Role of Multilateralism in Global Reform

United Nations Summit of the Future: A Critical Moment for Global Governance: The upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 22-23, 2024, arrives at a pivotal moment for global governance. With trust in multilateralism eroded by crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, the summit’s main focus—the Pact for the Future—seeks to present a vision for UN reform and enhanced global cooperation. However, skeptics doubt whether the summit can effectively tackle the UN’s longstanding structural challenges, particularly the outdated power dynamics within the Security Council.

Despite these concerns, the summit offers a unique chance for coordinated action on global issues and could potentially trigger meaningful reform within the UN system. The inclusion of civil society and private sector participants may inject new energy into multilateralism. However, the summit’s true success hinges on member states’ ability to go beyond superficial agreements and commit to tangible actions. While the Pact for the Future may not immediately overhaul the system, it could mark the beginning of revitalizing global governance, showing that multilateralism, though strained, still holds potential.

Significance of Multilateral Institutions

• Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping: Multilateral institutions are essential in preventing and resolving conflicts. Since 1948, UN peacekeeping missions have been deployed 71 times, contributing to conflict resolution and stability in various regions. As of May 2023, around 87,000 peacekeepers, both women and men, are serving in 12 conflict zones across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
• Economic Stabilization: Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank play a key role in stabilizing the global economy. During the 2008 financial crisis, the IMF provided over USD 250 billion in loans to stabilize economies. Currently, the IMF is lending close to USD 200 billion to over 35 countries, including Argentina, Egypt, Iraq, and several Sub-Saharan African nations.
• Global Health Management: The World Health Organization (WHO) leads global efforts to address health crises. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO facilitated the largest vaccine distribution through the COVAX initiative. Its long-term impact includes eradicating smallpox in 1980 and reducing polio cases by 99% since 1988. The WHO’s International Health Regulations allow 196 countries to collaborate in managing health threats.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Multilateral environmental agreements, like those under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), are vital in combating climate change. The Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries in 2015, aims to limit global warming to below 2°C. The Montreal Protocol, which has achieved universal ratification, is considered a landmark in environmental protection.
• Human Rights Advocacy: The UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral bodies play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights. The Universal Periodic Review has assessed the human rights records of all 193 UN member states since 2008, providing accountability and setting global standards in human rights protection.
• Sustainable Development: The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, offer a global blueprint for peace and prosperity. The global extreme poverty rate decreased from 36% in 1990 to 8.4% in 2019 due to these efforts. Multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, committed USD 157 billion in 2020-2021 to support developing countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
• International Standard Setting: Multilateral institutions establish global norms and standards. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has set key labor standards through various conventions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has developed guidelines that have made air travel one of the safest forms of transportation globally.
• Scientific and Educational Advancement: Organizations like UNESCO foster international cooperation in education, science, and culture. As of July 2024, there are 1,199 World Heritage Sites across 168 countries. UNESCO’s efforts have led to significant improvements in global literacy rates, which increased from 12% in 1820 to 87% by 2020. CERN, a prime example of scientific multilateralism, made groundbreaking discoveries, such as the identification of the Higgs boson in 2012.

Shifting role of multilateral Institutions

• Shifting Power Dynamics: The post-World War II order that gave rise to many multilateral institutions is disintegrating as global power shifts from West to East. China’s economic dominance, India’s rising influence, and Russia’s resurgence challenge the Western-led institutions that once held sway.
• Rise of Sovereignty Prioritization: An increasing number of nations are prioritizing sovereignty over multilateral commitments. The UK’s exit from the EU after 47 years, known as Brexit, is a prime example. The growing presence of populist and nationalist leaders worldwide has further eroded trust in global institutions.
• Decision-Making Paralysis: Multilateral institutions often struggle with decision-making due to their consensus-driven processes. The UN Security Council, for instance, has been unable to take decisive action on conflicts like Syria (where over 300,000 people have died since 2011) because of the veto power held by permanent members.
• Technological Adaptation Lag: Many traditional multilateral organizations are lagging behind in adapting to rapid technological advancements. Issues such as cryptocurrency regulation, artificial intelligence governance, and cybersecurity threats demand quick, agile responses, which these bureaucratic institutions are often too slow to provide.
• Declining Public Trust: Trust in multilateral institutions has been on the decline due to perceptions of elitism and lack of transparency. For instance, the World Bank’s controversial “Doing Business” report scandal in 2021, which led to its discontinuation, severely damaged public confidence in international financial organizations.
• Representation Imbalances: Many multilateral bodies still reflect the power dynamics of the mid-20th century, raising concerns about their legitimacy. The UN Security Council’s permanent members have remained unchanged since 1945, despite shifts in global power. Major nations like India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan continue to be excluded from permanent seats.
• Siloed Approach to Global Issues: The compartmentalized structure of many multilateral institutions makes it difficult to address complex, interconnected global challenges. Tackling climate change, for example, requires coordination between environmental, economic, and social bodies, which is often lacking.

Strategies can be Implemented to Reform Multilateral Institutions

Rebalancing the Power Equation: Reform voting structures in multilateral institutions to better reflect current global economic and demographic realities. For instance, updates to the UN Security Council should include emerging powers such as India, Brazil, Japan, and representation from Africa.

Embracing Digital Democracy: Establish secure digital platforms to enhance inclusivity in global decision-making. Blockchain technology can be used to ensure transparent voting and decision-tracking, while AI-powered translation services can overcome language barriers during international meetings in real-time.

Adaptive Coalition Formation: Promote the formation of issue-specific coalitions within multilateral frameworks to address urgent global challenges. These coalitions would be able to act more swiftly than larger bodies that rely on consensus-based processes.

Localization of Global Goals: Create mechanisms to translate global agreements into effective local action. Direct funding channels should be established from multilateral institutions to local governments and civil society organizations to implement global initiatives at the grassroots level.

The End of the Blog: Role of Multilateralism in Global Reform