Making Multilateralism Effective

Featured Speakers: Mark Malloch Brown

Malloch Brown began his presentation with the comment that “our world is more integrated…but less governed than it’s ever been before. That paradox is at the heart of international problems.” The issue that we run into now with increasing integration is that institutions are less fit do address the problems that arise. We are in need of global capacity and institutions are often not up to the task. While single organizations seem capable of targeting specific problems, when collaborating they appear reluctant to string patterns together and create solutions.

One of the most important inquiries in the effectiveness of multilateral operations has been into limits on sovereignty around the world. Unequivocally, human rights are too important to leave alone a nation’s sovereignty. In the aftermath and current situations of Somalia and Uganda, invasion of Darfur should not be a questionable undertaking. Most recently, the agreement on the international community’s Responsibility to Protect (R2P) should provide necessary justification for it.

In terms of peacekeeping, probably the most important move we can make is to get the United States All member-states have a responsibility to fulfill with their membership. The U.S. plays a large role in U.N. funding and operations, and should mirror those monetary contributions with personnel contributions. As advertised on www.priceofpeace.org, if the U.S. contributed to more peacekeeping operations and fewer unilateral wars, we could save large amounts from our defense budget. back into peacekeeping.

Location and Sponsor: Woodrow Wilson Center
Date: May 7, 2007
Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Approximate Number of Attendees: 50
Intern Attending: Elysa Severinghaus