Preparing for the Summit of the Future – What Future for Multilateralism?

This event took place at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's all-out war on Ukraine, debates about the need to reform the post-1945 multilateral system to face current and future challenges seem especially urgent. While Western governments lament the UN's inability to constrain Russia, states in the Global South are highlighting how the current multilateral system is failing to address their development concerns and the struggle against climate change. UN Secretary-General Guterres is trying to channel these calls for reform into a single process leading to a "Summit of the Future" in New York in 2024 that could be an opportunity to overhaul international institutions. But the political and procedural obstacles to fundamental reforms to international institutions -- and especially central mechanisms such as the Security Council -- remain significant. Is the "crisis of multilateralism" set to deepen, or can states find ways to mitigate current tensions and revive international cooperation?

Speakers

• Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)
• Mr Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group (ICG)

Event Moderator

• Ms Annika Hilding Norberg, Head of Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)