Multilateralism is not dead yet

Ukraine but also in the rising number of civil wars (in Sudan and Ethiopia, to name only two) and cross-border conflicts elsewhere. So, from the perspective of the end of 2025, it looks as if this decade will be remembered for a global pandemic, the first war waged by a great power in Europe since WWII, Middle East carnage, a deepening climate crisis, and disorder.But recall that in 1941—when the rise of fascism had plunged the world into even more widespread war and despair—something unexpected happened.

America and Britain set out the principles that would guide a new postwar world order. More than two dozen other countries soon pledged support for the Atlantic Charter, which established the framework for the birth of the United Nations, the creation of the Bretton Woods institutions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Marshall Plan.

Could something similar happen now?In a fractured world, it is no surprise that electorates are growing more concerned about their day-to-day survival and security. But what is striking is that, despite this turn, they also understand that broader international dynamics are increasingly impinging on their lives.

They are far more aware than ever of the connection between what is happening in their local communities and what is happening globally, and a majority believe that, under the right conditions, helping others is a reliable way to help oneself.These and other insights can be found in a recent Focaldata survey, that polled around 36,000 adults across 34 countries. Of course, given the daily headlines since January, particularly the ongoing coverage of trade wars, it is understandable that two-thirds of respondents recognize how their lives are being affected by