Minilateralism is transforming the global diplomacy as it introduces smaller, targeted partnerships in order to solve specific regional challenges. This shift is away from the slower processes of multilateralism and instead provides agile solutions. India is important in this transition as it utilizes minilateral frameworks to advance multipolarity and secure strategic interests. The effectiveness of minilateralism could be limited by its narrow scope, thus potentially impairing broader global problem-solving.
| GS Paper | GS Paper II |
| Topics for UPSC Prelims | Minilateralism, Multilateralism, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue,Doha Development Agenda,Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, China’s Belt and Road Initiative,Covid-19 pandemic, Australia-UK-US (AUKUS),Russia-Ukraine war,Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, India-Australia-Japan Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. |
| Topics for UPSC Mains | Global Order Shifting towards Minilateralism from Multilateralism, Role of India in the Rise of Minilateralism |
This editorial is based on “Grand Strategy | How minilateralism is reshaping global order” published in Hindustan Times on December 8, 2024. The article discusses the rise of minilateralism and India’s role in it.
Understanding minilateralism is a must for UPSC aspirants because it falls under the GS Paper 2 category, dealing with international relations and how global policies affect India. The topic helps the students understand the dynamics of global politics, India’s strategic interests, and how international institutions are changing with time- all of which are necessary for both Prelims and Mains.
Minilateralism has been taking center stage in global diplomacy; it has fostered focused regional partnerships and presented dynamic solutions to specific problems. This is important for UPSC aspirants as this move underscores India’s central position for the promotion of multipolarity, strategic interests, and rectification of inefficiencies in governance at the global level. Its impact on international relations answers previous UPSC questions pertaining to global institutions and strategies in India’s foreign policy.
Minilateralism means that smaller, more focused coalitions or alliances involving a few countries are formed to address certain global, regional, or issue-based challenges. Minilateralism focuses on smaller coalitions and alliances targeting specific challenges. Such groups formed among interested nations allow for quicker decisions and more focused outcomes. For example, the Quad – U.S., India, Japan, and Australia-works towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Minilateralism and multilateralism differ significantly in terms of structure and function.
Minilateralism is where there are a few countries that have between 3 and 10 members, focusing on particular issues. On the other hand, multilateralism includes wide participation, often by international organizations such as the UN and WTO, that comprise a large number of member states.
Minilateralism addresses particular problems or regional concerns, allowing for focused cooperation. In contrast, multilateralism addresses more generic global challenges requiring worldwide consensus, such as climate change and international trade rules.
Fewer members translate to faster decision-making flexibility in minilateralism. For multilateralism, however, the processes tend to be slower because many nations, diverse and varied, are usually consulted. This makes multilateralism less agile on issues with urgent concerns.
Minilateralism deals with narrow, well-defined objectives, often focusing on security, trade, and regional stability. Multilateralism, on the other hand, addresses wide-ranging issues, including global concerns like climate change, poverty, and human rights.
Minilateralism is for like-minded and strategically aligned nations, allowing for more cohesive and effective cooperation. Multilateralism is open to all, regardless of ideology, creating an all-inclusive comprehensive global governance.
Minilateralism is very efficient because it has fewer members with similar interests, hence acting much faster. Multilateralism often suffers from lower efficiency due to the presence of diversified interests among many members that delay decision-making processes.
The global order is shifting towards minilateralism due to several factors that highlight its advantages over traditional multilateralism.
The fragmentation of global consensus is on the rise, due to diverging interests among member states, making multilateral institutions inefficient. The inability of the WTO to finalize the Doha Development Agenda after over two decades exemplifies this paralysis, and thus, countries opt for smaller, issue-specific coalitions like the CPTPP.
Power asymmetry and geopolitical rivalries have led to dissatisfaction and mistrust in multilateral institutions dominated by major powers. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) exemplifies how global finance is being reshaped outside traditional frameworks. Smaller groups like the G7 have emerged to counterbalance such dominanc.
