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Filling the Vacuum: who will save multilateralism?

Explore the challenges and impacts of the recent shifts in multilateralism, particularly in the context of the United States, and discuss potential solutions and reforms. Join Mikael Barfod, Visiting Professor at Huddersfield University, as he analyzes the current state of multilateralism and discusses the role of the EU in rebuilding and reforming the UN.

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Filling the Vacuum: who will save multilateralism?

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  1. Public lecture by Mikael Barfod, Visiting Professor, Huddersfield University, 22 January 2019 Filling the Vacuum: who will save multilateralism? Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  2. Multilateral organisations have never beenperfect • Supranational (EU) vs. international powers (UN) • Cold War: East, West or non-aligned • Post Cold-war: • Universality of human rights • Entrenched positions and new divisions • Participate or withdraw • International Law of the Seas and IntyernationalCriminal Court • Exterritoriality Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  3. New US philosophy on multilateralism • America first • National sovereigntyrules • Zero-sum game • Populist creed Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  4. Trump’s actions on multilateralism • Shifting enemies • Trade wars or bilateral power games? • World Trade Organisation • Paris Climate Agreement • Human Rights Council • Human Rights abuse • Regional peace negotiations Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  5. Recent US withdrawal from multilateral commitments • Trans-Pacific Partnership • UN - female reproduction. • UNHCR (UN High Representative for Refugees) • UNWRA (Relief and Works Agency for Palestine) • The US Muslim Ban • “Bad Hombres” and the US-Mexico wall • Separation of children from arrested parents of illegal immigrants • UN Global Compact for Migration • Withdrawal from the Universal Postal Union (UPU) • And counting …? Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  6. Reaction in the United States • Checks and balances • Negative consequences? • Multilateral skepticism may persist beyond Trump Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  7. Reaction in Europe • EU and UN values aligned • Growing importance of UN to the EU • US administration’s skepticism towards EU & UN: (1) unifying effect within EU (2) weakening effect • “Rebels” within the EU • Trump-like parties have a “sugar daddy” • Human rights issues within the EU Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  8. How can multilateralism survive current trends? • American democratic values behind League of Nations and UN • UN designed to avoid effects of Realpolitik in 1930s • Current US attacks on multilateralism only gives legitimacy to national decisions • Science demands global solutions • Who can fill current vacuum left by US? Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  9. EU could lead rebuilding of multilateralism & reform of UN • EU’s commitment to effective multilateralism. • EU’s State-like status & the only full participant non-state actor in UN • EU is largest financial contributor to UN • EU supports the UN reform agenda • EU can help to rebuild & reform in open-ended international partnership with all countries, including the US Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  10. Why is the UN ready for reformS? • Growing political consensus on many aspects of reform • Needs to be better equipped to face modern threats (irregular conflicts, global pandemics, climate etc.). • Reforms are demanded by an increasingly influential non-state actors (including NGOs, think tanks, religious communities and academia). • regional and sub-regional partners could boost the UN to better define its role • UN Security Council is unrepresentative. Europe could be represented by the EU. Reform Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  11. Conclusion • Multilateralist agendas have always been difficult to implement • Populism and new US administration has cause serious damage that could be irreparable • EU could lead international agenda to rebuild/reform UN • EU needs effective multilateralism itself and could bring the US back • UK can play a role IN or OUT of EU Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

  12. Thank You @MBarfodEU M.Barfod@hud.ac.uk Mikael Barfod, Huddersfield University

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