The non-alignment movement started as an opposition to the established order of west and soviet countries post the Second World War. For a major part of the next few decades, the non-alignment movement kept influence of west and soviet at bay.

Reasons for non-alignment movement losing relevance

• National interest of countries
  As countries started to uphold their own interests, they had to align with superpowers. The member countries started to move towards power structure.
• Regional politics
  Regional clashes forced countries to take help of superpowers to establish their supremacy. The non-alignment status had to be given up.

Ex: India in 1971 through Indo-Soviet friendship treaty.

Need for changing non alignment status

• Self interest
  Self interest will be the most important criteria if countries look to change their status. Aligning with strong powers give them chance to prosper.
• Political agenda
  Ideology and politics have a major role in deciding foreign policy. The government in power needs to develop allies having similar ideology.

Need for maintaining status quo

• Maintaining ties with allies
  Neutrality through non-alignment gives countries room for maneuvering the situation and maintain friendly ties with all nations.
• International order
  When the world is sharply divided based on polarity, non-aligned countries can uphold international order due to their neutral approach.

Thus, non-alignment still has lots of potential in world politics but neutral countries such as Switzerland, Norway and Finland are increasingly changing their position.