Non-Aligned Movement (NAM):

The NAM is an international forum of 120 developing countries that believe in the idea of non-
alignment with the major power blocs. It was established in 1961 in Belgrade, former
Yugoslavia under the leadership of the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
President of Egypt Gamal Abdel Nasser and the President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito. The
Non-Aligned Movement was formed during the Cold War, largely on the initiative of then-
Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, as an organization of States that did not seek to formally
align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union, but sought to remain
independent or neutral. The basic concept for the group originated in 1955 during discussions
that took place at the Asia-Africa Bandung Conference held in Indonesia. Subsequently, a
preparatory meeting for the First NAM Summit Conference was held in Cairo, Egypt from 5-12
June 1961.

 In the aftermath of the Second World War and the decolonization process, many
countries in the developing world in Asia and Africa felt the need for a strong movement
towards securing peace and prosperity and establishing security for all countries.
 This was when the world was divided into two power blocs, that of the USA and the
Soviet Union, especially after the signing of the NATO and the Warsaw Pact.
 Most of these countries felt the need for mutual cooperation and coordination with
respect to not formally aligned with or against any of the power blocs.
 The collapse of colonialism and the cold war led to the need for improved coordination
among the Global South.
 It is interesting to note that the term ‘third world’ arose during the cold war era to denote
countries that were not aligned to either of the two power blocs.
There are currently 120 member countries in the NAM. India is a founding member of the
organization.

NAM Objectives

One of the chief objectives of NAM was “to create an independent path in world politics that
would not result in member States becoming pawns in the struggles between the major powers.”

 The three elements that define the approach of the organisation are:

 Right of independent judgement

 Struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism
 Use of moderation in relations with all big powers
  In the current times, an objective of the organisation is restructuring the international
economic order.
 NAM espouses ideals such as the right to self-determination, anti-apartheid, anti-
colonialism, national independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations, anti-
imperialism in all forms, non-adherence to multilateral military pacts, disarmament,
against racism, against foreign occupation and domination, peaceful coexistence among
all countries, strengthening the UN, no use of threat of force in international relations,
socio-economic development, etc.

UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is
a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It seeks to build peace through
international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture.

 UNESCO’s Headquarters are located in Paris and the Organization has more than 50
field offices around the world.
 It has 193 Members and 11 Associate Members (As of April 2020) and is governed by
the General Conference and the Executive Board.
 UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives such as:
 Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning
 Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development
 Addressing emerging social and ethical challenges
 Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace
 Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and
communication
 Focuses on global priority areas - “Africa” and “Gender Equality”.
MacBride Commission
The MacBride Commission, formally known as the International Commission for the
Study of Communication Problems, stands as a pivotal moment in the history of
media, communication studies, and international relations. ‘ The MacBride
Commission at the time was a 16-member body, established by UNESCO in 1977,
this commission embarked on a mission to assess and address critical issues related to
global communication, media ownership, freedom of the press, and information flow
between developed and developing nations.
The Context and Need for the MacBride Commission
In the late 1970s, the world was witnessing a rapidly changing media landscape.
Western media conglomerates were gaining prominence, raising concerns about
 media concentration and its implications for cultural diversity. Developing countries
were grappling with unequal access to information, often dominated by Western news
outlets. In response to these challenges, UNESCO convened the MacBride
Commission to examine the complex world of global communication.
Objectives of the MacBride Commission
The primary objectives of the MacBride Commission were as follows:
 To analyze the global communication landscape, identifying imbalances and
challenges.
 To propose recommendations for fostering equitable information flow.
 To advocate for media diversity, freedom of expression, and cultural preservation.
A major recommendation of the MacBride Commission was ‘Democratization of
media’.
This pivotal recommendation called for measures to make media systems more
inclusive and accessible to a diverse range of voices and perspectives. The
commission recognized the concentration of media ownership and control as a barrier
to a vibrant and pluralistic media landscape. To address this issue, the
recommendation emphasized expanding access to media platforms, reducing
ownership concentration, supporting independent and community-based media,
promoting media literacy, and safeguarding freedom of expression. The aim was to
create media environments that empowered individuals and communities, fostering a
more equitable and participatory media landscape in which media served as a vital
tool for democracy, cultural expression, and the free exchange of ideas.
“Many Voices, One World” Report
In 1980, the MacBride Commission released its landmark report titled “Many Voices,
One World.” This comprehensive document presented a thorough analysis of global
communication issues and offered a set of recommendations to address them. Key
findings and recommendations included:
 Emphasis on equitable information flow between developed and developing countries.
 Promotion of media diversity and local content production to counter Western media
dominance.
 Advocacy for the democratization of communication systems.
 Encouragement of national media policies to protect cultural identities and ensure
diverse sources of information.
 Highlighting the importance of reducing media concentration and fostering media
pluralism.
NWICO in MacBride report
NWICO, or the New World Information and Communication Order, was a significant
international movement in response to concerns about the global media landscape. It
was driven by many countries, particularly from the developing world, who felt that
the existing media order was dominated by Western countries and media
conglomerates, leading to unequal representation and limited diversity in media
content. NWICO aimed to create a more equitable and balanced global
communication system. It sought to challenge the dominance of Western media,
promote cultural diversity, and ensure that developing countries had a greater role and
influence in shaping the international media environment.