🔆 Examine the Reasoning Behind India’s Proposal for ‘New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System (NORMS)’ 📍 Introduction ✅ Multilateralism is key to global governance, promoting cooperation among nations. ✅ India recently proposed NORMS to reform this system. 📍 Background on Multilateral Institutions ✅ Institutions like the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have historically guided global governance. ✅ They influence peace, health, and economic stability worldwide. 📍 Rationale Behind the NORMS Proposal • Lack of Inclusivity and Representation ◦ UN Security Council’s permanent members remain unchanged since 1945, excluding many Global South nations (UN reports). • Misuse of Veto Power ◦ From 1970 to 2021, US, Russia, China, UK, and France used veto over 130 times, blocking key resolutions (Atlantic Council). • Altered Global Order ◦ COVID-19 pandemic saw countries sourcing vaccines beyond traditional suppliers (WHO reports). • Western Dominance ◦ Western nations influence decisions, IMF loans often favor Western economic models (IMF reports). • Procedural Issues ◦ Lack of transparency and accountability in organizations like WHO, criticized for opaque COVID-19 origin probe. • Backlash Against Globalization ◦ Events like Brexit, trade wars, and WTO’s dispute mechanism crisis reveal rising nationalism (WTO). 📍 Need for Reformed Multilateralism ✅ Adaptation to evolving geopolitics is essential for effective collaboration. ✅ Current crises—climate change, food security, economic disparities—are multifaceted. 📍 Conclusion ✅ NORMS aims to create a more representative, effective multilateral system. ✅ Adoption can better address emerging global challenges.