Research Article Restoring multilateralism: the challenge from the Global South and the rising minilaterals. photo shows Philemon Yang (on screen), President of the seventy-ninth session of the United Nations General Assembly, chairs the General Assembly 54th plenary meeting on integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields, including reports of the Second Committee and Economic and Social Council.19 December 2024: General Assembly Hears Reports of Second Committee and ECOSOC [photo: United Nations]

[The two excerpts are from an article in The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.]

Role of civil society

Civil society refers to the collective body of individuals outside government and profit-seeking organisations comprising multiple civic groups, organisations, social movements, academia, NGOs, and so on. It serves as a vital intermediary between citizens and the state, fostering civic engagement, participatory democracy, and social cohesion. Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali defined civil society as encompassing all nongovernmental entities, including business and industry. An official U.N. Report on United Nations-Civil Society Relations (the Cardoso Report) adopts a narrower definition that excludes industry lobby groups and business federations. Some international organisations and supranational bodies, such as the World Health Organization, appear to use the terms ‘civil society’ and ‘non-governmental organizations’ (NGOs) interchangeably and to favour the participation of nationally and internationally recognised NGOs in policy making and enforcement (Laura, Citation2013, pp. 607–8).

Since the end of the Cold War, the political representation of states has remained rooted in other zones of state interactions like business, industry, IT, and civic groups, and activities have become more fluid and global. According to several theorists, transnational networks consisting of professionals, bureaucrats, corporations, and civil society, including NGOs, have emerged as significant non-state players in a more globalised world. There is a growing consensus that the better participation of these actors, in particular civil society (NGOs, community groups, local action networks, social movements, faith-based groups, ‘philanthrocapitalists’, and new foundations), is fundamental to solutions to the key human development challenges of today (Tibbett, Citation2009, p. 7). Civil society actors operating on a global scale have now become increasingly involved in shaping international governance through their monitoring and networking abilities. Since the multilateral institutions have been losing control and legitimacy, they have been forced to turn pro-active towards filling this gap to survive.

In 1948, the UN had 48 consultative groups listed. As of August 2021, there are a total of 6494 organisations in consultative status with its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). There are 138 organisations in general consultative status, 5389 in special consultative status, and 967 on the roster (ECOSOC, Citation2021). In order to gain legitimacy, global institutions are also seeking connections with CSOs [Civil Society Organisations]. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Committee on World Food Security has reserved seats for members of various CSOs, including NGOs, social movements, research centres, financial institutions, and private sector associations (Marchetti, Citation2016). A study carried out in the GS (Mexico, Kenya, South Africa, India, and the Philippines) by Levine et al. (Citation2023) found that CSOs played a critical role in supplementing government emergency aid response by delivering necessary resources and supporting highly vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the primary challenges they faced in doing so. Given the generally weak state of public capacity in the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) studied, this role was vital to responding to the pandemic.

Civil society can play an important role by networking with effective global organisations and helping in global policy-making about critical issues.

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Section III

Conclusions

The principal issues confronting the multilateral institutions stem from various interconnected global crises like wars, terrorism, drugs, climate change, pandemics, and economic disasters that are undermining their role. Since multilateralism has failed to deliver in the last few decades there has been a parallel rise of minilaterals like BRICS, SCO and QUAD, which ensure more effective mechanisms to meet the objectives of shared interests. Consequently, a geopolitical fragmentation has emerged that fosters an environment in which states emphasise self-interest over co-operative solutions, undermining the role of multilateral institutions. The rise of minilateral organisations, voices from the GS and the emerging global powers like China, India, Brazil and others pose the biggest challenge to the identity and role of the multilateral organisations.

Minilaterals focus on gathering the ‘critical mass’ of members necessary for a specific purpose, in contrast to the broad and inclusive approach associated with multilaterals (Singh & Teo, Citation2020). In realist mode they bring only the relevant countries to the table, contrasting with the inclusive approach of multilateralism. The GS has been exasperated by the failure of global institutions to meet their needs, such as inclusive decision-making processes, prioritising developing countries’ interests in global governance frameworks, establishing trust, promoting solidarity, and strengthening collaboration among North–South nations. It seeks better representation in the decision-making organs of the United Nations, financial organisations, banks, and the global summits as a legitimate share. India has been instrumental in raising the case of the GS on global platforms like the UN and G20. India’s mantra of ‘It is not our war!’ has become a powerful signal to the West, and the growing demand for accountability from the powerful to the less powerful poses formidable governance challenges. The restoration of multilateralism requires a reformed, reinvigorated, and effective UN and its agencies; the establishment of globally inclusive and committed minilaterals; a more effective NAM with commitment to ‘a rules-based multilateral order and plurilateral engagements’, and the active role of CSOs, which significantly contributed during the COVID-19 crisis and climate dialogues. A collective endeavour to foster inclusivity, safeguard human rights, tackle global issues, and establish trust among states is the need. Diplomacy, negotiation, and conflict resolution procedures should address disputes and build agreement on shared objectives. The minilaterals can play a crucial part and bridge the gap with the conventional multilateral framework, if they assume a complementary role to global multilaterals and commit themselves to strengthen a rules-based international order. Through co-ordinated efforts, governments, minilateral organisations, and civil society may enhance the effectiveness of multilateral institutions and promote common objectives for a more peaceful, equitable, and environmentally sustainable global community. CSOs have the ability to play a crucial role in rallying public support, increasing consciousness, executing remedies at the local level, and influencing global agendas and policymaking.

Harish K. Thakur is Professor & Former Chairman, Department of Political Science, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India.