Multilateral
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Regional
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Intergovernmental
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Bilateral
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Unilateral
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Many countries from various regions working in concert on a specific issue or issues. |
Selected group of regional countries working in concert on a specific issue or issues. |
Selected group of like-minded countries working in concert on a specific issue or issues. |
Two counties working in concert on a common issue or issues. |
A single country trying to make one-sided decisions without consulting or involving the other stakeholders. |
All the respective players have a say. [Even small and weak players get to participate in decision making] [E.g. WTO Doha Round of Negotiations 2008 were a failure because of India] |
Regional groups constitute a unique set of players working towards a common cause.
Powerful countries steer the decision making process.
Weak countries simply fall in line or exit. [U.S.A steers the decision making in TPP. Vietnam simply falls in line] |
Intergovernmental groups constitute a unique set of players working towards a common cause. [They are mostly like-minded] |
Both the players have equal rights. |
One-sided action. Such action may be in disregard for other parties (stakeholders). |
Decisions are made mostly by majority vote. |
Decisions are made mostly by consensus. |
Decisions are made by consensus. |
Decisions are made by consensus. |
Decisions are one sided |
WTO, UN etc. |
TPP, RCEP, Bricks Bank, AIIB etc. |
Warsaw Pact, NATO etc. |
Indo-Pak, Indo-China etc. |
UK [Colonialism]
U.S.A [Neo-imperialism]
China: South China Sea dispute [Neo-imperialism]. |
E.g. WTO working towards a globalized world economy. |
E.g. TPP working towards a trade block involving Pacific Rim Countries. |
E.g. All NATO countries have a common security threat – Russia. |
E.g. Indo-Pak Ceasefire Agreement. |
E.g. 1) U.S.A waging oil wars in Middle East. 2) China building artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea region amidst opposition from the rest of the world. |
Multilateralism encourages members
to bury differences for greater good. |
Kills multilateralism.
Power blocks strive for undue advantage. |
Everything depends on the objectives of the group. |
Positive outcome = good for both, negative outcome = bad for both. |
High levels of damage for the countries on the receiving end.
[E.g. 1) Pre-Independent India in the hands of UK. 2) Afghanistan, Iraq etc. in the hands of USA. 3) South East Asian countries in the hands of China] |