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The nonaligned movement represents an agreement between more than 120 countries that was initially signed during the Cold War. Following the end of World War II, the only two remaining superpowers were the United States and the Soviet union. They were diametrically opposed to one another, and they gradually tried to pull every other country on earth into their respective orbits. The United States started NATO, which is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It involves most of North America and Western Europe. In response, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw Pact, which consisted mostly of former Soviet union member states. In an effort to protect one another, the nonaligned movement was signed and agreed to by more than half of the countries on earth.
There are more than 120 countries that are signatories to this agreement. Some of the biggest countries in this agreement include Yugoslavia, Egypt, Indonesia, India, and Ghana. The initial agreement was signed in Yugoslavia, which has since broken up into several major countries. Gradually, dozens of other countries across the world decided to sign this agreement because they believed it would be a way for them to protect their own interests. The vast majority of South America and Africa is aligned with this pact. One of the early goals of the movement was to end apartheid in South Africa, and this showed the world that the movement had real power.
There have been some significant changes since the inception of the nonaligned movement. Following the end of the Cold War, which was unofficially marked by the collapse of the Soviet union in the early 1990s, the nonaligned movement changed. The United States was the only remaining superpower on earth. Even though the countries still work together to protect one another, the United States and the nonaligned movement mostly agree on the concept of self determination. As a result, the nonaligned movement has shifted to a more economic and humanitarian role instead of concerning itself with militaristic and political influence.
Right now, there are several goals the nonaligned movement has. First, the nonaligned movement prioritizes self determination. They have directed a lot of attention toward Puerto Rico, which is still a territory of the United States. It does not appear that Puerto Rico is trying to sever all ties with the United States, but it has been a significant focus of this movement. The nonaligned movement has also paid a lot of attention to the security council of the United Nations. Right now, there are several major powers that have permanent seats on the UN Security Council, including the USA and China. The nonaligned movement believes that more representation must be present on the security council from its member states. That way, the nonaligned movement will receive more attention in terms of humanitarian, technological, and economic aid.