Global Administrative Law

The concept of “Networked multilateralism” has recently emerged, particularly within the UN framework, as a compelling vision of future global governance, calling for stronger cooperation among the numerous institutions and actors within the fragmented global governance system. This essay develops this concept against the backdrop of conventional theories of fragmentation in International Law scholarship and regime complexity in International Relations scholarship, with a focus on cooperation between IOs as pivotal global governance actors. It identifies three key challenges: the cooperation dilemma facing IOs when confronting multisectoral, cross-border problems; the need for mechanisms that foster proactive inter-IO cooperation; and the necessity of revisiting perceptions of global governance, IOs, and multilateralism. The essay argues that existing theoretical and governance frameworks inadequately address these challenges and proposes a shift towards networked multilateralism. This approach recognizes IOs as independent-yet-interdependent actors within a broader global governance network, rather than as isolated structures governing discrete sectors of international affairs. Effective networked multilateralism, therefore, requires reconceptualization and practical reforms to IOs’ mandates and operations. By expanding traditional notions of multilateralism and emphasizing inter-IO cooperation, this approach seeks to enhance the ability of international law and its institutions to deliver coordinated responses to multisectoral challenges, thus better meeting the complex demands of the 21st century.