Ideas of India 2026: Is Multilateralism Over? Shashi Tharoor on a Fractured World

At Ideas of India 2026, Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor delivered a sharp assessment of the shifting global order in a session titled “The End of Multilateralism? Negotiating a New World.” Reacting to escalating tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tharoor warned that while a “world war” may be dramatic terminology, the erosion of global rules is undeniable. He argued that international law has increasingly become a “polite fiction,” with powerful nations acting unilaterally when it suits their interests. From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to American interventions abroad, Tharoor said the world is witnessing a drift toward “the law of the jungle.” However, he cautioned against writing off the United Nations entirely, emphasizing that despite Security Council paralysis, the UN remains indispensable as a global convening platform. On India’s foreign policy, Tharoor endorsed a balanced, multi-aligned approach — maintaining dialogue with Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Arab nations, and the West simultaneously. He described this as India’s strength in a fragmented world order. The session underscored a stark reality: multilateralism may be weakened, but diplomacy, strategic autonomy, and dialogue remain India’s best tools in an increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape.

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