Multilateralism may be fraying, but I still see it as the most practical framework for handling global crises. When COVID-19 hit, countries with shared mechanisms like COVAX managed to distribute vaccines far faster than those relying solely on bilateral deals. Yet the UN Security Council remains paralyzed on issues like Ukraine, and many developing nations feel sidelined in trade talks. Is it time to accept that great-power competition has permanently weakened the international order, or can reformed institutions still deliver?