Beyond Liberalism: Hollow Multilateralism and the Strategic Erosion of International Norms by Autocratic States

Flonk & Debre (2025) introduce the idea of “hollow multilateralism,” where autocratic regimes use liberal language and procedures to hollow out international norms. This project theorizes and empirically traces how autocracies strategically promote procedural multilateralism (e.g., one-country-one-vote) while simultaneously eroding substantive liberal norms (human rights, civil society inclusion). Using case studies in internet governance and beyond, the research would analyze speeches, voting patterns, and rule changes to reveal how hollow multilateralism operates and spreads. This challenges the core assumption that multilateralism is inherently liberal or norm-enhancing, offering a critical corrective to prevailing theories of IO legitimacy and norm diffusion.

References:

1. Hollow multilateralism: how autocracies contest the norms and procedures of international organizations. Daniëlle Flonk, M. Debre (2025). International Affairs.