On Wednesday 20 May at 9.00am, the House of Lords International
Relations and Defence Committee will hold the first public
evidence session of its new inquiry into the future of the multilateral
system and the UK's role in it
This first session will consider the high-level trends and
challenges faced by multilateral institutions and can be watched
live or on demand at Parliament
TV or in person in Committee Room 2, Palace
of Westminster.
Giving evidence will be:
-
Professor Indrajit Roy, Professor of Politics
and International Relations, University of York;
-
Dr Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO, New America and
Professor Emerita, Princeton University; and
-
Professor Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik
School of Government, University of Oxford.
Questions will include:
- In recent years, a consensus has emerged that the
multilateral system—and more specifically international
organisations—are in crisis. Do you agree with this
characterisation? And, if so, what do you see as the main causes?
- In your view, how important is it that the challenges to the
multilateralism system are addressed, and which require the most
urgent attention?
- The US has been the steward of the post-war multilateral
system. In our last inquiry, we heard compelling evidence that we
can no longer trust that the US will continue to play this role.
What would a multilateral system look like without US leadership,
and how effective could it be?
- China is playing a growing role in international
organisations, whether through pressing its influence at the UN
or WTO, or by establishing new organisations such as the Asia
Infrastructure Investment Bank. What is China's vision for the
multilateral order? And can it/will it assume the leadership
mantle if the US continues to step back?
- What advice would you offer the UK Government regarding the
UK's role and priorities within the multilateral system over the
next few years?
