As a matter of principle, non-aligned countries refuse deliberatedly to enter into the great power blocs. However, non-alignment does not preclude the possibility of making an active stand in... Show moreAs a matter of principle, non-aligned countries refuse deliberatedly to enter into the great power blocs. However, non-alignment does not preclude the possibility of making an active stand in international affairs. Although under certain circumstances some non-aligned countries assume a middle-of-the-road position between Western and Communist policies, this is not an inherent part of the neutralist credo. On any given global issue, non-aligned countries might adopt an attitude which sometimes draws closer to, or even coincides With, one or the other of the cold war alliances. Assuming that the United Nations-voting record of non-aligned countries a k 1 of *oir diplomatic orientation, an attempt is made to answer the following questions on the basis of an analysis of roll call in the General VoTo 1959-1965 (sub-periods: 1959-1961 and T? what extent non-alignedcountries, take a midway position between the United States and its allies on the one side and the Soviet Union and its allies on the other hand; 2. To what extent they abstain from voting and to what extent they line up pro or contra with regard to East-West confrontations; 3. Whether it is possible to develop a typology of non-alignment by means of which one can gam a better insight into the very concept and the positions Which are taken up by the non-aligned countries; 4. ^ether shifts have taken place during the examined period or not. And it so, to what extent. The cases at the plenary meetings of the General Assembly in which the U S and the great majority of his allies oppose the S.U. and its allies are labelled East-West-confrontations. The total number of those keyvotes amounts to 165 Within <his context, the relative distance of 30 selected non-aligned states towards the United States and the Soviet Union is statistically determined. Further, these states are classified in terms of six categories, namely ’active’ ’equidistant’ and ’co-Soviet’, and ’passive’ resp. ’co-Western’ equidistant and co-Soviet’ non-aligned. Show less
