Abstract
Despite multilateralism being one of the key concepts in IR, there is no consensus on what it really is. No conceptualization attempts have yet dealt with perception.
Cultural, historical differences may well defy any common understanding of the term and thus hinder any possible practice. This article shall lay out different views and perceptions of multilateralism.
First, conceptualization will be introduced. Then the term will be subject to theoretical debate by individualistic and constructivist approaches, clearly dividing the term along "means" and "ends" axis.
Outcomes will be confronted with discourse practices in the US and the EU, which reveal not only different understandings of the term, but also connection between theories and practice when dealing with the term.