A SELF-SCRUTINY OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT: THE AFRICAN MEMBERS' PERSPECTIVE

This critical analysis conducts a self-scrutiny of the Non-Aligned Movement from the perspective of its African member states during the early 1980s. The article explores how African countries were assessing the relevance, effectiveness, and future direction of the movement in light of changing global dynamics and persistent development challenges. The research investigates the specific concerns and priorities of African members within NAM, including decolonization issues, economic development challenges, and regional security concerns. The study analyzes African contributions to NAM agenda-setting, institutional development, and diplomatic initiatives. The article examines tensions and solidarities within NAM between African members and other regional groups, and assesses how African states were navigating these dynamics. The research also evaluates the impact of NAM membership on African countries' foreign policy autonomy, development cooperation, and international bargaining power. Furthermore, the analysis identifies African perspectives on NAM reform and future directions in the evolving international environment.

The Non-Aligned Movement included a significant number of African member states whose perspectives and priorities importantly shaped the organization's agenda and functioning, with this article providing a comprehensive self-scrutiny from African viewpoints during the early 1980s. The research begins by examining the historical engagement of African countries with the Non-Aligned Movement, tracing participation from the Bandung Conference through various summits to contemporary involvement. The analysis explores the specific concerns that African members brought to NAM, including ongoing decolonization struggles in Southern Africa, economic development challenges exacerbated by global economic conditions, and regional security issues from various conflicts and external interventions. The article investigates African contributions to NAM agenda-setting and institutional development, examining how African diplomatic initiatives, leadership roles, and substantive proposals have shaped the movement's evolution. The study examines the relationship between African regional organizations, particularly the Organization of African Unity, and the Non-Aligned Movement, analyzing coordination mechanisms and potential tensions. The research assesses how African members have navigated divisions within NAM, including North-South tensions, regional conflicts, and ideological differences, while maintaining movement cohesion. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article develops African perspectives on NAM reform and future directions, identifying both the continued relevance of non-alignment principles and the need for adaptation to changing global conditions. The findings provide valuable insights into how African states conceptualize and practice non-alignment in the contemporary international system and contribute to understanding the internal dynamics of major global South organizations.