Reviving the “Spirit of Bandung”: A Move to Change the Global System

In April 1955, Burma, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and 24 other African and Asian countries, including Egypt, gathered in Bandung, Indonesia, uniting in a world still dominated by colonial legacies and Cold War tensions, driven by a shared vision regarding concepts of sovereignty, peace, and justice.

This month marks the 70th anniversary of this pivotal event, which emphasized that countries around the world should enjoy equal rights concerning peace, security, and prosperity. The majority of countries in the world, now referred to as the Global South, expressed their views in Bandung and stood together to rectify past wrongs and sketch the outlines of the future.

By 2025, we find the global system in a state of chaos, suffering unprecedented violence since World War II, with significant violations of international law, military spending reaching record levels, and new programs being proposed to modernize dangerous nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. At the same time, grave global challenges loom, including climate change, water scarcity, and heavy debt burdens, which particularly affect many regions of the developing world.

The Principles of Bandung Remain Unfulfilled

On the anniversary of “Bandung,” it is vital to recall its principles, which called for the respect of human rights, adherence to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter regarding non-interference in the internal affairs of states, respect for territorial integrity, and equality among all races. These principles also highlighted the right of nations to defend themselves in accordance with the UN Charter and supported the abstention from using collective defense to serve the interests of major powers or exert pressure on other countries. Furthermore, the “Principles of Bandung” emphasized abstaining from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and called for the peaceful resolution of international disputes and the promotion of common interests, recognizing the necessity of respecting justice and international obligations.

The Non-Aligned Movement, which emerged from the Bandung meeting, played a crucial role in advocating for the rights of developing countries. It supported efforts to end colonialism, resisted foreign military interventions, and pushed for economic justice.

Seventy years after the Bandung Conference, the promise of a just and equitable global system remains elusive. Global power structures still reflect inequalities that have persisted in the past. On one hand, the economic gap continues to widen, with developing countries today still at the mercy of a global financial system designed for the benefit of a select few. Additionally, institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank continue to impose conditions that hinder sustainable growth rather than support it; the debt crisis in many parts of the Global South represents a new form of economic oppression.

On the other hand, destructive conflicts and wars have continued from the Middle East to Africa and from Asia to Latin America, resulting in millions of displaced persons, devastated economies, and entire generations deprived of a future. Moreover, the principle of sovereignty has been consistently violated; military interventions, political coercion, and economic sanctions have been used as tools to impose policies on weaker nations, while powerful countries escape punishment. Lastly, the threat of climate injustice exacerbates our very existence, as countries that have contributed least to global warming pay a heavy price, while industrialized nations continue to exploit resources without accountability.

The Credibility of Justice and the Palestinian Struggle

If there is a lesson from the Bandung Conference in light of the current global context, it is that justice must form the foundation of international relations. This justice does not merely pertain to economic fairness; it must also include a steadfast commitment to peace, conflict resolution, and the rule of law, free from double standards.

The Bandung Conference prominently called for the peaceful resolution of disputes, a principle that is even more crucial in today’s world. Globally, many international conflicts still persist, some rooted in historical grievances, while others are fueled by external interference and competition for resources; thus, countries in the Global South must lead the efforts to promote diplomacy rather than war, negotiation instead of coercion, and reconciliation rather than division.

Countries in the Global South also need to strengthen regional organizations and peace-building mechanisms to resolve conflicts without foreign intervention; preventive diplomacy and mediation should replace militarization as a knee-jerk reaction to disputes. Peace cannot be selective; if we want to advocate peaceful resolutions to conflicts, we must also demand the application of this principle globally and without bias.

No example more clearly illustrates the failures of the international system than the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people for independence. For over 75 years, the Palestinian people have suffered from occupation, displacement, and systematic violations of their rights; thus, the Bandung principles—self-determination, sovereignty, and justice—require us to stand firmly in support of the Palestinian state.

Therefore, the international community must address several critical issues, foremost of which are the rejection of occupation, settlement expansion, and forced displacement that violate international law, and the support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on internationally recognized borders. Additionally, the international community must eliminate double standards in addressing international conflicts; those who advocate for sovereignty and territorial integrity must apply these principles equally to Palestine. Without justice for Palestine, the credibility of the international community is at stake.

Legal Reform and Required Action

Although respecting international law is at the core of the “Principles of Bandung,” the world today sadly witnesses a dangerous erosion of these principles and foundations; paradoxically, the countries that framed the rules of international law are often the first to violate them. Power—rather than law—now dictates the fate of nations, with selective justice undermining global stability.

For instance, while war crimes and human rights violations are prosecuted in some cases, they are ignored in others based on political convenience. Additionally, the UN Security Council remains outdated and undemocratic. Unfortunately, sanctions, blockades, and military actions are used as political weapons, punishing weaker nations while shielding the stronger ones; thus, it is imperative to change these practices. The countries of the Global South must unite to demand a rules-based system applied to all, not just the weak.

The “Principles of Bandung” call for reforming the UN Security Council to reflect the reality of today’s world, with permanent representation for Africa, Latin America, and the Arab world, and universal respect for sovereignty—not just when it suits specific powers—and a fair adherence to international law, without elevating any state above it. For law, if not applied without bias or favoritism, ceases to be law; it becomes a tool in the hands of the powerful.

Seventy years after the Bandung Conference, the countries of the Global South must once again take the initiative to reshape the global system. The time has come to reject and dismantle outdated power structures and establish a system that prioritizes ensuring economic justice, fair trade, sustainable development, debt relief, conflict resolution through diplomacy rather than war, and granting people— including Palestinians—the right to self-determination. Most importantly, we must establish a genuine rules-based system that respects the sovereignty and law of all nations without exception.

As the Global South constitutes the majority in the world system, not merely participants, it is crucial for them to work together to change, reshape, and lead this system. They must today revive the spirit of the Bandung Conference not as a historical event, but as a call to action and change, rejecting the global system dominated by a few powerful states while others are subjugated, where the rule of law is selectively applied, and where peace and sovereignty are privileges for a few, denied to others. It is time to establish a new, just, and inclusive global system that reflects all nations, not just the powerful few. Let us unite to build this new world governed by justice, peace, and equality.