Abstract
The discrepancy between the multilateral commitments made by states and the lack of urgency and political will in pursuing their implementation undermines the credibility of the global multilateral system, and more specifically in the United Nations. Many factors lie at the heart of this unsatisfactory state of affairs. This chapter is about dysfunctional multilateralism and about some very practical changes in diplomatic practice that might contribute to mitigating this situation. It suggests, from the viewpoint of a practitioner, some modest but important reforms in thinking and in action at the UN in order to make it a more viable and effective institution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Further Reading
Biscop, S. 2020. “For Multilateralism to Work, There Must be Consensus on What It Is Supposed to Do and Can Realistically Achieve.” In The Multilateral Order Post-COVID: Expert Voices, 6–7. Dublin: Institute of International and European Affairs.
Gordenker, L. 2018. “The UN System.” In International Organizations and Global Governance, ed. T.G. Weiss. London: Routledge.
Kamau, M., P. Chasek, and D. O’Connor. 2018. “Pulling It All Together: The SDG’s and the Post-2015 Development Agenda.” In Transforming Multilateral Diplomacy, eds. M. Kamau, P. Chasek, and D. O’Connor. London: Routledge.
Morris, J. 2000. “UN Security Council Reform: A Counsel for the 21st Century.” Security Dialogue (September): 265–77.
Müller, J. 2020. Reforming the United Nations: Fit for Purpose at 75? Leiden and Boston: Brill.
Peterson, M.J. 2005. The UN General Assembly. London: Routledge.
Weiss, T.G. 2009. “What Happened to the Idea of World Government?” International Studies Quarterly 53 (2): 253–71.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Frankinet, B. (2023). Toward a More Credible Multilateralism at the United Nations: A Few Practical Steps. In: Hare, P.W., Manfredi-Sánchez, J.L., Weisbrode, K. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Diplomatic Reform and Innovation. Studies in Diplomacy and International Relations. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10971-3_21
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10971-3_21
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-10970-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-10971-3
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)