This is a time of rapid change. As the forces of technological advancement, climate change, increased geopolitical tensions and economic shifts shape the trajectory of societies, the role of multilateral institutions is critical for steering global transformations. The polycrisis, and heightened uncertainty and destabilization it brings to such institutions, is shaping international cooperation on strategies for the future. As the convergence of multiple risks and new trends intensifies, global governance structures are increasingly under pressure. International cooperation has become more complex, more essential but also more challenging, and yet the very institutions designed to foster constructive exchange and dialogue are under growing scrutiny.
At this crossroads, KAS New York identified seven key trends shaping the trajectory of the multilateral system. To better understand the dynamics defining the future of the multilateral system, this policy brief offers a perspective into the current transformations shaping the multilateral system in an era of geopolitical divides. It looks in depth at the implications of great power competition on multilateralism, proposes a synthesis for what this may mean, and charts options for the way forward. In addition, KAS expert workshops and discussions offered valuable contributions to the analysis presented in the brief. While uncertainty and complexity are high within this rapidly changing global context, the aim of this policy brief is to shed light into the driving forces of change in the hopes to gain a deeper understanding and insight into future developments and possibilities for multilateralism.