Multilateralism John Ruggie

“[…] multilateralism is an institutional form which coordinates relations among three or more states on the basis of ‘generalized’ principles of conduct”

Ruggie, John Gerard. (1992): Multilateralism: The Anatomy of an Institution. In: International Organization, 46(3), 561-598.

Ruggie conceptualizes multilateralism as coordinated and institutionalized relations between three or more states. Multilateralism distinguishes itself from other forms of international relations by three characteristics: (a) (indivisible) collective of members, (b) generalized rules and principles of conduct, and (c) diffuse reciprocity with roughly the same advantages for all participating states.

John Gerard Ruggie (* 1944 in Austria) is the Berthold Beitz Professor in Human Rights and International Affairs at Harvard University as well as an Affiliated Professor in International Legal Studies at Harvard Law.