The Soviet Union and the Non-Aligned Movement

Abstract

: The chapter is devoted to the evolution of relations between the USSR (Russian Federation) and the Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM ). The authors show that the ideology and context of the Cold War, as well as the anti-imperialist and anti-neocolonial strategies and rhetoric of most non-aligned countries, played an important role in determining the Soviet Union attitude towards the NAM . From 1961, Soviet diplomacy considered the NAM an ally on the world stage and a friendly international organisation. A high level of relations along the USSR-NAM line was also maintained thanks to the friendly relations between the Soviet Union and the countries that were the Movement leaders. The authors emphasize that the Soviet Union played a decisive role in defining the strategy of the entire “world socialist system” in relation to the non-aligned countries. The approaches and assessments of Moscow and the NAM regarding most world’s political problems and “hot conflicts” on the planet were similar until the collapse of the USSR. The chapter also shows the two sides positions similarities regarding the need for international economic order democratization. During the “perestroika” period in the USSR, relations with the NAM reached an even higher-quality level. After the USSR’s collapse, the NAM was practically “forgotten” in Russian foreign policy. However, in recent