Non-Aligned Movement Summits: A History

About the Author

Jovan Cavoški is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Recent History of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. He is the author of Yugoslavia and the Sino-Indian Conflict, 1959-1962 (2009) and Distant Countries, Closest Allies: Josip Broz Tito, Jawaharlal Nehru and the Rise of Global Nonalignment (2015).

Thomas W. Zeiler is Professor of American Diplomatic History at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA.

Product Description

Using newly declassified documents from Serbian, British, Indian, Chinese, Myanmar, U.S., and Soviet archives, Non-Aligned Movement Summits shows how the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) gradually evolved into the third force of Cold War politics, enveloping most of the post-colonial and non-bloc world.

Jovan Cavoški follows the evolution of the NAM through its summits and other gatherings, during which major political decisions pertaining to the destiny of the Third World were made. These events were scrutinized by all major powers and had a corresponding effect on their policies. From the Belgrade Conference in 1961 until 1989, all major Third World and non-bloc nations met to demonstrate to the Eastern and Western Blocs that they were independent, active and respected participants in world affairs. Cavoški shows how these summits were also closely related to events occurring in the relationship between the two blocs, providing opportunities for non-bloc actors to influence the global balance of power.

By moving the focus of 20th-century international history away from the bloc nations, and instead giving developing nations in Africa and Asia due attention, this book provides a fresh perspective on Cold War history and fills a significant gap in the literature. It is an important study for all students and scholars of the Cold War and international history.

Review

“In this deeply researched volume, Jovan Cavoški restores the almost forgotten Non-Alignment Movement to its rightful place in history. A product of the Cold War, NAM served the Global South as forum to discuss and push its concerns. Cavoški's superb book opens a much needed perspective on the Cold War outside of the superpower paradigm.” ―Lorenz Lüthi, Professor, History and Classical Studies, McGill University, Canada

“Through extensive, inventive, and truly global research, Jovan Cavoški has produced an essential international history of the Non-Aligned Movement, prying back the curtain to offer an incisive account of the organization's heated internal politics. This book is an invaluable addition to the history of the Third World project.” ―Robert Rakove, Lecturer, Stanford University, USA

“At a moment when new great power rivalries are emerging, here is a well-informed history of how the Non-Aligned Movement has attempted to steer clear of entanglements with the power blocs and set out alternatives to a divided world.” ―O.A. Westad, Elihu Professor of History, Yale University, USA