Multilateralism: End of Cooperation, Advent of Predation

Since the Peace Treaties of Westphalia, multilateralism has established itself as a structuring framework of international relations, based on cooperation between states. Institutionalized after 1945 with the creation of the United Nations, it has helped to frame dialogue, regulate exchanges, and collectively respond to global crises.

Today, this model is being weakened by increased competition between powers, where cooperative logics are gradually giving way to strategies of predation and national assertion. The rise of nationalism, unilateral approaches, and the growing complexity of global challenges are testing the effectiveness of existing institutions.

In this context, can multilateralism still structure effective collective action, or are we witnessing its decline in favor of a more fragmented and competitive international order? Can national sovereignty and effective international cooperation be reconciled in a context of crises?