The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an international institution and forum of 120 member countries, dedicated to representing the interests of developing nations. It originated in the context of the post-World War II decolonization wave and the Cold War's rapid bipolarization. The concept of non-alignment was first used at the United Nations in 1950 by India and Yugoslavia, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru used the phrase in a 1954 speech in Colombo. The movement was formally established at the first Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1961. Its purpose was to offer a "third way" for newly independent nations to avoid being drawn into the military alliances of the two major power blocs—the pro-Soviet socialist bloc (like the Warsaw Pact) and the pro-American capitalist group (like NATO).
The NAM's mechanism is based on the ten "Bandung principles" of 1955, which include respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and abstention from collective defense pacts that serve the particular interests of a great power. The highest decision-making authority is the Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government, which usually convenes every three years, and the chairmanship rotates among member states. The NAM connects directly to the United Nations (UN), as its members represent nearly two-thirds of the UN's membership, and it often advocates for the reform of the UN Security Council to better reflect the needs of developing countries. With the end of the Cold War, the NAM's original purpose of balancing the two superpowers diminished, but it has since transformed to focus on issues like economic cooperation, human rights, disarmament, and resisting neo-colonialism. The movement's relevance has recently been re-examined as global polarization increases, with the 19th Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2024.