Factoring in Trust in the Alliance for Multilateralism

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to understand the role played by the ‘Alliance for Multilateralism’ (the Alliance) in furthering the cause of multilateralism, specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic. My central argument is that there is a decline of contested multilateralism, and the States are now aiming for a type of multilateralism, which can distribute global public goods and tackle global problems in a more efficient way with mutual cooperation. This type of multilateralism, in my opinion, is different from the earlier liberal theorizing of multilateralism. I believe that the Alliance can be successful if the parties are able to trust each other. However, the creation and maintenance of trust is quite difficult. For this reason, the paper will delve into different types of trust that can be used for cooperation and identify which type of trust is the most beneficial for the members of the Alliance. In doing so, the paper will build on the seminal works of Rathbun, Elhardt and Weinhardt to show that there is a causal link between trust and cooperation and that trust of a specific kind can be seen as a risk-absorbing mechanism. Further, the paper argues that the Alliance can be more than an aggregation of States if the founders of the Alliance, i.e. Germany and France, can provide it with an identity and a narrative. Since the Alliance was launched only a few years ago, there has been lack of scholarly research on it. However, my perspective on the Alliance aims to provide some foundation for future research on the changing nature of multilateralism.