The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) can be used to map out multilateral practices. The map facilitates an overview of the multilateral network understanding, the multidimensional aspirations, and the communication strategies of the forum. These aspects, which are located somewhere between aspiration and reality, help to reimagine multilateralism.

The crucial interaction of state and non-state actors in the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that non-state actors need to be taken into account in the further development of multilateral formats. Turning ideas of "multistakeholderism" into a systematized mode of action may require a wholescale re-thinking of diplomatic practice, argues Dr. Ronja Scheler.

In the global competition for discursive and rule-making power, China is cleverly using key building blocks of existing debates on world order to hijack the label of "true multilateralism" for itself. Recognising the multilayered attributions of meaning and the changing interpretations of the concept of multilateralism thus requires close observation of Chinese discourses on international order, argues Nele Noesselt.

Global problems require global solutions - but the "indispensable nations” lack the necessary of common ground for communication and cooperation to make them happen. China and the USA must be supported in learning suitable modes of international coexistence by multilateral institutions capable of facilitating productive cooperation even without previous shared experiences.

Corona pandemic and climate crisis will change the international system – to overcome them more than nationalist aberrations or antagonistic geopolitical blocs are needed. Instead, nothing less than replacing “homo economicus” as the model of human interaction with “homo cooperativus” will do, argues Claus Leggewie, professor of Political Science at Giessen University.

Multilateralism is often understood as the management of crises and differences between governments. However, addressing global challenges requires multi-sectoral cooperation within the framework of a re-thought multilateralism, argues Lars Brozus, Senior Associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).

The controversy surrounding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, though now seemingly settled, not only tested the transatlantic relationship but also revealed fundamentally differing views on the role of multilateralism in German and American foreign policy, argues Jackson Janes, President Emeritus of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies and Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund.

In the course of the geopolitical appropriation of the Internet, multilateral forums have become a venue for the power-political struggle to shape cyber norms. What form and function can, and should multilateralism take to counteract further fragmentation of cyberspace in the post-liberal era?

With a multitude of international challenges ahead and great power conflict, once again looming narratives of a multilateralism in crisis abound. But what about the undeniable successes of the multilateral system since 1945? And what can countries like Canada and Germany do to further contribute to overcoming global challenges and furthering human progress?

Henry Kissinger’s quip about Germany being “too big for Europe and too small for the world” has often been quoted. In this light his recent call for a “global Germany” might have surprised readers. The essay explains why he might be willing to go along with the alteration of his quip suggested in the title.