On 22 September 2025, the NAVIGATOR project convened its second Regional Policy Workshop at the University of Ottawa – and online – to discuss which parts of today’s multilateral order can and should be rebuilt, reformed, or protected in the face of intensifying global challenges.
Organized by NAVIGATOR’s Professor Roland Paris, the full-day event brought together academics, policymakers, and experts from across Europe and North America to debate how to sustain cooperation in a fragmenting world.
The discussions centred on the future of the multilateral system, trade, tax and finance, and climate governance, with participants exploring which elements of global cooperation remain vital and how they can adapt to changing geopolitical dynamics.
Discussions included:
- Opening remarks: “Multilateralism in a Fracturing World” by Senator Peter Boehm, Senate of Canada
- Panel 1: “What is the Future of the Multilateral System – and What Can Be Done?” with Ole Jacob Sending (NUPI), Stéphanie Martel (Queen’s University), and Anthony Dworkin (ECFR) – chaired by Alexandra Gheciu (University of Ottawa)
- Panel 2: “Saving the Furniture: Global Governance of Trade, Tax and Finance” with Leonard Seabrooke (Copenhagen Business School), Jonathan Fried (Canadian National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation), and Patrick Leblond (GSPIA) – chaired by Meredith Lilly (Carleton University)
- Panel 3: “Saving the Furniture: Climate Governance” with Daniel Muth (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), Ryan Katz-Rosene (University of Ottawa), and Jessica Green (University of Toronto) –chaired by Michael Manulak (Carleton University)
- Plenary discussion: “Which Elements of the Multilateral System Must Be Maintained – and How?” chaired by Roland Paris (Chatam House)
Cooperation in an Age of Rivalry
The workshop opened with a strong message: the rules-based international order is eroding before our eyes. Yet, the multilateral system has never been static. From the Congress of Vienna (1815) and the birth of modern diplomacy to the WTO that followed World War II, global cooperation has continually adapted to new realities. Today, that evolution feels closer to unravelling. As the United States turns inward, questioning the value of institutions it once built, the international ordered is being challenged.
New alliances such as the G7, G20, APEC, and BRICS coexist with weakened traditional bodies like the UN, WTO, OSCE, and ICC. Multilateralism now faces “internal fatigue”. Against this backdrop, governments must decide what to preserve, what to reform, and what to let go. Canada’s “functional principle,” which allows middle powers to contribute alongside great powers, offers one possible path… If adapted to current realities.
What Future for the Multilateral System
The panel discussed how the multilateral system can adapt within shifting power dynamics. Ole Jacob Sending underlined that support for the UN should focus on functions only the UN can perform, distinguishing between the universal legitimacy of the UNGA and the binding but contested authority of the UNSC. Stephanie Martel highlighted the need to go beyond simplistic “like-minded vs authoritarian” narratives, advocating for agile coalitions. Anthony Dworkin concluded that while the system is fragmented, this creates space for middle powers to mediate and form flexible partnerships. Across the discussion, participants all agreed on the importance of preserving legitimacy and fostering pragmatic coalitions.
Global Governance of Trade, Tax, and Finance
The panel discussed global trade, taxes, and finance in light of increased protectionism and shifting global order. Len Seabrooke highlighted intractable issues regarding taxes, corporate sovereignty, and information asymmetries. International efforts have since been made to implement the global minimum tax, but tensions with tax havens and large tech companies remain. Furthermore, Jonathan Fried has emphasized the fragmentation in trade, digital regulations and the rise of minilateral and issue-specific coalitions, making diversified partnerships a priority. In Patrick Leblond’s words, middle powers would need to be realistic in building alternative coalitions and interoperable frameworks to sidestep the US when needed, and in setting standards around sustainability, accounting, and digital trade. The need to balance short-term resilience with flexible coalitions and maintaining global economic governance institutions as part of trade and financial multilateralism was also highlighted in the conversation.
Global Climate Governance
This panel discussed how to shape the future of global climate governance in a context of diverging warming projections and growing tension between climate action and the political power of fossil fuel interests. Jessica Green argued that climate policy needs to be rooted in material realities, by using tax, investment and trade measures to redirect resources away from fossil asset owners and toward stronger domestic green industries. Ryan Katz-Rosene highlighted the importance of maintaining cooperation through climate finance, scientific collaboration and multilateral institutions, while aligning climate goals with current geopolitical realities, especially in the absence of U.S. leadership. Daniel Muth stresses carbon pricing as a unifying but uneven mechanism and mentioned the challenge of narrowing fragmentation while supporting nascent and collaborative partnerships and alliances in the Global South.
What to keep in mind?
Roland Paris and Ole Jacob Sending highlighted that for multilateralism to work, we first need to be clear about what problems we’re trying to solve and why they exist. They emphasized the importance of connecting domestic and international efforts, and of using standards and institutions as practical tools to make progress. Despite limited resources and growing global pressures, they see room for EU and Canada to take initiative and bring fresh ideas to the multilateral system.
