Multilateralism

In international relations, multilateralism refers to an alliance of multiple countries pursuing a common goal.

  • How does it help?
    • Multilateralism, in the form of membership in international institutions, serves to o Bind powerful nations
    • Discourage unilateralism
  • Gives small powers a voice and influence that they could not otherwise exercise. For a small power to influence a great power, the Lilliputian strategy of small countries banding together to collectively bind a larger one can be effective.
  • 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.
  • Global community adopted the Multilateralism post WWII, in the form of UNO. But it has been seen that the importance of UN has been eroding owing to the Challenge to multilateralism.

BENEFITS OF MULTILATERALISM

  • Binds powerful nations – To avoid possibility of future conflict.
  • Discourages unilateralism.
  • Gives small powers a voice.
  • Encourages consensus on the emerging global issues such as terrorism, climate change and other challenging global issues.
  • Examples of Multilateral bodies: UN System, WTO, UNFCCC, EU etc.

CHALLENGES TO MULTILATERALISM

  • Rise of Nationalistic politics: Seen in global as well emerging powers. Example: BREXIT or withdrawal of UK from the EU marks a dent to the spirit of multilateralism.
  • The powerful nations are challenging the multilateral world order.
  • Rise in conflicts such as in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan. This reflects lack of effort on the important players across the globe to collaborate and address critical issues.
  • Changing Geopolitics: Rise of China, concretization of Russia China axis, SCO etc. has made West conscious of preserving its hegemony. West sees China as a challenger to US led world order and does not seem to cooperate with China and Russia. At the same time, China and Russia try to counter the west. This competition has led to erosion of spirit of cooperation and collaboration, hurting multilateralism.
  • Lack of consensus on Global issues: Most challenges are cross-national and cross-domain in character requiring multilateral approach. poverty and hunger, climate change, inequality, fake news, terrorism. Thus, a lack of common, collaborative global approach to these multi-dimensional problems and a zero-sum attitude leads to sub-optimal outcomes for everyone.

CHALLENGES TO UN SYSTEM

  • Cold War period - The first challenge was posed by the Cold war and division of world into two camps.
  • After Cold War - NATO and US kept following the policy of Containing Russia despite the end of the cold war. China has used its P5 status against designating PAK based Terrorist under UNSC resolutions

VIOLATION OF THE CHARTER – UKRAINE WAR

  • The violation of the territorial integrity of states and the sovereignty of states is one of the principles which binds the UN.
  • Russia vetoed the resolution on Ukraine.
  • U.S. also vetoed a resolution condemning Israel’s activity in its occupied territories.
  • Thus, veto power has been used by the P5 members based on their personal interests and not based on the principles enshrined in the UN charter.

LACK OF CONSENSUS ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

  • Since Ukraine gave its nuclear weapons the war highlights that a message is being sent that Nuclear Weapons guarantee security despite UNSC take on Nuclear weapons.
  • Iran and North Korea although isolated have not faced war till now.
  • Whereas Ukraine and Libya that gave up nuclear weapons, have been invaded.
  • The nuclear weapon states derailed the negotiations on nuclear disarmament.
  • Brought in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to give themselves the right to have nuclear weapons in perpetuity while non-nuclear countries are dependent on guarantees of protection.
  • Such actions would further increase the nuclear arms race since countries will start viewing nuclear weapons as a guarantee for security.

Challenges in the functioning of UN and Multilateral Bodies

  • Issues with UNSC: Rift between permanent members of UNSC – Veto power of P5. UNSC permanent members are not representative of current world order. Despite efforts, expansion of UNSC has not been materialised. Failure of UN on emerging conflicts such as Myanmar, Afghanistan etc.
  • UNGA has no substantive powers: UN General Assembly which is a more representative body of global voice plays second fiddle to super-powers led UNSC.
  • World Health Organization failed to provide early warnings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • World Trade Organisation has failed to conclude the negotiations of the Doha Agenda started in 2001, as bilateralism and protectionism are resurging worldwide, and its dispute settlement system has stalled.
  • Lack of accountability: Countries that violate international law have not been held accountable.
  • Pursuit of narrow geo – political interest by member nations for their allies and against the enemies. Ex – UNESCO – stopping funding of UNESCO in 2019.
  • USA & EU takes Higher leadership of World Bank and IMF alternatively. While poor and developing countries where these institutions mostly work do not get to decide their agenda.
  • WTO has failed to conclude negotiations of Doha Agenda started in 2001, as bilateralism and protectionism are resurging worldwide, and its dispute settlement system has stalled.
  • Complex architecture of arms control set up at the end of the Cold War is threatened by the dismantling of the Iran nuclear deal. Multilateral efforts to address climate change have made symbolic progress at best.
  • Governance of internet is forfeiting its initial aspiration of a borderless knowledge society as a few private companies are hoarding data exponentially and authoritarian states are misusing it as a tool of surveillance and repression.

