What is meant by isolationism, neutralism and non-alignment?

Isolationism – When the foreign policies of a nation aim to keep the nation from involvement with the affairs of other countries, it refers to the concept of isolationism. China has followed the policy of isolationism since it civil war which ended in 1950. Since then, in spite of its communist policies, China has gained new heights as a global trading power.

Neutralism – Neutralism refers to the permanent neutral status of a nation which it does not give up under any circumstances. Nations which adopt the policies related to neutrality are not responsible for the ending of a war. Switzerland is an example of a neutral state.

Non-alignment - ‘Non-alignment’ as a concept in the simplest terms refers to the practice of staying away from the alliances. But it does not refer to staying aloof from world affairs as practiced in case of ‘isolationism’. In fact, non-aligned countries often play an active mediating role for promoting peace and stability in the world. Similarly, non-aligned countries may take an active and dynamic role based on the merits presented by the super powers in different cases.