The international multilateral system, created after World War II to ensure cooperation, peace, and development, is currently undergoing a period of profound crisis. Organizations such as the United Nations, the WTO, the WHO, and the IMF often appear paralyzed, ineffective, or unable to respond promptly to global challenges: from armed conflicts to pandemics, from climate change to economic inequalities.
This crisis is not only technical, but also political. Rivalries between major powers—particularly between the United States, China, and Russia—are reflected in multilateral forums, blocking decisions and fueling mistrust. In addition, many developing countries complain of poor representation and a distribution of power still linked to the post-war balance. At the same time, the return of nationalist and sovereignist tendencies has weakened collective commitment and fueled unilateral or bilateral strategies.
Yet, never before has there been such a need for effective and inclusive multilateralism. The transnational nature of contemporary crises makes it clear that no single state can tackle the challenges of our time alone. What is really at stake is not only the future of international institutions, but the very possibility of governing the world in a cooperative, legitimate, and sustainable manner.