Minilateral frameworks are faster responses to crises than bureaucratic delays in multilateral setups. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Quad countries quickly agreed to supply more than 1.2 billion doses of vaccines worldwide, which shows the agility of minilateral arrangements in responding to emergencies.
Minilateralism is focused and specialized, not constrained by larger multilateral agreements. In that regard, the AUKUS pact is a means to regional security and technology-sharing in the Indo-Pacific without going through inefficiencies in the broader multilateral agreement such as in the UN Security Council.
Regional powers like China and India have given birth to minilateral platforms to directly discuss regional interests. The RCEP, excluding the U.S., is a great example of how Asian economies bypassed the traditional multilateral system dominated by the West.
Multilateral institutions like the UN face a crisis of legitimacy due to their inability to address critical issues effectively. The erosion of credibility is evident in the growing resistance from host nations against UN peacekeeping missions, highlighting the need for more effective governance structures.
India plays a crucial role in the rise of minilateralism, leveraging its strategic position to foster regional stability and cooperation.
India is a leader in minilateral security frameworks to contain China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad encompasses maritime security, illegal fishing, and freedom of navigation in the waters. In SAARC, India focuses on regional stability, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation.
India is an active participant in minilateral trade and economic agreements to enhance regional supply chains. For example, in the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the two countries aim to double non-petroleum trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
India uses minilateral platforms to enhance its capabilities in technology and innovation. Under the Quad, India has joined hands with Japan and the USA to establish a semiconductor fabrication unit, multi-material, in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh.
India leads minilateral climate action initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA) focused on solar energy solutions for developing countries. The Global Biofuels Alliance, launched during India’s G20 presidency, is another significant step towards sustainable energy transition.
India nurtures South-South cooperation by minilateral frameworks that nurture development within the Global South. A case in point is India’s leadership, through IBSA Dialogue Forum, which focuses on poverty alleviation, trade, and sustainable development.
India plays a very crucial role in building resilient and diversified global supply chains through minilateral initiatives. India’s economic interests are greatly benefited by the India-Australia-Japan Supply Chain Resilience Initiative in terms of global supply chain diversification.
India faces several challenges in navigating the complexities of minilateralism while balancing its strategic interests.
India’s historical non-alignment policy is in conflict with deeper alignment required in minilateral frameworks. The QUAD Alliance, for example, raises concerns about India’s strategic autonomy, especially considering its long-term defense partnership with Russia.
Minilateral frameworks often involve countries with conflicting priorities, making consensus-building challenging for India. In the Quad, the US’s strong anti-China stance contrasts with India’s cautious approach due to its significant economic ties with China.
Minilateral frameworks typically concentrate on narrow goals, avoiding critical issues for India. Take the Quad, which focuses on Indo-Pacific security, but does little by way of collaboration on climate change or WTO reforms-a major area of concern for India.
India’s institutional capacity and financial resources are stretched thin, limiting its ability to lead or actively participate in multiple minilateral forums. Managing roles in various initiatives requires significant diplomatic and financial bandwidth.
Over-reliance on minilateralism risks sidelining India in traditional multilateral platforms where larger reforms are necessary. For example, India’s push for UN Security Council reforms remains stalled despite its active role in minilateralism.
India has domestic opposition to deeper minilateral commitments, due to concerns over sovereignty and over-dependence on foreign alliances. Debates around joining RCEP highlighted fears about adverse impacts on domestic industries.
The proliferation of minilateral platforms risks duplicating effort and creating inefficiencies. India is a member of both the Quad and I2U2, which have overlapping areas like technology and infrastructure cooperation, complicating coherence among these frameworks.
India can adopt several measures to balance minilateralism with multilateralism, ensuring effective global and regional cooperation.
India can, through these multilateral platforms-the UN, WTO, and IMF-can plead for reforms to make these more inclusive and efficient. Together with minilateral partners such as Brazil and South Africa in forums such as IBSA, these reforms can create momentum.
India should reinvigorate and bolster SAARC and BIMSTEC and use minilateralism to solve specific regional problems. Aligning the Quad’s maritime initiatives with BIMSTEC’s blue economy projects will help ensure wider regional cooperation.
