59th Confucius PhD Forum

 IICS Hosts A Public Lecture on “The New Multilateralism” by UCL Professor D’Maris Coffman

On October 16, 2025, the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies (IICS) at UCD hosted a public lecture titled “The New Multilateralism: Multilateral Governance and Regional Development after the SDGs.” The guest speaker was Professor D’Maris D. Coffman, Vice Dean and Professor of Economics and Finance at The Bartlett, University College London. The lecture was delivered in a hybrid format, with over 120 participants attending the event.

Before the lecture, Professor Liming Wang, Director of IICS, delivered a welcome speech and introduced the guest speaker.

Professor Coffman then presented an engaging keynote on the transition from “doctrinal multilateralism” to “functional multilateralism”, explaining how global governance is evolving in response to the pandemic, geopolitical fragmentation, and climate challenges. She argued that future cooperation will depend on resilient, networked, and regionally focused partnerships.

“We need cooperation that is resilient, not uniform; agile, not doctrinal,” said Professor Coffman.

Professor Coffman illustrated her points with regional case studies from Africa, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the importance of partnerships between governments, markets, and knowledge institutions. She emphasized that universities play a crucial role as “connective tissue”, i.e. convenors, translators, and facilitators of interdisciplinary cooperation.

The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which faculty and students discussed the implications of the “new multilateralism” for global education and research collaboration. The event provided valuable insights into current trends in global governance and offered participants an opportunity for academic exchange.

After the lecture, Professor Liming Wang and Professor Shi Zheng, Chinese Co-Director of the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, jointly presented a certificate and a gift to Professor Coffman in appreciation of her contribution.