Is Inviting Everyone to the Meeting Holding Back Global Cooperation? | Qahir Dhanani | TED

Overview

Qahir Dhanani explores the importance of international cooperation and the challenges facing multilateralism today. He advocates for a shift towards smaller, focused coalitions to address global issues more effectively, offering examples from history and modern initiatives to illustrate his vision for 21st-century diplomacy.

Notable Quotes

- Our lives are made better when countries collaborate. It is the infrastructure of the modern world, and we can't live without it. - Qahir Dhanani, on the value of international cooperation.

- We cannot settle for the least objectionable outcome. We need the most ambitious, the bold, the transformative outcomes. - Qahir Dhanani, on the need for bold action in diplomacy.

- Let's unleash coalitions of the willing to show what 21st-century multilateralism and cooperation can and should look like. - Qahir Dhanani, advocating for smaller, dynamic groups to tackle global challenges.

🌍 The Power of International Cooperation

- Dhanani highlights how global collaboration has shaped modern life, from standardized passports enabling international travel to the creation of time zones and global telecommunications networks.

- He emphasizes that even during conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, nations continue to negotiate critical issues like internet protocols and digital governance.

- Historical examples, like the International Telegraph Union and the standardization of credit cards, showcase the transformative impact of multilateral agreements.

🤝 The Crisis of Trust in Multilateralism

- Dhanani acknowledges widespread skepticism about international organizations, often seen as bureaucratic and ineffective.

- He attributes this distrust to outdated structures designed for post-World War II geopolitics, which struggle to address contemporary challenges.

- He argues that rebuilding trust requires reevaluating how global collaboration is approached, moving away from business as usual.

💡 Rethinking Global Collaboration: Coalitions of the Willing

- Dhanani proposes forming small, dynamic coalitions of like-minded actors—including countries, civil society, businesses, and academic institutions—to tackle pressing global issues.

- These coalitions act boldly, take risks, and serve as models for broader adoption, avoiding the inefficiencies of negotiating with 193 countries at once.

- Historical examples, such as the standardization of credit cards, illustrate the effectiveness of this approach.

🌳 Modern Success Stories in Focused Collaboration

- The LEAF Coalition, aimed at combating deforestation and protecting biodiversity, exemplifies the power of coalitions.

- Starting with a small group of countries, corporations, and organizations, the coalition created a new market for protecting nature, attracting widespread participation.

- Dhanani sees this as a hopeful model for addressing challenges like AI governance, migration, and food security.

🚀 A Vision for Bold, Transformative Diplomacy

- Dhanani calls for multilateral organizations like the United Nations to embrace coalitions of the willing to drive ambitious solutions.

- He envisions a future where diplomacy prioritizes action and innovation over consensus-driven mediocrity.

- His message is clear: global cooperation must evolve to meet the demands of the 21st century.