| Sumario: | International Relations scholars assume that multilateralism is a key component of the liberal international order. However, autocracies are increasingly promoting multilateralism in international relations. We argue that this type of multilateralism is hollow and serves two purposes for autocratic regimes. Substantively, it erodes internationally agreed-upon norms of international law by employing liberal language to hollow out established rules from within. Procedurally, it contributes to the exclusion of non-state actors from global governance institutions by advocating for one-country-one-vote principles under the guise of democratizing international relations. We analyse two cases within the field of global internet governance where we expect instances of hollow multilateralism to occur. Based on speeches and statements in the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security and the UN Open-Ended Working Group, we analyse states' understanding and interpretation and discursive use of multilateralism.
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