Global cooperation is increasingly taking place within smaller groups of aligned countries rather than through broad multilateral institutions, according to a new report the World Economic Forum, which warns that traditional international mechanisms are struggling to keep pace with a growing number of crises.
The latest Global Cooperation Barometer finds that while the world’s formal multilateral system is slowing, cooperation itself has not collapsed. Instead, it is being reshaped. Collaboration across trade, capital flows, technology, climate, health and security is continuing at a relatively steady level, but it is happening more often among clusters of like minded partners rather than through large, inclusive frameworks.
The report highlights a widening gap between the scale of global challenges and the capacity of existing institutions to respond collectively. Conflicts, geopolitical rivalry and declining trust have made consensus driven action harder to achieve, particularly within United Nations centred processes. As a result, formal multilateral initiatives are increasingly being overtaken events on the ground.
Despite this, the barometer suggests that cooperation is proving more resilient than many observers expected. Instead of relying on universal agreements, countries are forming narrower coalitions to advance shared goals. These alliances may be regional, ideological or interest based, allowing faster decision making and implementation, but often at the cost of broader legitimacy.
The World Economic Forum notes that this shift is visible across multiple domains. In trade and technology, countries are prioritising trusted supply chains and bilateral or plurilateral agreements. In climate action, smaller groups of states and private actors are driving progress where global negotiations have stalled. In health and security, coordination is increasingly centred on partnerships rather than universal frameworks.
According to the report, this fragmentation reflects a changing understanding of how cooperation works in a more polarised world. Governments appear more willing to collaborate when partners share similar values, strategic interests or levels of development. While this can produce tangible results, it also risks deepening divides between blocs and leaving less aligned countries on the margins.
The findings suggest that the United Nations and other multilateral institutions are not becoming irrelevant, but their role is changing. Rather than leading decisive action, they are often providing platforms for dialogue while concrete outcomes are driven elsewhere. The report warns that this trend could weaken the ability to address truly global problems that require inclusive solutions.
Analysts contributing to the barometer argue that smaller alliances can be effective in the short term but may struggle to deliver long term stability. Issues such as climate change, pandemics and financial crises ultimately demand coordination beyond narrow groupings. Without mechanisms to bridge these clusters, the risk of duplication, competition and policy gaps increases.
The World Economic Forum stresses that the challenge for global governance is not simply to revive old models, but to adapt to this new reality. It calls for greater flexibility in multilateral institutions, stronger links between formal bodies and informal coalitions, and renewed efforts to rebuild trust across geopolitical divides.
The report concludes that global cooperation is not disappearing, but transforming. The key question is whether this more fragmented form of allyship can be harnessed to address shared risks, or whether it will entrench a world of parallel efforts and competing priorities. As crises continue to multiply, the balance between speed, inclusivity and effectiveness is becoming one of the defining challenges of international cooperation.
