In 1955, the Bandung Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, was comprised of twenty-nine representatives from Asian and African nations. They gathered amid the Cold War to converse about peace and the role of Third World countries in a crisis involving two global superpowers, the United States and the USSR.  As a result of the conference, many Third World nations joined the Non-Aligned Movement, which allowed these countries to avoid being forced to take a side in the conflict. Another important effect of the Bandung Conference is that it increased cooperation among Third World countries, providing them with a greater role in world affairs, which continues into the present day. The Bandung Conference is crucial when examining Cold War alliances and movements, contributing to modern-day political alliances.