Prologue: Enter Ms. X

During the Cold War, George Kennan of the "father of containment" fame, produced a sound effect on the world of international relations. He penned the Mr. X article, and the Cold War took a new turn. His comprehensive analysis of the Soviet threat and how to deter it became the foundation of American leaders' ability to ensure the country's security in the global arena.

The power of his words, when interpreted by Cold War U.S. government officials, ultimately changed our history. Kennan did more than just define the enemy, but he allegedly exposed, rather accurately, the enemy's intentions and methods. Several decades later, the birth of the Mr. X article is still considered a significant Cold War milestone. Kennan was the boy who cried containment, but what ensued was tragically infamous U.S.-Soviet arms race.

George Kennan was but a single man with an instrument we are all equipped with -- our words. His story is proof that the power of words are enough to shape the course of history.

The globalized world is the current palette of history, and the gift of technology has made it much easier for anyone to disseminate their words to any and all who which to read. It's about time that we consider the current layout of the international community: growing interdependence, as a result of globalization, is forcing countries to cooperate on a multilateral level.

It's about time this layout is explored.

Welcome to Multilateralism Matters. May it become to you a valuable resource on news relating to multilateral issues in the international community.