User: a) Read the following passage and decide what sets of words an expert will choose to describe multilateralism.

b) Watch the video to check your answers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v3A5CJ7gdM

Multilateralism is basically cooperation amongst three or more countries. It basically 1) entails / involves getting together and trying 2) to make mutual decisions / to find cooperative solutions to common problems. So a few examples would be climate change which 3) by definition / by nature does not 4) respect national boundaries / isn't limited to one country. But we also have 5) issues of / questions of global epidemics which can spread from one country to another with the ease of somebody getting on an airplane. In addition, 6) there is a possible danger of / we have the looming threat of cyber insecurity. How do we keep an open global Internet and at the same time protect ourselves from attacks from other countries?

Traditionally, when people talked about multilateral cooperation they talked

about universal 7) membership organizations / institutions you were a member of such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank. But in addition to these 8) standing treaty-based bodies / existing associations made on the basis of an agreement, the United States and other countries are increasingly relying on 9) a wider choice of/a broader variety of multilateral institutions.

And a good example of this is the group of 20 or the G20 10) composed of / consisting of approximately the world's 20 11) biggest economies / largest countries. And what the G20 symbolizes more than anything else is that we live in a new world where things can't be simply arranged in a cozy boardroom of Western countries.

We really need to expand the table and bring in some of the new actors that are 12) changing / transforming the world and where much of the world's economic dynamism 13) is actually occurring/happening. 14) One of the major challenges / important tasks of the 21st century is trying to update current multilateral institutions 15) to the rise of emerging nations / advancement of developing countries, in particular the so-called BRIC nations: Brazil, Russia, India and China.

There are countries that are attempting 16) to assert themselves / earn the respect in the world and they want 17) a place at the high table of global politics / to participate in conferences on problems facing the world alongside the most powerful countries.

18) From the perspective of the established powers/from the point of view of

the leading countries they're not always on the same page 19) with regard to/in

terms of their priorities or necessarily their values. That makes cooperation a lot more

difficult because multilateral cooperation 20) inherently / naturally requires a certain

amount of compromise and a certain amount of sacrifice of freedom of action

externally and also sometimes some sacrifice to 21) domestic/ home policy

autonomy because 22) you're signing up for / agree to things like how to treat your

industries that actually have some bite domestically.
Assistant: Sure! Here’s a friendly summary of the key points regarding multilateralism based on the passage you provided:

a) An expert might describe multilateralism using the following sets of words:

1) **Entails / Involves**: Multilateralism is about cooperation and collaboration.
2) **To find cooperative solutions / To make mutual decisions**: It focuses on working together to address shared challenges.
3) **By nature / By definition**: It recognizes that some issues are inherently global.
4) **Respect national boundaries / Isn’t limited to one country**: It acknowledges that certain problems cross borders.
5) **Issues of / Questions of**: It deals with global challenges like epidemics.
6) **There is a possible danger of / We have the looming threat of**: It highlights risks like cyber insecurity.
7) **Membership organizations / Institutions**: Traditional multilateralism often involves established organizations like the UN.
8) **Standing treaty-based bodies / Existing associations made on the basis of an agreement**: These are formal agreements that facilitate cooperation.
9) **A wider choice of / A broader variety of**: There’s an increasing diversity in the types of multilateral institutions.
10) **Composed of / Consisting of**: Refers to the makeup of groups like the G20.
11) **Biggest economies / Largest countries**: Focuses on the economic powerhouses involved.
12) **Changing / Transforming**: Acknowledges the evolving nature of global dynamics.
13) **Is actually occurring / Happening**: Emphasizes where significant global changes are taking place.
14) **One of the major challenges / Important tasks**: Identifies the need to adapt to new global realities.
15) **To the rise of emerging nations / Advancement of developing countries**: Recognizes the growing influence of countries like Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
16) **To assert themselves / Earn the respect in the world**: Highlights the ambitions of these nations.
17) **A place at the high table of global politics / To participate in conferences on problems facing the world**: Refers to their desire for inclusion in global decision-making.
18) **From the perspective of the established powers / From the point of view of the leading countries**: Acknowledges differing viewpoints among nations.
19) **With regard to / In terms of**: Discusses the challenges of aligning priorities.
20) **Inherently /
User: Task 5. Fill in the Blanks. Use the words:
policy autonomy, multilateral institutions, national boundaries, emerging nations, consideration, cooperative
solutions, established powers, multilateralism, challenges, looming threat, compromise, decision-making
John: Hey James, do you have a minute?
James: Sure, what's up John?
John: I've been thinking about how the world is facing so many
(1) these days. It seems like every
week there's a new issue of global epidemic or another natural disaster. We really need to find
(2) to
common problems.
James: You're right. And a lot of these issues require action on a global scale. That's where _
(3) comes
in - organizations that involve universal membership and standing treaty-based bodies.
John: Yeah, but with the rise of
(4), it's become more difficult for established powers to maintain
control over international
(5) processes. The world's 20 biggest economies now include countries that
weren't even considered players before.
James: Absolutely. And from the perspective of the
_ (6), this can be quite threatening. They may see
it as encroaching on their territory and requiring a certain amount of
(7).
John: Right. But instead of trying to maintain their dominance, maybe they should consider updating current
(8) to better represent the changing global landscape. After all, we are living in a rapidly evolving
world
James: Good point. But at the same time, we also have to respect
That's something that often gets forgotten in discussions about multilateralism.
(9) and individual sovereignty.
John: That's true. And let's not forget the
need cooperation between nations.
_ (10) of cyber insecurity. That's one area where we definitely
James: Yes, and it's also important to balance the needs and priorities of smaller countries within the larger
multilateral framework. Not everything can revolve around the interests of the world's most powerful nations.
John: Of course. And domestic
global cooperation.
_(11) must also be taken into consideration when discussing any kind of
James: Definitely. It's a major challenge, but I believe multilateralism is still the best way forward
John: Agreed. We just need to make sure it's done effectively and with
(12) for all nations
involved
Assistant: