The Historical General Assembly represents the voice of the world, particularly those without seats in strategic organization (e.g. NATO, Warsaw Pact, etc.). Many non-aligned states openly declared their desire not to become involved in the East-West ideological confrontation of the Cold War, and took charge of the GA as a the platform for their agenda. With an intensifying situation in South Asia and the Middle East, 1980 was a time of great turmoil and discord in the General Assembly as the major powers attempted to garner favor from the rest of the world.