The 9 main features of non-aligned foreign policy in international relation are as follows:
1. Opposition to Cold War:
The origin of Non-alignment came at a time when the USA and (erstwhile) USSR had got involved in a cold-war. The peace after the Second World War was a tense peace as the cold war between the two super powers was keeping the world at the brink of a new war. Each of the two tried to win over other states, particularly the new sovereign states.
International peace was preached and toasted but cold war was practiced. Several states like India considered cold war as a totally harmful exercise against international peace and security. As such they decided to oppose cold war by remaining away from it. Non-alignment opposed cold war as an abnormal and dangerous policy and projected the decision to keep away from its tensions and ill practices.
2. Opposition to Military/Security Alliances:
Non-alignment, obviously means non- alignment with military blocs. Non alignment is opposed to all types of military/political/ security alliances which are nothing but means of tensions and power politics. It opposes security alliances like NATO, SEATO and Warsaw Pact (1955-90) etc. as the instruments of cold war. Such alliances constituted a source of pressure as these were used by super powers as the for maintaining their hegemony or control over the members of their respective alliances.
The alliances are always designed to act as agencies for conducting the cold war and power politics, These impose serious and big limitations on the right of the nations to act independently. Non-alignment as such stands for keeping away from all types of military/political security alliances as these alliances.
3. Non-involvement in Power Politics:
Non-alignment emerged as an anti-power politics concept. It rejected the concept of struggle to be more powerful than others. While accepting the right of a nation to be powerful for satisfying the goals of its national interests it rejected the thesis for increasing power for the sake of building a reserve of power in competition with opponents-or rivals. Non-alignment rejects unhealthy struggle for local, regional, continental or world domination. It is opposed to the concept of power for the sake of power or status.
4. Peaceful Co-existence and Non-interference:
Non-alignment accepts peaceful coexistence and non-interference as two basic principles of international relations. It believes that cold war and its attempts to maintain peace through preparation for war are unjust and harmful principles. These should be replaced by faith in peaceful coexistence and non-interference. Non- alignment accepts that nations with different political systems can peacefully co-exist and co-operate, and work for mutual benefits, world peace and prosperity.
5. Independence in Foreign Relation:
Non-alignment involves the principle of keeping the independence of foreign policy of each nation. In fact, the origin of non-alignment was also due to the desire of new states to keep their foreign policies independent from the possible pressures from the super powers. It was felt that alignment with any one power or bloc would limit the freedom of action. It would lead to guided and controlled decision-making. Further, alignment could prevent the basing of foreign policy on the national interests of the nation. Against this Non-alignment acts as a source of independence and freedom of action.
6. A Policy of Action and not Isolationalism:
Sometimes non-alignment is either confused with isolationalism or denounced as a policy of inaction. Non-alignment rejects isolationism i.e. the practice of keeping away from international relations. It accepts the right and the obligation to participate fully in international relations.
It stands for full and bold participation in world politics and for freely expressing one’s views on all international issues and problems. It stands for full co-operation for the securing of international peace, security and development. Non-aligned countries are always fully and actively involved in the process of international relations.
“Non-alignment stands for distinguishing between right and wrong and supporting the right.” —George Liska
7. Non-alignment is neither a Diplomatic Policy nor a Legal Status:
Non-alignment is not diplomatic neutrality which a nation may practise in times of an international crisis. Diplomatic neutrality involves the policy of no action even when the facts of the crisis are known. It is also not the war-time neutrality by which a nation acquires a neutral status and remains away from war and war time alliances. Non-alignment stands for independence and full action based upon self-judgment and national interest.
It is not a legal status involving permanently neutralized position as is being enjoyed by Switzerland. It is the principle of a foreign policy which the government adopts and which guides the foreign relations of the nation. That is why with every change of government, faith in Non-alignment has to be restated time and again.
8. Non-alignment is not Alignment of the Non-aligned:
Another vital feature of Non- alignment is that it has been opposed not only to the two blocs of powers but also to the desire to build up “a third force” or “a third bloc”. The aim of non-alignment is to build up an area of peace, an area which rejects war, cold war, alliances, and supports peace in a positive way and believes in cooperation among all states Non-aligned states always oppose attempts at transforming their group into a bloc.
9. Non-alignment is a Policy of Peaceful International Cooperation for Development:
Non-alignment stands for peace through peaceful co-existence and cooperation among nations. It means a policy of peace. It is based on the premise that war is not inevitable and that it can be avoided. Cold war, military alliances and power politics are based upon the concept of inevitability of war; particularly war between the opposing blocs Non-alignment rejects war and also military alliances and power politics. It supports peace through peaceful means. It supports peaceful settlement of all disputes and peaceful adjustment as the best means for the resolution of conflict among nations.
These are then the fundamental characteristics of Non-alignment. In 1961, Nehru, Nasser and Tito accepted the following five essentials or tests of a non-aligned foreign policy:
(a) Independent foreign policy based upon Non-alignment and Peaceful Co-existence.
(b) Opposition to colonialism and support for liberation movements.
(c) Non-membership of any military alliance or bloc.
(d) Absence of bilateral military base/bases on the territory of the state.
(e) Absence of a foreign military base on the territory of the state.
Each nation that wishes to be accepted as a non-aligned nation has to satisfy all these five tests.