Date : 06/09/2023

Relevance: GS paper 2- International Relations - Bilateralism and Multilateralism

Keywords : Minilateral Grouping, G-20, WTO, UNO, QUAD, ASEAN

Context-

• In recent times, the global and regional multilateral order has faced unprecedented challenges, with the East Asia Summit in Jakarta and the G20 summit in Delhi underscoring the deep-seated crises in the existing multilateral framework.
• Here we look into the evolving landscape of multilateralism and examine India's increasingly prominent role in shaping new regional and global frameworks.

The Decline of Post-Cold War Multilateralism

• Post-Cold War multilateralism, once at its zenith, is now in decline both globally and regionally. This decline is not only marked by the notable absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at these summits but also by the intensifying conflicts these nations have with the rest of the world.
• Russia's conflict with the West over Ukraine and China's disputes with numerous Asian neighbours, including India, Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam, as well as the United States, exemplify the eroding state of multilateralism.

The Evolution of Multilateralism

• The post-Cold War era in the 1990s saw the flourishing of multilateralism, facilitated by Europe's regional integration under the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Asia.
• Great power rivalry dwindled, as Russia engaged with Western countries, and China became a close partner with the United States, leading to enhanced cooperation on global issues such as non-proliferation, climate change, and pandemics.
• China's integration into the World Trade Organization in 2001 boosted its economy, establishing it as the world's second-largest after the United States.

Challenges to Multilateralism

• Challenges within the current multilateral global order include the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, exemplified by the "America First" policy, Brexit, and the USA's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
• Additionally, exclusive and unresponsive multilateral institutions like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) pose concerns as they often prioritise the interests of powerful nations. Moreover, influential countries sometimes interfere in the functioning of global bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), potentially compromising their impartiality and effectiveness.
• Further, the 2008 global financial crisis exposed the fragility of the international economic order, necessitating the expansion of the G7 to include middle powers.
• Just as multilateralism gained momentum, internal contradictions emerged. Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 marked a significant crisis, while China's unilateral territorial expansionism and manipulation of global economic dependence posed further challenges.
• In response to China's actions, new security institutions have emerged, including the Quadrilateral Forum (Quad), AUKUS, and trilateral compacts in Northeast Asia. These developments have raised questions about the continued relevance of ASEAN in shaping the regional order in Asia.

India's Shift in Perspective

• Adapting to Emerging Realities: India's initial post-Cold War stance involved aligning with China to promote a multipolar world, countering American unilateralism. However, as economic and security threats from China mounted, India shifted its focus from a "unipolar world" led by the United States to a "unipolar Asia" dominated by Beijing.
• Positive US Engagement: Crucially, expansive and positive engagement between India and the United States played a pivotal role in India's shift. This engagement led India to embrace the Indo-Pacific concept and revitalize the Quadrilateral Forum (Quad).

India's New Multilateralism

• The Quad's Role: India emphasizes that the Quad complements ASEAN's efforts to enhance regional stability through heightened security cooperation.
• Re-globalization: India advocates for a more diversified and democratic form of globalization that reduces dependence on China's manufacturing dominance.
• Addressing Global Issues: India actively pursues agreements on various significant issues within the G20, extending beyond the Ukraine crisis to encompass global tax reform and reforms in multilateral development banks.
• Concerns of the Global South: India seeks to bridge the gap between developing and developed countries within the G20, addressing the interests of the Global South.
  India's Emerging Role: Shaping the New Multilateral Paradigm
• Crucial Role in the Indo-Pacific Quadrilateral Forum: India's significance in the Quadrilateral Forum (Quad) is undeniable, as it actively contributes to regional stability through bilateral and multilateral security cooperation.
• Expanding the G20's Scope: India's efforts to broaden the G20's agenda to address the concerns of the Global South make it a central player in shaping the global order.
• Promotion of Balanced Globalization: India's advocacy for balanced globalization underscores its commitment to inclusive and equitable growth that benefits all nations.

What Can G-20 and India Contribute?

• Addressing the challenges within multilateralism requires a multifaceted approach from the G-20 and India. Currently, the discourse on multilateral reform remains confined to elite circles and select national capitals, primarily among emerging powers.
• Therefore, the G-20 should prioritise the establishment of a robust narrative surrounding multilateral reform. To achieve this, the G-20 could establish a dedicated engagement group aimed at elevating the discussion on multilateral reform to a global platform.
• Additionally, India can play a pivotal role by urging Brazil and South Africa, the upcoming chairs of the G-20, to make multilateral reforms a central focus during their presidencies. Given their aspirations for global prominence, this should align with their objectives more easily.
• While many global challenges necessitate collective solutions and international cooperation, it is crucial to acknowledge the inherent limitations of multilateral collaboration. Competing interests and the dominance of powerful states will persist within multilateral forums. Therefore, alongside supporting traditional multilateral efforts, the G-20 should actively promote minilateral groupings as an alternative form of multilateralism.
• These minilateral groupings can be transformed into multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly in areas concerning the governance of global resources and common spaces.
• This approach can help prevent the emergence of competitive coalitions where other actors seek to exploit the situation to their advantage, potentially leading to a fragmented global order. It's worth noting that most attempts at multilateral reform have yet to address this issue comprehensively.
• To address the trust deficit, legitimacy concerns, and questions about the effectiveness of multilateralism, the world needs a model, and the G-20 has the potential to serve as one. However, to fulfill this role effectively, the group must become more inclusive while maintaining efficiency.
• For instance, making the African Union a permanent member and granting permanent invitee status to the UN Secretary-General and General Assembly President could enhance the G-20's legitimacy and its ability to serve as a global model for multilateral cooperation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, India's burgeoning role in shaping new regional and global frameworks reflects the evolving landscape of multilateralism. While the old order grapples with deepening crises, India stands poised to make significant contributions to the development of multilateral cooperation, prioritizing inclusivity and the balance of global interests.

Source - The Indian Express