Multipolar world
Non-Alignment Movement was primarily
started by 5 nations in which India was one helmed by the first Prime Minister
of India Jawaharlal Nehru. After two world wars, Britain was exhausted and lost
its global prominence of being a colonial power. There are countries which had
been the colonies for years and being exploited for man and resources for the
benefit of the ruling country. Mid 20th century was the time when a
number of countries got independence and released from the stronghold of their
colonial masters. They gained their sovereign power for the development of
their countrymen. It was hard earned battle and the feelings were strong. It
was during this time also that two countries US and USSR became the global
power. Slowly they started to compete and the world was soon divided between
them. These two countries were ideologically different as well. U.S. was mainly
a capitalist oriented country while USSR has its root on communism. However, both these countries wanted every other country to opt for their ideology.
Soon, all the capitalist-oriented countries sided with the U.S. and with the
touch of communism sided with the USSR. Besides a number of groups were formed.
For example, NATO was formed with the initiative if the U.S. and Warsaw Pact
was signed with the USSR initiative. More than that, there was arms race going
on between the nations. It was during this time that the space race also
started. Both countries wanted to be ‘first’. While all this went on, a
number of countries did not join any power bloc. They vied for sovereignty and
no external influence in their internal matters. India chose to side with no
country. However during the 70s when India had have fought two wars, it got slightly
inclined towards the USSR since the U.S. had been helping Pakistan secretly.
After 1990, USSR's economy
went for a drain and soon the world was largely dominated by U.S. only and The U.S. has its hegemony for more than 2 decades. It became the protector of the
world and also a major economy. Many technology innovations were taking place
in the U.S. and a number of multinational companies germinated from the U.S.
like Google, Apple, and Microsoft and so on.
It was during the 1990s that India,
China and Pakistan were closely standing on the global arena when China took
radical initiatives and raced up to the second position as per the GDP. Today
it is competing with the U.S. for the stronghold. China has become a global
manufacturing hub. With its projects like Belt and Road initiative, it is set
for major changes. Similarly, there are other developing countries like India,
Brazil which is fast gaining prominence. The world has become bipolar and clearly
on the path of the multipolar world. It is in this context that the Non-Alignment
Movement may lose its relevance as a number of countries are forming regional
unions and opting for the Free Trade Agreements. They are also forming groups
like G-7, G-4, BRICS, SAARC, and SCO, etc. in which they are doing conciliation
and putting their viewpoint. Various global NGOs have been working for the
greater good of the world by highlighting the living conditions and lobbying
for the funds to help.
No country could take the risk to be
one-sided when all of them are working for their economy and trying to increase
their trade to as many people as possible. However, the U.S. is still a heavy voice
and through its CAATSA (Countering American Adversaries through Sanction Act)
and similar measures, it has been trying to stay at the top.
Rohit's other blogs
Comments
Post a Comment