INDIA'S CHARISMATIC AS WELL AS CONTROVERSIAL PRIME MINISTER PAVED THE FOUNDATION OF INDIA'S INITIAL CAUTIONARY FOREIGN POLICY. HERE'S HOW.
India's first Prime Minister gave many things to his nation. On contemplation, some of those have attracted derision and criticism (The China Approach & Kashmir handling). Some have been fondly lauded (Economic advancement & Bi-partisanship towards the opposition). But what is often overlooked is his pioneer diplomatic outlook.
In a time when the post-WW2 world was divided into two opposing blocs in the Cold War, Nehru envisioned deft "Non Alignment" for the newly independent nations of Asia & Africa which had freed themselves from the clutches of European colonialism. This passive policy was not aimed at creating a Third Bloc but rather a group of nations who could determine their own path of development without foreign interference.
NAM COUNTRIES .
The majority of member countries went on to take sides as the Cold War progressed. For example, countries like Pakistan, Philippines & South Korea joined the Americans whereas nations like China (Observer state), Belarus & North Korea came under the influence of USSR.
ACTUAL ADVANTAGES TO NAM MEMBERS
I refer to countries like India, Indonesia, Egypt & Ethiopia who actually didn't join any bloc & affirmed their stance of non-alignment. These countries actually enjoyed these advantages:
The major advantage of NAM was that these nations could form their independent foreign policy without any external pressure. For example, NATO members could not establish diplomatic relations & trade with USSR & its allies.
There members did not become economically dependent on one nation who traded exponentially with the smaller state to encourage enemy condemnation. Prime examples are relationships between Cuba and USSR as well as Belarus & USSR. Even today, Russia exerts heavy influence on the GDP, exports and the domestic elections of Belarus. Belarus' heavy dependence is picturized below.
If two neighbouring nations are in opposing blocs, unwanted tensions arise which can lead to further conflict. This possibility is avoided by NAM members as they take no sides!
The leader of the bloc can also disrupt internal affairs if they are against its interests. For instance, USA made a pro-reformist Shah the ruler of Iran (who was later overthrown in the Iranian Revolution of 1971),
Another important aspect is these members get access to weapons of both USA & USSR. India has a healthy mix of weapons from the Soviets as well as the US though Russia has a dominant share of around 60%. The significance of these diverse sources is that the country gets access to all the advance innovation & there is no over dependence on a particular nation for weapons.
Lastly a neutral nation can export goods to all the countries irrespective of their position or inclination. So there is maximization of the economic growth potentiaL.
Many sceptics may argue that this stance of being "neutral" is a covert way of picking sides. The Americans especially despised Nehru for encouraging other countries to remain passive. However in the end, it turned out Nehru was correct. The infant nations had a clear free reign in taking their own decisions.
I STRONGLY FEEL THAT NEHRU MADE SEVERAL BLUNDERS IN HIS REIGN AS THE PM. BUT THIS REVOLUTIONARY FOREIGN POLICY CERTAINLY CEMENTED HIS POSITION AS A PERSON LEAVING A PROFOUND LEGACY.
THANKS FOR READING. HAVE A GOOD ONE.
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