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Relevance of Nehru’s Non-Alignment for Economic Recovery and Development

Prof Pradeep Mathur

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New Delhi | Wednesday | 13 November 2024

As India lives with  an  unhappy economic scenario  today, it’s important to explore diverse solutions for sustainable growth. While we cannot directly apply outdated policies to modern challenges, the vision of past leaders, especially India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, may still offer valuable insights. Nehru’s non-alignment policy, a cornerstone of India’s foreign relations during the mid-20th century, was more than a diplomatic strategy; it was a pathway toward economic independence and self-sustained growth. Revisiting this policy may provide a renewed perspective on inclusive development.

As a prominent freedom fighter and India’s Prime Minister, Nehru held significant influence over India’s domestic and foreign policies from the 1940s through the early 1960s. During this era, the world was polarized into two major power blocs: the U.S.-led capitalist bloc and the Soviet-led socialist bloc. Many newly independent nations were pressured to align with one of these blocs, effectively continuing a form of neocolonial control. In response, Nehru championed non-alignment, an independent path that allowed India and other newly liberated nations to avoid external influence and dictate their own economic and political destinies.

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Article at a Glance

As India grapples with a significant economic crisis, revisiting the vision of its first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, could provide valuable insights for sustainable growth. Nehru's non-alignment policy, a pivotal aspect of India's foreign relations during the mid-20th century, was not just a diplomatic strategy; it paved the way for economic independence and self-reliance among newly liberated nations.

By fostering cooperation without dependency on superpowers, the non-aligned movement empowered developing countries to pursue growth tailored to their unique needs.

In today’s complex global landscape, these principles remain relevant as India and other nations seek economic models that prioritize local interests over foreign influence.

Emphasizing peace, mutual support, and people-centric policies, Nehru’s vision offers a compelling alternative to the profit-driven approaches prevalent today, advocating for inclusive development that addresses the needs of the most marginalized citizens.

 

This movement, launched with leaders like Egypt’s Nasser and Yugoslavia’s Tito, united Afro-Asian countries in a “third world” bloc. While initially intended as a peace and neutrality movement, it also laid a foundation for economic sovereignty and mutual cooperation among developing countries. Non-alignment allowed nations ravaged by colonial exploitation to seek development models that suited their unique needs and avoid excessive dependency on powerful countries.

The non-aligned movement gained momentum through the 1950s and 1960s, giving newly independent countries a platform to advocate for fairer economic policies and resist foreign domination. For the first time, developing nations presented a united front in global matters, challenging the traditional power structures. Non-alignment empowered these countries to trade, collaborate, and progress without becoming economically reliant on either superpower, enabling growth that better addressed local challenges and priorities.

The peak of the non-alignment movement was perhaps seen during the 1983 New Delhi summit, where nearly all of the non-aligned leaders gathered to strengthen the coalition. However, as the global economic situation grew challenging and the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the movement's unity began to wane. The early 1990s brought economic reforms under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, ushering India into a more liberalized, corporate-driven economy. While these reforms spurred economic growth, they were also viewed as a move away from the non-aligned ideology, leading some to believe that India’s foreign policy had abandoned Nehru’s foundational principles.

In today’s competitive, globalized economy, India finds itself in a difficult position. Despite its economic progress, India is still largely independent, lacking reliable allies and facing strong economic competition. The non-alignment philosophy remains relevant as India and other developing nations strive to avoid economic dependency on any single global power. Latin American countries, for instance, are increasingly calling for a return to economic models that reject Western-led globalization, seeking pathways less dependent on global superpowers and more focused on regional and national self-reliance.

The principles behind non-alignment might offer useful guidance for an economic model that doesn’t rely heavily on the influence of dominant nations. This approach allows countries to work cooperatively without compromising their sovereignty, a necessity in a world where the economic policies of the superpowers often serve their own interests rather than those of the developing world.

In the 1950s, newly independent countries faced an uphill battle: colonial exploitation had left them impoverished and underdeveloped, while the emerging Cold War presented further challenges. The leaders of these countries showed exceptional foresight, forming alliances and policies that prioritized national sovereignty and regional solidarity over aligning with global powers. Today, as developing countries face economic setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, similar leadership qualities are needed to navigate recovery and rebuild resilient economies.

The non-alignment movement defied centuries of power dynamics where the strong dominated the weak. For the first time, less powerful nations collectively asserted their right to economic and political self-determination, marking a departure from the traditional pattern of subordination. Non-alignment emphasized peace, independence, and mutual support, rejecting the notion that economic growth must rely on the world’s wealthiest and most powerful nations.

Nehru, Nasser, and Tito envisioned non-alignment as a non-bloc movement centered on peace and cooperation. They understood that a nation’s resources and potential could be channeled more effectively toward local needs than serving the interests of superpower blocs. Today, leaders in developing countries share similar goals: eradicating poverty, improving living standards, and achieving sustainable growth. However, globalization’s complexity has led to disconnection from local populations and their needs, especially for the poorest citizens.

Non-alignment’s core principles—cooperation without dependency, development without exploitation, and a focus on people-centric policies—are as relevant now as they were half a century ago. Leaders must ensure that economic policies benefit the masses rather than a select few. The approach should reflect Mahatma Gandhi’s test: consider whether any action primarily helps the poorest and most marginalized citizens. The non-alignment movement was, at its heart, a movement of and for the people, addressing the needs of those historically marginalized by global power structures.

As Nehru stated at the United Nations in 1960, peace is foundational to progress. Revisiting non-alignment can help us design an economic approach that respects each nation’s unique circumstances, promotes mutual cooperation, and minimizes reliance on superpowers. Nehru’s vision was one of sustainable, inclusive growth, rooted in peace and cooperation, particularly among developing nations. His philosophy provides a refreshing alternative to the highly competitive, profit-driven models that dominate today’s global economy.

In the current era, economic strategies inspired by non-alignment offer a way to address the social and economic challenges of a globalized world. They prioritize people-centered development, cooperation among equals, and inclusive growth—ideals that remain essential to achieving true economic independence and resilience.

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