Multilateralism in International Relations: Past Practice and Future Promise

• Author: S.R. Insanally
• Pages: 271-276

Multilateralism in International Relations 271

Although I am certain to be accused of stating the obvious, I would like

to begin by noting, albeit briefly, the global context against which the topic

of multilateralism must be considered.

The world in which we now live is vastly different from that which

existed 50 years ago or for that matter even ten years ago. Gone for example

is the Cold War which was characterized by bitter rivalry between the two

major powers of the time — the United States and the Soviet Union — and

which, through a balance of terror and a policy of mutually assured

destruction, guaranteed five decades of fragile and uneasy peace. Gone too

are the opportunities which the countries of the developing world then had

by courting one or the other camp for exploiting this rivalry for their political

and economic advantage.

In lieu of the old bi-polarity, there is now but one super-power with

material resources and military capabilities that exceed those of any other

state and allow it to project its power unilaterally, without regard to the

concerns of others. At the same time, with globalisation and the growing

interdependence among nations, new centres of economic power have arisen,

principally in Europe and Asia, seeking to exercise greater influence in

international affairs. The developing countries, for their part tend to see

their sovereignty and welfare threatened not only by the new unipolarity

of power but also by the rampant forces globalisation and trade liberalization.

This new scenario is, to say the least, complex and must be fully analysed

and understood if countries such as ours are to find the ways and means to

survive and succeed in promoting our economic and social welfare. Can the

principle of multilateralism which has developed in the past Cold War period

serve to guide us to the establishment of a safer and more secure system of

international relations? In attempting to answer this question, I propose to

examine very cursorily the record thus far and, on that basis, hazard a

prediction for the future.

It should not surprise many of you that my views are drawn from my

many years of practical experience in the field of multilateral diplomacy.

MULTILATERALISM IN INTERNATIONALMULTILATERALISM IN INTERNATIONAL

MULTILATERALISM IN INTERNATIONALMULTILATERALISM IN INTERNATIONAL

MULTILATERALISM IN INTERNATIONAL

RELATIONS: PAST PRACTICE ANDRELATIONS: PAST PRACTICE AND

RELATIONS: PAST PRACTICE ANDRELATIONS: PAST PRACTICE AND

RELATIONS: PAST PRACTICE AND

FUTURE PROMISEFUTURE PROMISE

FUTURE PROMISEFUTURE PROMISE

FUTURE PROMISE

S.R. Insanally

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