AD 2021: Multilateralism in the Construction of a New World Order

Since the beginning of the health crisis, combined with the polarization between the United States and China and the resurgence of nationalist sentiments, the world has entered a new geopolitical era. The world order as we knew it in the aftermath of the Cold War, with globalization and global governance with one leader, is now being challenged. The resolution of transnational challenges is lagging behind due to the withdrawal of states and the lack of leadership and trust in international institutions. Recent events and developments on the international scene have even shown the predominance of unilateral and bilateral relations in order to protect and preserve national interests. The amplified differences between the countries of the North and the South reveal the need to adopt an equitable multilateralism in the establishment of a new world order.

- What role can we entrust to international institutions in the construction of this new world order? How can we rebuild a sense of trust?

- With the predominance of new major players like China, can we say that the new world order will signal the end of the Western order?

- Hasn't the health crisis proved that multilateralism is in retreat and that its values have been undermined for decades?