70 Years of Bandung - Reviving South-South Solidarity in a Polarised Global Order

Context:

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the first Asia-Africa Summit held in Bandung, Indonesia (April 18–24, 1955).

• This historical meeting of 29 newly independent Asian and African nations, set the stage for South-South cooperation and laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
• The relevance of the Bandung principles is critical in today’s geopolitical environment - rising global polarisation, erosion of multilateralism, and challenges to the rules-based international order.

Bandung’s Core Principles and Objectives:

• Anti-colonial solidarity: Shared experiences of colonial exploitation and marginalisation.
• Common goals:
  • Principles of sovereignty and independent policy making.
  • Collective action in the global south.
• Key principles adopted:
  • Political independence.
  • Mutual respect for sovereignty.
  • Non-aggression and non-interference in internal affairs.
• Alignment with UN charter: Commitment to a rules-based international order grounded in UN principles.

South Africa’s Role and Anti-Apartheid Advocacy:

• Strategic use of Bandung: Brought global attention to the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa that governed the country through White minority rule.
• The African National Congress (ANC) delegation:
  • The ANC was the foremost liberation organisation championing the freedom of the country both within and internationally.
  • It sent two delegates to the conference (Moses Kotane and Maulvi Chachalia) to lobby support internationally for South Africa’s freedom struggle.

Challenges to the Multilateral World Order:

• Erosion of multilateralism:
  • Rise of polarisation and trust deficit among major powers.
  • Emergence of “might is right” as a guiding principle.
• UN reform crisis:
  • Paralysis of institutions like the UN Security Council.
  • Stalled negotiations on equitable representation and expansion of UNSC membership.
• PM Narendra Modi’s critique: Described international organisations as "irrelevant" due to lack of reform.

The Global South - Then and Now:

• Initial marginalisation: Absence during UN’s formation in 1945; continued exclusion from global decision-making bodies.
• Bandung legacy:
  • Precursor of the NAM (1961) and G77 (1964).
  • Advocated collective aspirations and a multipolar world.
• Contemporary relevance and role:
  • Emerging powers: Rise of China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa.
  • South-south institutions: Formation of BRICS as a counterweight to Global North’s dominance.
  • Strategic imperative:
    • Forge new partnerships and alliances.
    • Collaborate with like-minded Global North nations.
    • Champion an inclusive, equitable, just global order.

Conclusion - Bandung’s Vision in Today’s Context:

• The Bandung spirit remains a guiding force for the Global South.
• The need to reshape multilateralism and redefine global governance is urgent.
• Global South must take proactive leadership to realise a fair and multipolar world - “The architects of Bandung would expect nothing less.”

Q1. What was the historical significance of the 1955 Bandung Conference in the context of post-colonial international relations?

Ans. The Bandung Conference marked the first major collective assertion of newly independent Asian and African nations, promoting South-South cooperation and laying the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement.

Q2. How did the Bandung Conference contribute to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa?

Ans. The conference provided a global platform for the African National Congress to internationalise the struggle against apartheid by lobbying support through its delegates.

Q3. Why is the relevance of the Bandung principles critical in today’s geopolitical environment?

Ans. The principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and collective action are vital amid rising global polarisation, erosion of multilateralism, and challenges to the rules-based international order.

Q4. Discuss the challenges to UN reform highlighted in the context of the Bandung legacy.

Ans. Despite decades of calls for equitable UNSC representation, vested interests of permanent members and institutional inertia have stalled meaningful reforms, rendering the UN increasingly ineffective.

Q5. How is the rise of the Global South reshaping the global power dynamics today?

Ans. Emerging economies like India, China, and Brazil are leveraging platforms like BRICS to challenge Northern hegemony and push for a more inclusive, multipolar global order. 

Source:IE