Introduction

This introductory chapter presents the topic of multilateralism and related debates. It explores recent discussions and conceptualizations that illustrate both the current state of multilateralism and alternative approaches to organizing international cooperation involving multiple states. Rather than focusing solely on the crises of multilateralism and its alternatives, attention should also be given to the political use of language surrounding multilateralism – a theme that will be further elaborated in this chapter. Additionally, the chapter goes through relevant scholarly literature, outlines the book’s positioning within that literature, and discusses how the politics of multilateralism can be examined empirically. The latter part of the chapter addresses the historical origins of the UN as a venue for multilateralism and considers how these origins inform contemporary discussions on the subject.