri Lanka in particular.
NAM should focus on emerging – and thriving – Asian markets in an era when the West is in a steep economic decline
and extend its membership to countries such as China, Russia (former Socialist bloc countries) and Brazil that share
common economic interests with the South and foster South-South economic co-operation that has the potential to
counter the incumbent Western economic hegemony.
If the proposed policy alterations are executed NAM would afford an ideal opportunity for Sri Lanka to collectively
develop her economy along with emerging economies such as the BRICS. Since Asia cuts a promising figure as a
dawning economic power, Sri Lanka should judiciously shape her foreign policy to expand her economic ties with
Asian markets both in terms of exports and imports. Sri Lanka’s over dependence on US and European markets has
put her in a politically precarious position, a fact rather embarrassingly demonstrated at the latest UNHRC session
where the country was unable to take strict diplomatic measures against the masterminds of the resolution despite
having had her sovereignty seriously undermined. Also the recent GSP+ scenario limited her political bargaining power
for the fear of having adverse economic effects.
In political terms NAM today should act as an effective check against unwarranted Western interference in the domestic
affairs of its member countries. Sri Lanka felt the need for a stronger NAM in the recently concluded UNHRC session
when several African countries (members of the global South) abstained from voting for the US backed resolution
against Sri Lanka due to their economic dependence on the US. If NAM was potent enough to economically prop up
these countries, the US aid factor wouldn’t have had an adverse effect on Sri Lanka.
The Indian vote in favour of the said resolution too illustrated shortcomings of NAM politics. Non-Aligned countries
should adopt mutually accommodating foreign policies with a commitment to stand as a group against undue external
interference with the sovereignty of a member state. Such commitments should endure domestic pressures and
fuel enhanced regional co-operation that would act as an effective check against the exploitative West. Also these
commitments should be legally binding to ensure a less wobbly domestic milieu.
UN reforms, a central theme of NAM, should be implemented in a much more effective manner that would prevent
undemocratic measures against third world countries. Specifically for Sri Lanka this is of vital importance as such
reforms would in future help her firmly stand against unwarranted Western influences.
In conclusion it could be said that a strong multi-lateral consortium, if developed within the NAM, would help countries
like Sri Lanka to counter-act inexcusable Western prying into internal affairs and assert their position as equal sovereign
states in world politics.
References
Cheony, Anuradha, interview by Raghunandan. NAM still Relevant, Should Revive for the Better – Anuradha Chenoy
(September 10, 2011), Accessed March 24, 2012, http://newsclick.in/tags/nam-still-relevant-should-revive-betteranuradha-chenoy
W.M.Karunadasa. Sri Lanka and Non-Alignment: A Study of Foreign Policy From 1948 To 1982. Dehiwala: Image Lanka
Publishers, 1997.
LAKSHMAN KADIRGAMAR INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL
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