The multilateral system is under threat. What are the implications for countries such as the Netherlands that depend on the system for security and prosperity? In a new @HCSS report, @Robdewijk, @e_chavannes and I draw the following conclusions https://bit.ly/34bOHMs 

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1. Multilateral system vital for small/medium countries like Netherlands. Though imperfect current system is vital: boosts international trade/standards of living, provides system of collective security that discourages conflict/fosters peace, promotes rule of law & human rights

2. System under threat from internal & external factors. Sovereignist ideology (populist nationalism) saps support for multilateralism. Among other problems major powers (China, Russia, US) undermining system: operate outside system when it doesn't serve their immediate interests

3. Three case studies in report on WTO, UN Security Council, and human rights at UN illustrate problems facing multilateral system. Each institution plagued by structural shortcomings but also under threat from major powers. Competition between China and US especially problematic

4. US has rendered the WTO largely inoperative because its demands for dramatic changes have not been met. Meanwhile, China’s economic model poses an existential threat to the rules-based trading order, but it refuses to discuss fundamental reforms

5. UN Security Council has been unable to respond in meaningful way to COVID-19 crisis because China and US blocked resolutions that they believed were unfavorable to their interests. China, Russia, and US have used UNSC vetoes to prevent action on major international problems

6. China and Russia cooperate to defund, undermine, revamp human rights at UN, with China seeking to impose its vision of human rights. US withdrew from UN Human Rights Council, created new Commission on Unalienable Rights to make US human rights policymore socially conservative

7. How should small/medium-sized countries respond? We argue countries such as Netherlands should respond on two fronts. At home, responding to emotional/ nationalistic/irredentist arguments against European Union, UN and NATO, policymakers should develop a new narrative

8. New narrative should explain to potentially receptive members of parliament and public gains from multilateralism, damaging consequences of breakup of multilateral system, how countries such as Netherlands can contribute to upholding/revitalizing system, and necessary reforms

9. Abroad, countries such as Netherlands do not have sufficient power and influence to reform multilateral system alone. They need to work with like-minded countries, through institutions such as EU and NATO, to achieve results at global level

10. These countries need to strike balance between (a) upholding values/norms and (b) getting comfortable with exercise of hard-nosed power politics. Will include working pragmatically with major powers, without whom key international questions often cannot be addressed

11. European countries need to accept that in era of US-China strategic competition Europe will no longer be foremost priority for US, meaning Europeans must decide what they want and proactively shape constructive relationship with the United States

12. Upshot is Europe needs to embrace role as major power. Doesn’t mean treating multilateral system instrumentally like China, Russia, and US, but means developing and implementing clear and active agenda for protecting European interests and values
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