Project Goals

The project pursues several complementary goals on a political-practical as well as on a scientific-theoretical level. Concrete impulses and suggestions for German foreign policy will result from the creation of a “Strategy Compass Multilateralism”, a tool for reflection and identification of multilateral best practices that can help to identify opportunities for successful multilateral action. To this end, it is first necessary to bring together the international academic and political discourse on multilateralism and to work out the underlying understandings that guide multilateral action. The most important tool here is the constantly expanding “Glossary of Multilateralism".

Project Structure

Historical case studies An examination of historical cases of multilateral cooperation in the fields of security political cooperation, coalitions and conventions forms a continuously expanding database on multilateral cooperation, showing in detail which incentive structures have promoted successful multilateral cooperation.

White Paper on Multilateralism A practical analysis of the development and implementation of the White Paper on Multilateralism, which will be published in early 2021, will provide data on how multilateralism can be developed further in terms of priorities as well as practical opportunities (especially regarding the Alliance for Multilateralism) for multilateral initiatives.

Monitoring processes of sustainable multilateral practice A study group of experts from politics and academia evaluates both the project results and the political-practical further development of multilateralism. In particular, the practical suitability of the “ Strategy Compass Multilateralism” is being tested while it is constantly being updated and expanded.