Towards a New Multilateralism: Cultural Divergence and Political Convergence?(Globalisation, Europe, and Multilateralism)

This edited book focuses on the dynamic balance between global cultural diversity and multilateral convergence in relevant policy areas that involve actual and potential policy convergences (and divergences): the environment, trade, peace and security, and human rights. It offers theoretical reflections about the impact of the concept of multiple modernities on new ideas, cultural backgrounds, and/or national or regional particularities. An interdisciplinary team of authors combines comparative policy analysis with theoretical dialogue about the conceptual, institutional, normative, and political dimensions of a new kind of multilateral cooperation. Finally, the book concludes that by stimulating an intercultural dialogue which goes beyond a mere "rational choice" approach, we can foster progress through a better understanding of the opportunities and limitations offered by a pluralist, varied, post-hegemonic, and multilayered form of multilateral cooperation. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European/EU studies, economics, human rights, climate change, history, cultural studies, international relations, international political economy, security studies, and international law.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART 1: Environmental Policy, Climate Change, and Ecological Civilization 1. Meeting sustainable development goals through a paradigm shift in the world pattern 2. China’s global ecological civilization and multilateral environmental governance 3. Chinese power sector regulation: Key lessons for developing nations Part 2: Trade Wars, Economic Cooperation, and Social Justice 4. The crisis of international trade, and its cultural and political implications: Is the EU's approach contributing to a renewal of multilateralism? 5. EU-China economic and trade relations in the hard times of the world economy 6. Towards a comprehensive approach to trade and social justice Part 3: Which Global Governance and Multilateral Peacekeeping? 7. Multilateralism in crisis: A European perspective 8. Human security, climate change, and migration: A European perspective PART 4: Universalism vs. Relativism in Protecting Human Rights 9. Multiple modernities and universal human rights 10. Human rights and a "garden" of human community in the post-globalization era 11. The crisis of multilateralism and the future of human rights PART 5: Towards a New Multilateralism: Deepening the Conceptional Dimension 12. Multilateralism via inter-practicality: Institutions and relations

About the Author :
Thomas Meyer is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany, and Editor in Chief of the monthly political magazine Neue Gesellschaft/Frankfurter Hefte. José Luís de Sales Marques is President of the Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM), Macau. Mario Telò is Jean Monnet Chair of International Relations at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and Rome’s LUISS, and a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, Brussels.

Review :
"Multilateral co-operation is in peril, yet as the Covid-19 emergency has demonstrated it is needed more than ever. This book, drawing on the expertise and perspectives of scholars from many different countries and cultures, notably from China, East-Asia, Europe and the Americas, explores the current threat to multilateral institutions from the rise of nationalism and the re-emergence of great power politics, and sets out the practical reforms and changes in discourse which are needed to renew the multilateral ideal. It makes a valuable contribution to a crucial debate." Andrew Gamble, University of Sheffield and University of Cambridge, UK "Multilateralism is under threat: this timely and balanced volume considers how obstacles to its renewal can be overcome, and new regimes of collaboration born to reflect fast-changing international realities." Louise Fawcett, University of Oxford, UK