Multilateralism at War: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, the G20 and World Order

This research examines the implications of war and diplomatic events for multilateralism in two spheres–governance and security. The focus is on the dynamics within the G20 since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The conceptual frame of analysis presumes that states’ practices and relations are constitutively shaped by discourses visible through the lens of governmentality and the critical security perspective. To highlight the impacts of the war in Ukraine on the G20, three countries were studied: Indonesia, Russia, and Ukraine. The authors argue firstly, that Indonesia's G20 presidency was characterised by governmentality, and secondly, that Russia framed the conflict within the broader geopolitical struggle against the West. Finally, Ukraine used hybrid approaches to embolden collective action to cope with the Russian aggression.