Context: 

• Post World War II order is facing a confluence of forces like, resurgent nationalism, protectionism, minilateralism and resurgence of inter state wars. At this juncture, analysis of Minilateralism becomes important.

Definition:

• Minilateralism involves the formation of small groups of countries that share common interests and are willing to coordinate their actions on specific issues. 
  • Eg: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue(QUAD), AUKUS, I2U2, etc,.

Advantages:

• Emergence as a Pragmatic Alternative: Minilateralism as a response to the perceived ineffectiveness of traditional multilateralism, specifically its slowness and difficulty in addressing pressing issues due to diverse interests and conflicting agendas.
• Focus on Shared Interests: Minilateralism is characterised by the formation of small groups of countries with converging interests on specific issues, like security, trade, or climate change. This allows for more focused discussion and collaboration compared to broader multilateral platforms.
• Flexibility and Agility: The smaller size and shared goals enable minilateral arrangements to be more flexible and adaptable than large, diverse multilateral institutions. Decisions can be reached quicker and tailored to the specific interests of the involved countries.

Is it a replacement for Multilateralism?

• Potential Drawbacks: Competition between groups(minilaterals), fragmentation of the international system, and exclusion of countries outside the arrangements are drawbacks associated with minilateralism.
• Uncertain Future: The overall tone towards minilateralism is cautious, recognizing its potential while raising concerns about its long-term implications for global cooperation and the future of the international order.

Minilateralism is not simply a replacement for multilateralism, but a complementary approach depending on the specific issue and context.