Framing ethical perspectives
Multilateralism refers to a group of nations working together for a common goal. It is at the heart of international relations as nation-states form alliances with like-minded countries to take on global issues, such as climate, emerging technology, inequality, and collective security. Carnegie Council sees multilateralism as essential to generating solutions to global problems and a critical component of an ethical present and future.
Featured Multilateralism Resources
Inclusivity, AI & climate governance, and more
FEB 27, 2024 • Video
A Carnegie Council Conversation with the UK Home Secretary
MAR 28, 2024 • Video
Unlocking Cooperation: The Global South and Global North
In the inaugural panel of the "Unlocking Cooperation" series, Ramu Damodaran leads a discussion on forging a path forward for Global South/North collaboration.
NOV 7, 2025 • Report
Ethical Stimulus for a Time of Climate Crisis
Access this report which argues that applied ethics offers promising potential to identify new pathways to normalize and accelerate implementation of climate action.
Subscribe to the Carnegie Ethics Newsletter for more on ethics and international affairs
Related Initiatives
Model International Mobility Convention
The primary goal of the Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC) is to formulate new rules for migration and asylum that can benefit both migrants and refugees as well as their states of origin, transit, and destination.
Carnegie Ethics Accelerator
The Carnegie Ethics Accelerator is a new kind of incubator designed to empower ethics in the face of swiftly evolving challenges in technology and public policies.
Explore Our Multilateralism Resources
FEB 4, 2003 • Transcript
Of Paradise and Power: America vs. Europe in the New World Order
The widening military gap between Europe and the United States has an unavoidable effect, says Robert Kagan. "It is a natural human phenomenon that if ...
DEC 12, 2001 • Transcript
The Secret Strength of American Foreign Policy
Many have accused the United States of being negligent in the area of foreign policy, yet, according to Walter Russell Mead, almost no other country ...
NOV 14, 2001 • Transcript
The European Union's Foreign Policy: Making a Difference in the World
Chris Patten explains Europe's role in the 21st century and why a multilateralist approach is needed to address "the dark side of globalization."
DEC 5, 1999 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 2, No. 1 (Winter 2000): Human Rights for All? The Problem of the Human Rights Box: Articles: The Credibility Crisis of International Human Rights in the Arab World
International groups should collaborate with the local Arab movement to develop strategies to build the moral standing of human rights among the public and improve ...
JUN 5, 1998 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 11 (Summer 1998): Toward a "Social Foreign Policy" with Asia: The Relevance of Social Problems to International Affairs: Why a Social Dimension to Foreign Policy Is Vital to U.S.-East Asia Relations
Mark Malloch Brown stresses the importance of a social awareness when the U.S. and East Asian countries are involved in foreign policy affairs in ...
JUN 5, 1998 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 11 (Summer 1998): Toward a "Social Foreign Policy" with Asia: The Relevance of Social Problems to International Affairs: Bringing Lessons Home: A Perspective from USAID
Ann Van Dusen provides a USAID perspective on foriegn assistance in East Asia while also dealing with the perception back in the U.S. about ...
JUN 5, 1998 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 11 (Summer 1998): Toward a "Social Foreign Policy" with Asia: Cultural and Institutional Requisites for a Shared Problems Approach: Does Culture Matter?
Abdullahi A. An-Naím addresses the problem of culture’s relevance. In particular he underscores the notion that globalization is not a power-neutral process.
SEP 5, 1997 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 10 (Fall 1997): Efforts, East and West, to Improve Human Rights Assessments: Articles: ESC Rights Assessments at the UN
United Nations system for monitoring implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), is done by the Committee on Economic, Social, ...
SEP 5, 1997 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 10 (Fall 1997): Efforts, East and West, to Improve Human Rights Assessments: Articles: Bringing Women's Rights Back into the Human Rights Movement
Jessica Neuwirth would like to bring women's rights to the forefront in the human rights movement as most of the UDHR have a far more ...
JUN 5, 1996 • Article
Human Rights Dialogue (1994–2005): Series 1, Number 5 (Summer 1996): Cultural Sources of Human Rights in East Asia: Articles: Building on the Existing International Human Rights Regime
Even as they seek to construct a framework that takes into account non-Western cultures, both Onuma's intercivilizational approach and An-Na im's "cultural mediation" of human ...