Introduction

The 21st century is defined by interdependence. From climate change to pandemics, terrorism to digital governance, no nation can address challenges in isolation. The very logic of globalization necessitates multilateral cooperation, where three or more states come together based on common rules and shared principles to pursue collective goals.

Yet, at a time when humanity faces the most pressing global crises, multilateralism appears under stress. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vaccine nationalism; the Russia-Ukraine war fractured the UN system; and trade wars have weakened the WTO. Rising nationalism and great-power rivalry have triggered debates on whether multilateralism is obsolete or due for reform.

The future of multilateralism thus depends on how effectively global institutions can adapt to new power realities, manage collective action problems, and restore legitimacy in the eyes of both states and citizens.