As recently as 2020, the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) (Hanns W. Maull) associated multilateralism with China and Putin. However, since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, it has become undeniably clear that Putin is far removed from a policy of mutual respect. This suggests that the concept of a multilateralist foreign policy has failed spectacularly, or at least is in deep crisis – the starting point for the Frankfurt-based group of authors led by Gunter Hellmann to critically examine the concept of multilateralism for its sustainability prospects (2022).


As appropriate and commendable as this continuation of the multilateralism concept may seem in light of global challenges, it is, in my view, insufficient as a foreign policy perspective; for the chances of reaching an understanding are always measured by the respective level of civility: If an aggressive actor operates according to the logic of power, then opportunities for understanding only arise if this actor is met with sufficient counter-power. Otherwise, attempts at dialogue become a farce, indeed, they reinforce the actor's aggression – an insight that can be understood in foreign policy terms as a continuation of Helga Haftendorn's guiding principle of security and détente.

In light of this, a realistic multilateralism leads to the conclusion that good foreign policy operates with an awareness of the dominant logics of action and levels of civility in each case. It is precisely through this awareness that it can pursue multilateralist goals creatively and effectively.

Volker Prittwitz/Berlin