Multilateralism
Multilateralism: “To date, the most comprehensive definition of multilateralism has been given by John Ruggie, who views it as “an institutional form that coordinates relations among three or more states on the basis of generalised principles of conduct”, meaning that states have to ensure that the satisfaction of their national interests is compatible with certain international norms”
MULTILATERALISM AND TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY: A Synthesis of Win-Win Solutions by Nayef Al-Rodhan,p.23
“In order to face new challenges that exceed the capacities of individual states, governments have increasingly accepted the concept of multilateralism, a particular form of international politics used to describe “both the process and the end result of […] cooperative efforts to establish rules and organizations to resolve common problems and support cooperation among states and other actors in world politics”.
MULTILATERALISM AND TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY: A Synthesis of Win-Win Solutions by Nayef Al-Rodhan p.23
“Effective multilateralism can be defined as “a system that is able to ensure that every human being, at the global level, has access to the core public goods that the State provides at the national level– or is rightly expected to provide – to its citizens” including “physical security and stability […]; an enforceable legal order; an open and inclusive economic order that provides for the wealth of everyone […];well–being in all of its aspects – access to health, to education, to a clean environment, and to similar goods”. Such a system would strengthen international order, but its efficiency largely depends on how coherent the strategies of multilateral institutions are.” MULTILATERALISM AND TRANSNATIONAL SECURITY: A Synthesis of Win-Win Solutions by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.24
“The theory of symbiotic realism thereby serves as an important basis for neo-statecraft. Increased mutual dependence among states, including shared values and interests, makes multilateralism a key feature of international politics. Through enhanced cooperation among the world’s different cultures, states can form a common vision for a peaceful world where all states can achieve sustainable national security by pursuing their own security and that of the international community at the same time”
NEO-STATECRAFT AND META-GEOPOLITICS: Reconciliation of Power, Interest and Justice in the 21st Century by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p. 348
“The long-term security of states in the 21st century thus rests on three pillars. These are 1) the multi-sum security principle (aprescription for global security based on justice, multidimensionality and multilateralism); 2) symbiotic realism (a prescription for NEW APPROACHES TO SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 127 conducting international relations in an interdependent world where absolute gains are possible); and 3) transcivilizational synergy (a prescription for dealing with collective sub-national and supranational entities). The three concepts naturally give rise to a new national security framework, one that takes the multiplicity of actors and security dimensions into account and recognises the need for multilateral cooperation and transcivilizational synergy”.
THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL SECURITY IN A TRANSNATIONAL WORLD by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.127
“The development of globalization is affecting intergovernmental organizations. With the rare exception of the World Trade Organization (WTO), those organizations embody multilateralism – an inter-state driven process meant to regulate the conflictual and cooperative relationships of nation-states and, hence, preserve national sovereignties. By contrast, globalization restrains the capacity of nation-states to perform as fully sovereign entities in a world where there is still no true global governance. The neo-realist “norm” does not appear to have returned in Europe despite the end of the Cold War. While Germany has emerged as a major European power since reunification – and increasingly joins in international military operations, reflecting a significant evolution of German security policy – other dimensions of its security policy reflect very different definitions of the national interest and identity to those dominant at an earlier date. Although Germany participates in more and more international military operations, central elements of its strategic culture, such as an attachment to multilateralism and European political integration as well as restraint on the use of force remain the same”.
SYMBIOTIC REALISM: A Theory of International Relations in an Instant and Interconnected World by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.26
“The UN’s credibility could also be increased if all states showed a willingness to work through it. The UN is currently being undermined by the preference on the part of some states not to do this. States ought to recognize that it is in their long-term interest to strengthen multilateralism and multilateral institutions.”
SYMBIOTIC REALISM: A Theory of International Relations in an Instant and Interconnected World by Nayef Al-Rodhan p.125
Multilateralism Discussion
Multilateralism: “At the global level, multilateralism has a role to play in promoting a more just and environmentally sustainable global order. Civilizations will have an important role to play in this effort. We therefore argue that relations between diverse civilizations need be guided by the principle of synergy, which implies that a plurality of civilizations will have a larger net effect than any one civilization alone.”
POLICY BRIEFS ON THE TRANSCULTURAL ASPECTS OF SECURITY AND STABILITY by Nayef Al-Rodhan, p.154
Our instant and interdependent world makes multilateral responses better suited to current global security threats, and means that only multilateral responses can provide the authority, legitimacy, resources and burden-sharing that are necessary to tackle these threats – because they advance a more just and sustainable world order. THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL SECURITY IN A TRANSNATIONAL WORLD by Nayef Al-Rodhan, back cover
Key Paragraphs
Geostrategy, Geopolitics, Human Nature, International Relations, Conflict Theory, International Security, Global Security, National Security, Altruism, Globalization, Global Justice, Political Justice, Political Theory, Multilateralism, Social Theory, Neurophilosophy, Philosophy of History, Diplomacy, Existentialism, History of Ideas, Statecraft, Theory of Knowledge, Political Philosophy, Human Civilization, Dignity, Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Innate Knowledge, Philosophical Approach, Multilateralism, Neorealism, Transcultural, National Security