ISSUES IN FINANCING OF UN

  • Around 40 UN political missions and peacekeeping operations engage 95,000 troops, police, and civil personnel. But the UN peacekeeping budget, is just a little over $8 billion. Also, countries providing most troops for the peacekeeping efforts are rarely made party to decide the mandate of the peacekeeping missions, which is often dominated by UNSC P5 members.
  • Lack of contribution by the member nations: There was an outstanding $711 million in assessed contribution for the general budget.
  • Voluntary contributions dominate: Most humanitarian assistance, developmental work, and budgets of specialised agencies are based on voluntary contributions.
  • Climate change financing: Developed nations despite repeated promises have failed to meet their promise to provide $100 bn of climate finance for developing countries despite being responsible for historical emissions which are the prominent reason for present climate change, which is hurting the developing nations hardest.

REFORMED MULTILATERALISM

In line with its agenda in its 8th term as the non- permanent member of the UNSC, India has reaffirmed its commitment to New Orientation for Reformed Multilateral System or NORMS at the UN Economic and Social Council meeting. So let us understand the need for reforming present paradigm of Multilateralism.

BACKGROUND: NORMS

In the backdrop of its entry into UNSC the stated objective is to push for a reformed multilateralism under NORMS framework.

The 5-fold objective of NORMS include

  1. Finding new opportunities for progress
  2. Effective response to international terrorism
  3. Reforming multilateral systems
  4. Comprehensive approach to international peace and security
  5. Technology with a human touch

NEED FOR REFORM IN MULTILATERAL WORLD ORDER

  • Lack of Representation: Permanent membership of UNSC is lopsided with no representation to majority of the population including those of South America and Africa. Besides India and Brazil being highly populous countries do not find their representation.
  • Lack of Accountability: Current multilateralism is skewed towards few global powers who have been able to arm-twist the geopolitics of various multilateral institutions by virtue of their military and economic might. For instance, US has unilaterally withdrawn from funding of various multilateral institutions the most recent being WHO. US has withdrawn its funding from UNESCO for its alleged anti-Israel bias in early 2019.
  • Similarly, US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.
  • There have been instances of US’s arm-twisting of WTO the most recent being the disputes appellate tribunal which has been rendered defunct at the behest of US.
  • Besides the countries that violate international law have not been held accountable merely because of its economic and military might. Ex. in 2016 China did not adhere to the UNCLOS ruling on the rule-based navigation in the South China Sea. Lately the credibility of WHO is questioned for its pro-China bias especially in initiating an investigation into handling of the crisis by China in the initial days

MULTILATERALISM AT THE WEAKEST

  • The current system has failed to fulfil its primary objective of shared benefits through integration.
  • UNSC has failed to protect the Ukraine against war from Russia.
  • China has been reluctant in cooperating with countries which have raised issues related to its strategy to arrest the spread of pandemic

NEEDS OF 21ST CENTURY

  • Most challenges are cross-national and cross-domain in character requiring multilateral approach. COVID 19 is an example of how health crisis has precipitated into economic crisis primarily because of cross-nation supply chains and financial systems.
  • Other pressing problems including poverty and hunger, climate change, inequality, fake news, terrorism etc. are cross-national in character and thus require a more inclusive and democratic multilateral approach.

INDIA’S VISION FOR REFORMED MULTILATERALISM

  • Securing Permanent Seat at UNSC: Primary objective as reflected under NORMS is long-standing ambition of securing a permanent seat on the Security Council. India along with Japan, Germany and Brazil have been pushing for a permanent membership at the UNSC under the G4 grouping for the want of true representation at the UNSC
  • Counterterrorism: it will remain a key priority for India at the UNSC. India is pushing to depoliticize the process of imposing sanctions on terrorist groups in line with zero tolerance policy in terrorism. Further India will push to conclusion of Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism which was spearheaded by India in 1996.
  • Rule based multilateral order: India wants rule-based order in multilateral financial institutions like WTO, IMF where no country will be able to arm-twist the functioning of these organisations.
  • India should take a lead in creating more representative multilateral order in which it can engage differentially with different countries based on their 1st order values of Pluralism, Democracy and Liberalism. Ex., India should join Alliance for Multilateralism mooted by France & Germany which stands for rule-based world order comprising of like- minded countries

APPROACH

India’s strategy for reformed multilateralism rests on 5S pillars including

  1. Samman (Respect)
  2. Samvad (Dialogue)
  3. Sahyog (Cooperation)
  4. Shanti (Peace)
  5. Samriddhi (Prosperity)