Answer in detail: Explain the meaning and policies of Non-Aligned movement.

Answer:

Meaning: During the Cold War the world was divided into two blocs, led by the USA and the USSR. Non-alignment means not joining either military bloc and deciding each international issue independently on its merits. The Non-Aligned Movement was founded at the Belgrade Conference (1961) by Pandit Nehru (India), Marshal Tito (Yugoslavia), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Dr. Sukarno (Indonesia) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana). The Bandung Conference (1955) prepared its base.

Policies:

• To keep away from military alliances of the superpowers (NATO, Warsaw Pact, SEATO, CENTO) and not to allow foreign military bases.
• To oppose colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination (apartheid) and to support freedom movements of colonies.
• To work for world peace, peaceful co-existence and disarmament, especially nuclear disarmament.
• To follow Panchsheel: respect for each other's sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and peaceful co-existence.
• To promote economic co-operation among developing countries and demand a fair new international economic order.

The movement helped newly independent nations keep their freedom of action during the Cold War.