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This paper is designed to help governments in the process of answering this question: can the multilateral order be revamped in the face of mounting geopolitical tension, divisions over globalization, and rapid technological change? It is intended to spark debate and spur a continuing discussion and to inform clear-eyed assessments by governments as they develop strategies for the rejuvenation of multilateralism; but it also seeks to encourage a sense of ambition in that effort, commensurate with the scale of the challenge ahead of us.

This report charts the roots of the present crisis of the multilateral order. It depicts the nature of the challenges that now confront us and provides an initial sketch of alternative pathways forward. It argues that our current malaise stems from much more than just the anti-multilateral instincts of some contemporary political leaders; rather, it has deeper roots and has been more than a decade in the making.