In the popular view, multilateralism is more than just a practice of coordinating national policies. Instead, multilateralism comes with an understanding of common objectives shared across many sovereign nations; a level playing field putting on equal footing different nations both large and small; firm commitment to peaceful dispute resolution; some self-sacrifice, when appropriate, for the total-sum good of the global community; and, more generally, joint collaboration, going beyond mere coordination. Many believe that to those various ends, a rules-based order has served well. But today, in an increasingly fractured international landscape, what endures of multilateral ideals? What rules-based order remains?
This lecture is in conjunction with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA) annual meeting.