Digital Multilateralism in Practice: Extending Critical Policy Ethnography to Digital Negotiation Sites

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the use of online tools in conduct multilateral environmental negotiations. Although scholars have recognized that information and communication technologies gradually been reshaping traditional diplomatic practice, such are not considered to be transformative practice itself. However, owing states had rush into unprecedented unpredictable forms digital cooperation poorly understood. To illuminate this uncharted area, our research applies combined critical policy ethnography two dialogues within framework ongoing negotiations under United Nations Convention on Law Sea toward a new treaty for protection sustainable marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Digital conducted at sites enables us study political effects emerging international practices. We re-interpret diplomacy terms “communities practice” developing across, connecting physical sites. Virtual communications amongst state non-state actors mirror whilst introducing practices may change conventional treaty-making. propose term multilateralism capture these conclude it can effects: deepen background knowledge form community create inequalities.