External publications

Zombie multilateralism

Klingebiel, Stephan
Externe Publikationen (2026)

published on www.ips-journal.eu, 25.03.2026

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It’s certainly hard to imagine relevant agreements being reached that could, in the foreseeable future, bring substantive progress in international relations. Alliances of like-minded states could conceivably coalesce around individual issues, but these mechanisms need to become significantly more professional if they are to operate effectively at the margins of international politics (‘pockets of effectiveness’). Europe and other proponents of multilateral cooperation need to urgently ask themselves what the essence of a new multilateralism might be. The ongoing UN80 reform process focuses on efficiency enhancements and institutional reforms. These are certainly necessary, but if reforms are not guided by a clear normative compass, there is a risk that the political substance of international cooperation could be further diluted.

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