Ambassador Antonio Patriota Examines Collaboration in a Multipolar World

Ambassador Antonio Patriota, The Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, delivered an address titled “Shaping a Cooperative Multipolar World Order for the 21st Century" and led a discussion with experts, students, fellows, and members of the public on the topic of the current multipolar world order. Ambassador Patriota examined key issues concerning the shaping of world order through history, Brazilian foreign policy, and international efforts to respond to the current multipolarity.

Ambassador Patriota reflected first on the two anniversaries of the Vienna Congress in 1814 and the outbreak of WWI in 1914. Describing the history of world order, he declared that "the concept of a universal world order is neither a given nor is there, up-front, an agreed basis on which to work," and that "the idea of a world order has been a recent one," citing key moments such as the Westphalian Treaty, the Congress of Vienna, and the UN Charter as notable milestones. He referred to Henry Kissinger's new book, New World Order, outlining how a world order is sustained by "a set of commonly respected rules that define limits of permissable action" as well as a "certain balance of power that enforces restraint when rules break down, preventing one political unit from subjecting all others."

"It's the end of the unipolar moment...we're transitioning towards a new form of multipolarity," said Ambassador Patriota, recognizing US military and economic power, the rising power of China, and the European Union as "the number one trading power, internationally." He added to this list by acknowledging the "truly global influence" of the BRICS powers: Brazil, India, China, and South Africa.

In discussing how to improve this multipolar system, Ambassador Patriota argued that the United Nations still represents an important instrument. "For all its faults, the UN represents an extraodinary achievement in world history," declared Ambassador Patriota, referring, in particular, to its contributions to human rights concerns, health issues, and gender equality.

Acknowledging Brazil's contributions to the international stage, Ambassador Patriota reflected on the country's "strong engagement with international community" due to a strong global network of embassies, governmental presence around the world, and contributions to multilateral treaties and bodies such as the Rio+20 Conference.

Ambassador Patriota ended by stating, "rather than spheres of influence I think we need spheres of collaboration." He propounded that the engagement of civil society in foreign policy affairs, including academic institutions and private sector bodies, "seems to be more and more important as we try to build a stable international order."