Recently BRICS Foreign Ministers summit was organized.
During the conclusion, they acknowledged that the current international challenges should be addressed through reinvigorated and reformed multilateral systems.

In international relations, multilateralism refers to an alliance of multiple countries pursuing a common goal.
Multilateralism, in the form of membership in international institutions, serves to bind powerful nations, discourage unilateralism and give small powers a voice and influence that they could not otherwise exercise.
Similarly, multilateralism may allow one great power to influence another great power.
For a great power to seek control through bilateral ties could be costly; it may require bargaining and compromise with the other great power.

These are organizations formed between three or more nations to work on issues that relate to all of the countries in the organization.
They include the UN, and other institutions such as IMF, World Bank, WTO, and WHO.
These institutions are the major reflective of a larger power reality in the international structure.

Across the system, multilateralism is severely eroding as nations become more inward-focused, directing their attention and strategies towards improving domestic capacities and reducing dependence on foreign imports.
Protectionist tendencies are on the rise in addition to the pressures of constrained mobility and fear of a reduction in financial resources essential for tackling climate change and achieving SDGs.
It seems that a tussle between unilateralism and multilateralism is going to shape much of the discourse on international cooperation.

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the nature of international cooperation and bringing out the inherent fault lines and weaknesses embedded in global institutions to sharp focus.
The western, or so-called ‘Atlantic system’, comprising of the USA and developed European countries ostensibly considered champions of multilateralism has failed to cope with the pandemic.
They have failed to provide any meaningful leadership during this unprecedented crisis.

(1) Trade disputes

Most state-state disputes are handled by the WTO system, the primary body governing international trade.
Since last year, we have seen many times WTO panel ruling against India in a trade dispute over its subsidies to exporters under various schemes.
The US still has veto power over an array of major decisions in the World Bank.

(2) Lack of transparency

Multilateral organizations were more intergovernmental during their inception. These institutions were undoubtedly western dominated.
The lack of transparency of the WHO and its handling of the covid pandemic has exposed the limitations of global cooperation.

(3) Losing consensus

Major institutions are functioning in stagnancy since no new agreement has been reached in decades.
Be it WTO for its Agreement on Agriculture or the UNFCCC for the climate change negotiations for phasing out fossil fuels.

(4) Rise of regional superpowers

The rise of China and is strategic might has been a bone of contention for the global community due to its clear defiance of the rule based global community over South China Sea.
The proxy trade wars between the US and China as well as the India and China are reaching new lows.

(5) Rise of Mini-laterals

The contemporary global problems are sought to be better solved at the regional rather than the bilateral or global level.
This has led to the decline in global cooperation over range of issues. For example, RCEP to counterbalance the US dominated Trans-Pacific Partnership.
These are called issue-based coalitions.

(6) Security challenges

There is inherent irony over the expansion of the membership global security blocs as such NATO, UNSC etc.
For example, Africa where most of the UN Peacekeeping forces operate, has no permanent member in the UNSC.
The UNSC veto powers possessed by permanent members are used as an instrument to shore up their geopolitical interests.

Multilateralism should promote international law, democracy, equity and justice, mutual respect, right to development and non-interference in internal affairs of any country without double standards.

Reforming the multilateral system should encompass the following steps:

It should make instruments of global governance more inclusive, representative, and participatory to facilitate greater and more meaningful participation of developing and least developed countries.
It should be based on inclusive consultation and collaboration for the benefit of all, while respecting sovereign independence, equality, mutual legitimate interests and concerns.
It should strengthen the capacities of individual states and international organizations to better respond to new and emerging, traditional and non-traditional challenges.

Indian approach to multilateralism: NORMS

NORMS stands for New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.
India will work constructively with partners to bring innovative and inclusive solutions to foster development and for greater involvement of women and youth to shape a new paradigm.
A first and vital step is the reform of the United Nations Security Council. It must reflect contemporary realities to be more effective.

There is no easy way out for immediate consensus-building among nations over the limitations of these multilateral institutions.
For this, non-alignment or ad-hoc coalitions could never be the answer.
Issues-based coalitions are the best answer and Health is the easiest framework to work upon.
Lastly, there are many mini-laterals that should unite for a global commonality.

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