The Importance of Greater Multilateralism in 2024

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh

2024 will be a critical year for the future of global governance and cooperation. The world is facing multiple crises and power shifts that require simultaneous and united responses, but the existing multilateral system is struggling to cope with the complexity and urgency of challenges that are interconnected and interdependent, and cannot be solved in isolation or by unilateral actions. They require simultaneous and united responses from the international community, based on the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and multilateralism.

However, the existing multilateral system is not fit for this purpose, as it suffers from a lack of legitimacy, coherence, efficiency, and accountability. The system is also fragmented and siloed, with different institutions and actors working in parallel or in competition, rather than in synergy and partnership. Crises and conflicts do not only undermine the security and stability of the world, but also erode trust and confidence in the multilateral system and its values.

Having been a Member of the Bretton Woods Committee and a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel on Defining the Future of Trade, I wholeheartedly agree with recommendations and actions for improving the effectiveness and inclusiveness of global governance published by the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism. These include:

From power politics to shared responsibility: Developing a more cooperative culture between countries with inclusive and accountable governance structures.

From silos to networks: Working in complementary collaboration across sectors, domains, and levels of governance, with further coordination and integration of global, regional, and national institutions and mechanisms.

From competition to cooperation: Ensuring equitable and sustainable management and sharing of global public goods and resources, and more human rights and protection of all people who depend on them.

From reaction to prevention: Focusing on anticipating and mitigating the risks and threats that endanger peace, security, and prosperity of the world, with more support and assistance for the most vulnerable and affected groups and regions.

From exclusion to inclusion: Better participation and representation of all stakeholders and groups in the global governance processes and outcomes, especially the women, the youth, the indigenous peoples, the minorities, and the persons with disabilities.

From measurement to impact: Employing an evidence-based and adaptive system and methodology of measuring and monitoring the progress and impact of the global governance actions and initiatives.
In a world that is becoming more fragmented and where trust is eroding by the day, it is essential for nations to focus on developing rich, multilateral relations now more than ever before to address challenges facing us all.