Heine on Active Non-Alignment in a Changing World

In a January 2, 2024 op-ed for the New Indian Express, Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, penned an insightful piece titled “Active Non-Alignment in a Changing World” and offered a thought-provoking analysis of the shifting dynamics in international relations, particularly highlighting the growing influence of the Global South.

Heine emphasizes the significance of South-South cooperation and the emergence of new multilateral financial institutions in reshaping global diplomacy. He argues that the divide between the West and the rest is widening, prompting countries in the Global South to engage with Great Powers without leaning towards any particular side.

Drawing from his extensive research and diplomatic experience, Heine discusses the concept of active non-alignment, advocating for a pragmatic approach that maintains an equal distance from major powers like the United States and China. He challenges misconceptions about active non-alignment being solely anti-Western or pro-China, citing examples of Brazil’s diplomatic strategy under President Lula as a model of balanced engagement.

Heine also reflects on India’s role in world affairs, noting its refusal to endorse unilateral Western sanctions against Russia and its successful leadership of the G20 despite geopolitical tensions. He concludes by affirming the relevance of active non-alignment as a pragmatic guide for navigating the complexities of today’s world.

In Heine’s words,

“Active non-alignment is a pragmatic, non-ideological guide to action in a changing world.”