Multilateralism facts for kids

Multilateralism is when several countries work together to achieve a common goal. It's like a team effort on a global scale! This idea is all about including everyone, treating countries equally, and working together. The main aim is to make the world more peaceful, successful, and sustainable for everyone.

Smaller countries, sometimes called "middle powers," are really important in promoting this teamwork. They help encourage countries to work together instead of going it alone.

One of the best things about multilateralism is that it helps countries solve big problems that affect everyone, not just one nation. Think about things like climate change, terrorism, or worldwide health issues (pandemics). When countries share the responsibility and work together, these problems are easier to tackle.

However, working together isn't always easy. Sometimes, countries focus more on their own interests, which can make global teamwork harder.

What is Multilateralism?

Multilateralism means that countries join international groups and organizations. This helps keep powerful nations in check and stops them from making decisions all by themselves. It also gives smaller countries a chance to speak up and have a say, which they might not have on their own.

Imagine a story called "Lilliput." In it, tiny people tie down a giant. In the same way, smaller countries can team up to influence bigger ones. This is a key part of multilateralism. It also helps big countries influence each other without costly arguments.

Experts have different ways of defining multilateralism:

• Miles Kahler described it as "international governance" by many countries. It's against special deals between just two countries that might give one power too much control.
• Robert Keohane said it's "coordinating national policies in groups of three or more states."
• John Ruggie explained that it's about countries following "general rules of conduct." These rules apply to everyone, no matter their specific interests. He also noted that this idea grew stronger after World War II, partly because the United States supported it.

When a powerful country wants to influence another, working with many countries can be easier and cheaper than trying to control them alone. Also, if a small country wants to influence another small country, working together with others might be the only way, as they might not have enough resources on their own.

This teamwork helps weaker countries by making bigger countries more predictable. It also gives them ways to achieve their goals by working together. Even powerful countries benefit because they often help create the rules and get special roles, like having a veto power in some organizations.

Global Organizations

Many international groups are multilateral. The United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization are great examples. Countries like Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and the Nordic countries have always been strong supporters of multilateralism.

Bigger countries sometimes prefer to act alone. Smaller countries often have little power in global affairs unless they join groups like the UN. For example, they can form voting blocs with other nations.

Multilateralism can involve many nations working together, like in the UN. It can also involve regional groups or military alliances, such as NATO. These groups are not forced on countries. Instead, countries create and join them to help achieve their own goals by working together. These groups also help countries share information and stick to the rules they've agreed upon.

Regional Multilateralism

Sometimes, countries work together in a specific area, like a continent or region. This is called "regional multilateralism." Experts like Harris Mylonas and Emirhan Yorulmazlar suggest that many modern problems can be solved better at a regional level than just between two countries or globally. Working together regionally has been happening for a very long time, ever since early communities formed.

The opposite of multilateralism is unilateralism, which means a country acts completely on its own. Another term is "minilateralism," which means the fewest countries needed to get the biggest results.

History of Global Teamwork

Early Efforts

One of the first modern examples of multilateralism happened in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars in the 1800s. Leaders from powerful countries met at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) to redraw the map of Europe and keep the peace. This group, known as the Concert of Europe, helped solve problems peacefully. Meetings like the Conference of Berlin in 1884 also helped reduce conflicts. The 19th century was one of Europe's most peaceful times.

However, competition for industries and colonies, along with shifts in power (like the creation of Germany), started to cause problems by the early 1900s. This system completely broke down with the start of the First World War.

After World War I: The League of Nations

After World War I, world leaders wanted to prevent another huge conflict. So, they created the League of Nations. This was the first major international organization aimed at keeping peace. Even though the League didn't stop World War II, it did create many specialized groups that are still active today. The United States didn't officially join, but many Americans and private groups still supported it.

After World War II: The United Nations Era

After the Second World War, leaders learned from the League's mistakes. In 1945, they created the United Nations (UN). Unlike the League, the UN had the active support of the United States and the Soviet Union, which were the world's biggest powers at the time.

Since then, the number and types of multilateral agreements have grown a lot. Besides the UN's political groups, many other important organizations were created. These include the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which is now the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). These are often called the 'Bretton Woods' institutions. Other groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) also became part of the UN system.

These new organizations made the UN system much stronger than the old League. Also, UN peacekeepers stationed around the world became a clear sign of global teamwork. Later, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed as a defensive alliance, using multilateralism to promote safety after the war.

Today, there are many multilateral organizations, from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Challenges to Global Teamwork

Since the end of the Cold War, the system of multilateralism has faced more and more challenges.

The United States became very powerful in terms of its military and economy. This led some countries, like Iran, China, and India, to wonder if the UN was still as important. At the same time, some international leaders, like former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, felt that the United States was more likely to act alone in global situations.

This trend became more noticeable when the U.S. Senate refused to approve the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1999. Later, under President George W. Bush, the United States rejected several multilateral agreements. These included the Kyoto Protocol (on climate change), the International Criminal Court, and the Ottawa Treaty (banning land mines). The U.S. also pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Some experts believe that the U.S. preferred working with individual countries (bilateral alliances) rather than large groups. They argued that powerful countries can have more control over smaller ones through one-on-one deals. The Bush administration often chose strong, direct relationships with specific countries to achieve its goals, rather than working through large multilateral groups.

Another challenge for global teamwork is national sovereignty. This means a country's right to govern itself without outside interference. Even though countries often work together, they still want to make their own decisions about their public and private life. Some experts say that countries are unlikely to agree to rules that go against their own national interests.

Global multilateralism, especially in trade, is also challenged by regional agreements like the European Union and NAFTA. While these regional groups are not necessarily against larger global agreements, they can sometimes make global deals harder.

The United States, which helped create the post-war economic multilateral system, sometimes turned to acting alone in trade talks. As the most powerful nation, the U.S. had the least to lose by leaving multilateralism. Weaker nations have the most to lose, but the cost would be high for everyone if global teamwork broke down.

Also, a rise in populism in Europe has made multilateralism more difficult in recent years. For example, parties that are skeptical of the European Union have gained more votes in elections.

Multilateralism vs. Bilateralism

When governments decide how to deal with other countries, they can choose to act alone (unilateralism), with just one other country (bilateralism), or with many countries (multilateralism).

Bilateralism means working closely with only one other country. Multilateralism tries to find common ground based on general rules that apply to many countries.

Expert Victor Cha suggests that the power difference between countries often predicts which approach works best.

• If small countries want to influence a larger one, multilateralism is usually more effective.
• But if a great power wants to control a smaller one, bilateral alliances (one-on-one deals) are often more effective.

So, a country's choice depends a lot on its own size and power, and the size and power of the country it wants to influence.

For example, the United States chose multilateralism in Europe by forming NATO. But in East Asia, it formed bilateral alliances, sometimes called the "Hub and Spokes architecture." Cha explains that after World War II, U.S. planners in Asia worried that some allies might act aggressively and pull the U.S. into unwanted wars. To avoid this, the U.S. created strong, deep bilateral alliances with countries like Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. This allowed the U.S. to have maximum control and prevent its allies from starting conflicts on their own. The U.S. didn't want these alliances to become multilateral because it wanted to keep its control and prevent its partners from teaming up against its wishes.

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