ABSTRACT
Among researchers, debate about multilateralism began as one between realists (who saw the world existing essentially of states acting in the pursuit of self-interest and in constant competition with other states), and a diverse set of opponents that, although not necessarily challenging state-centredness or the assumption of self-interest, argued that world politics was also characterized by the existence of norms and institutions, and that principles of behaviour could take precedence over self-interest in some circumstances.
