Non- alignment

Ref. Books:              Ibiyemi Oyeneye et.al Round up Government for Senior Secondary Certificate, Longman Publishers Lagos 2006, Pp. 245-250.

Lesson Objectives:  By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to.

1. Define Non-Alignment
2. State the importance of Non-Alignment

• Define Nigeria posture and Non-Alignment

Content

Non alignment refers to the refusal of some countries to be directly involved in the ideological rivalries that existed between the socialist bloc led by the former Soviet Union and the Capitalist United States of America and her European allies.

The Non-aligned movement was formed by countries, with such persuasion.  The movement was founded in September, 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia by 25 countries. The founding fathers included Jawaharal Nehru of India, Josip Tito of Yugoslavia,  Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Gamel Abdel Nasser of Egypt.

The importance of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

1. It created a forum for countries who do not belong to either, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) or the WACSAW Pact Group to come together, to discuss world affairs and take common decisions for their individual and mutual benefits.
2. It championed the cause of decolonization, leading to the independence of many countries such as Angola, South Africa and Namibia.
3. It calls for an equitable world economic order.
4. It allows members to benefit from both the East and the West without being bound ideologically to either
5. It gives the organization a big voice in the united Nations because of its control of the General Assembly

Nigeria and Non-alignment

Even though Nigeria shared the idea of neutrality from the competing super powers, she was more of a friend to the capitalist west than the socialist countries of eastern Europe.

Following the attainment of independence in 1960, the leadership of the country openly rejected non alignment and opted for membership of the common wealth under the leadership of Great Britain.  Nigeria then was therefore neither neutral nor non-aligned in the early years of her independence.  She voted along with Great Britain in most of the UN deliberations.

The Signing of the Anglo-Nigeria Defence pact once again demonstrated the countries alignment with Britain and her Europe allies.

The country’s attitude towards the movement however changed with the signing of OAU charter in 1963 which declared the policy of non-alignment and appealed to OAU member states to attend the second meeting of the Non-aligned movement taking place in Cairo, Egypt in 1964.

The peak of Nigeria’s Foreign policy neutrality emerged in 1975 when General Murtala Muhammed recognized the popular movement for the peoples’ Liberation of Angola (MPLA). This invariably sparked off diplomatic disputes between Nigeria and the United states on ideological grounds.

ASSIGNMENT

Explain five benefits Nigeria derive in her non-alignment policy in international relation