Paris, January 2025 – The Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), in partnership with Sciences Po, hosted a thought-provoking panel discussion on “Multilateralism and the New World Order” as part of the 10th Youth & Leaders Summit in Paris. The panel brought together distinguished global figures to address the future of international cooperation in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.

 

A World in Geopolitical Recession

Opening the discussion, Professor Vuk Jeremić, President of CIRSD and former UN General Assembly President, introduced the concept of geopolitical recession, explaining that during such times nations have three choices: reforming existing international organizations, building new ones, or relying on unilateralism and taking matters into their own hands.

 

The Urgency of UN Reform

Former UNGA President María Fernanda Espinosa highlighted the inefficiencies of the current multilateral system, pointing to overlapping mandates and resource waste. “There are 81 mandate holders on human rights, 240 multilateral environmental agendas—how can we expect real progress without structural reform?” she asked. She called for a new accountability architecture, arguing that “the UN must be made relevant for all” and that accointability, trust, and creating a sense of ownership over the actions of the UN should form the pillars of reform.

"The UN is not a self-operating machine, it is a human creation, and its reform must be driven by the political will of the leades", she added. 

 

China’s Model: Good Governance Over Ideology

Renowned Chinese scholar Zhang Weiwei challenged traditional Western narratives, advocating for a shift from “democracy vs. autocracy” to “good governance vs. bad governance.” He emphasized China’s development-first approach, arguing that China has consistently delivered results in areas like green energy, technology, and poverty reduction, while Western institutions have often stagnated. 

 

Multilateralism Must Include the Private Sector

John W.H. Denton, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), stressed that true multilateralism cannot function without private sector involvement. He added “to reform multilateralism, we must stop viewing global challenges in adversarial terms and instead focus on building coalitions that include both public and private stakeholders.”

 

HRH Prince Turki: Multilateralism Must Serve Humanity

HRH Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud noted that the multilateral system has been under stress since its inception in 1945, and emphasized the need to put human well-being over geopolitical rivalries. “The ability to work together is proven in spheres such as medicine and technology, and I hope the same can be done in politics and diplomacy,” he stated.

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