ABSTRACT
Multilateral agencies necessarily occupy spaces of considerable complexity. Even when confined to inter-governmental dialogue and collaboration, their work in policy making, norm setting and practical operations can only be pursued through a myriad of interconnections. Yet multilateralism is rapidly becoming more complex still, through the increasing scope, influence and intensity of agency engagement with non-state parties, what the UN terms ‘civil society’ – non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), transnational advocacy networks (TANs) and transnational social movements (TSMs), generally referred to as NGOs. Occupying part of the space are trade unions and labour organisations, as well as some small-scale media and communications outlets. Generally excluded in the categorisation is the profit-driven private business and corporate sector, but that exclusion is not absolute, especially for small business interests in developing countries.
