During the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, leaders of newly independent developing countries outlined key tenets that laid the foundation for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Which of the following best reflects a core security principle adopted at this historic meeting?
- Abstention from participating in collective defense arrangements designed to serve the geopolitical interests of any big powerAnswer
- BCompulsory military intervention by member states to defend any Third World nation facing foreign aggression
- CAdoption of a continental isolationist policy restricting all economic and diplomatic relations strictly to non-aligned nations
- DTransfer of national executive sovereignty over domestic natural resources to international regulatory agencies
Answer
Abstention from participating in collective defense arrangements designed to serve the geopolitical interests of any big power
The correct answer highlights a core pillar of the 1955 Bandung Conference principles, which rejected participation in multilateral military alliances (such as NATO or the Warsaw Pact) organized to advance the strategic interests of Cold War superpowers. This principle formed the political bedrock of the Non-Aligned Movement established in Belgrade in 1961.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Foundational Security Principles of the Non-Aligned Movement (Bandung 1955)