India can create a structured hybrid approach where minilateralism complements multilateralism. The strategy of enlarging the ISA by inducting more countries from the Global South while using smaller coalitions like the Quad to expedite technology transfers illustrates this strategy.
India should continue to take leadership of the Global South in multilateral forums while making strategic minilateral initiatives. Making the Voice of the Global South Summit an annual multilateral platform can further solidify its leadership profile.
Aligning minilateral initiatives with broader multilateral goals, such as those of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, can help ensure cohesive global cooperation. The example would be integrating Quad technology-sharing initiatives with UNDP programs in order to achieve SDG 9.
India should leverage its minilateral economic partnerships to influence multilateral trade policies. Integration of the India-UAE-Israel trilateral trade initiatives into larger trade blocs, such as the AfCFTA, can amplify India’s economic and multilateral influence.
India can bridge the gap between minilateral and multilateral initiatives through its leadership in regional connectivity projects. Expanding the India-Bangladesh-Nepal cross-border energy trade initiative to the BIMSTEC countries may align with broader multilateral energy cooperation.
India could support plurilateral agreements as an intermediate step between minilateralism and multilateralism. A case in point is pushing for a plurilateral agreement on global vaccine manufacturing standards, building on its Quad Vaccine Initiative.
India can use its leadership in minilateral digital partnerships to push for global digital governance norms through the UN and WTO. Connecting the India-EU Connectivity Partnership to multilateral frameworks such as the Digital Public Goods Alliance will promote scalable digital governance solutions.
| Political: Minilateralism is reshaping global diplomacy, offering a more agile, focused approach to address specific issues. For India, this means leveraging strategic alliances while balancing its non-alignment policy. Domestic concerns may arise if these alliances clash with traditional foreign policy, causing political friction. Economic: Minilateralism presents economic opportunities by facilitating focused trade agreements, supply chain resilience, and investment partnerships. However, India’s involvement in multiple minilateral forums may stretch its resources and capabilities, potentially leading to economic fragmentation and a reduced influence in broader global economic discussions. Social: Minilateralism fosters targeted cooperation, such as India’s leadership in the International Solar Alliance for climate sustainability. However, it could face social resistance, particularly if such alliances create perceived risks to national sovereignty or if they sideline broader social issues affecting citizens. Technological: Minilateral frameworks enable rapid technological collaboration in sectors like cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and clean energy. India’s partnerships with the U.S. and Japan in semiconductor manufacturing highlight this potential, but disparities in technological capacities among nations may limit the reach and inclusivity of these innovations. Environmental: Minilateralism allows for more targeted, regional environmental initiatives, such as clean energy projects like the International Solar Alliance. While this approach may drive focused change, broader environmental issues, such as biodiversity loss, could be neglected due to the narrow scope of minilateral engagements. Legal: Minilateralism enables quicker decisions on specific issues but may bypass larger multilateral institutions like the UN or WTO. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of these actions, as decisions made by small groups may lack inclusivity and fail to address global legal frameworks or human rights concerns. |
Minilateralism is reframing global governance as it gives agile solutions to regional problems through targeted partnerships. India is leading this change with enhanced global relevance and strategic interest with frameworks such as the Quad, but the limitations of these coalitions often make it hard to achieve broader global agendas. India should, therefore, balance this by advocating reforms in multilateral institutions, embracing the hybrid diplomacy model, and harmonizing minilateral agendas with broader global goals, which will ensure both regional and global cooperation.
| UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)MainsQ. In the current global order, multilateralism is being increasingly replaced by minilateralism in certain regions. Discuss the factors driving this shift and analyze the role of India in shaping the new dynamics of global governance. (UPSC Mains 2022, GS Paper II) Q. The shift from multilateralism to minilateralism is evident in several contemporary global initiatives. Evaluate the key drivers of this shift, with particular emphasis on frameworks such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), AUKUS, and the India-Australia-Japan Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. How do these minilateral partnerships contribute to regional security and economic resilience? |
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