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   BACKGROUNDER ON THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT (NAM)
  The NAM is the largest and most important political caucus and bloc exclusive to developing nations in the UN system comprising 118 member states, 15 observer countries and 8 observer organizations. It operates on the notion that the consolidated strength of the developing countries through close cooperation, may serve as an effective counterbalance to the inordinately weighty economic and political influence of the powerful countries.The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is an international organization conceived from the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. As stated in the Havana Declaration of 1979, the organization’s purpose is to ensure “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries” in their “struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, Zionism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics.”

The Philippines was accepted as a NAM member at the 10th NAM Summit in Jakarta in 1992.Despite prior exclusion due to its ‘special relationship’ with the US, the Philippines has always recognized the validity of NAM’s principles and objectives.

 
   EVOLUTION OF NAM
  Since its founding, NAM has helped significantly in advancing the agenda of disarmament, respect for international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. NAM is an active forum for inter-regional cooperation, between the Philippines, ASEAN and other regional groupings such as the Arab League and the OIC.

The establishment of NAM further led to the convening of the Cairo Conference of Non-Aligned and other developing countries, the founding of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the creation of the Group of 77 (G77)

With largely overlapping membership, NAM and the G77 over time acted in tandem to advance the interests of the South and to work for an environment favourable to the development of their member countries.

The history of NAM has shown changes in the direction of priorities, depending on the Chair and the country presiding over the particular period. By 1992, it seemed NAM had come full circle as it attempted to recreate itself into an organization more attuned to the global economic challenges.

 
   RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
  Though reneging on its role as politician guardian of the Third World was never contemplated, greater economic cooperation was increasingly viewed both as a cause and outcome of political stability. South-South cooperation was thus seen both as an end in itself and a means by which the Third World might gain a fairer economic relationship vis-ŕ-vis the First World. A less adversarial attitude was also deemed essential to making headway with industrialized nations and a decision to relaunch the North-South Dialogue, in addition to a proposal for restructuring the UN, was made.

Despite the important role NAM has in world politics, however, there is now an increasing need to “revitalize” the group since issues like those related to globalization and terrorism have often divided its membership. NAM countries have been known to bicker and fight with each other on concerns brought before multilateral institutions like the UN and the WTO. This is perhaps one reason why NAM is presently struggling to remain relevant in world politics.