ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the foundations of research on the politics of multilateralism within the context of the United Nations (UN), as well as multilateralism as a form of discursive action. It begins by examining the role of language in international cooperation and diplomacy, highlighting how the book’s research approach benefits from studies in conceptual history and parliamentary debates. This provides a methodological contribution to the study of multilateralism. The chapter also maps the use of concepts and conceptual history in international politics, demonstrating how empirical data from the UN offers opportunities for studying political concepts. Additionally, it builds on previous research on the concept of multilateralism and introduces the typology adopted in this book, which defines multilateralism as a norm, a process, and an outcome.
