Model United Nations
Model United Nations, also known as Model UN, is an academic activity consisting of an educational simulation of the United Nations. Participating students represent a country, organization, or self to analyze and check diplomatic and international relations. During a conference, participants work together to make decisions on global issues.
MUN delegates may engage in research, public speaking, debating, arguing, and writing during preparation for meetings. While MUN is offered as a recreational extracurricular activity, some schools include it in their class curricula. Organizers often state that the objectives of model UN includes building awareness of global issues and encouraging civic participation.
Student delegates prepare for conferences by conducting research, drafting position papers, and developing policy proposals. The documents are then discussed and amended during sessions, then lead to the creation of written policies, often called "resolution papers," which are voted on. Depending on the conference, awards can sometimes be given based on committee performance criteria.
Participation in MUN can vary from level to level, with conferences organized for each age group. Students attend the conferences as part of a delegation from their school or university, but some participate independently.
History
Model United Nations began as a series of League of Nations simulations. The first simulation was held at the University of Oxford in November 1921.In 1922, Mir Mahmood, the president of the Oxford International Assembly, visited Harvard University and inspired the establishment of the first American International Assembly on January 10, 1923. The Harvard event included fifteen nations and debated issues such as the status of the island of Rhodes and the international opium trade.
Following World War II and the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the simulation of the United Nations replaced the simulation of the League of Nations. The first recorded conference named "model United Nations" took place at Swarthmore College on April 5, 1947. At the event, more than 150 students from 41 colleges simulated a UN General Assembly, discussing topics like atomic-energy control, disarmament, refugee citizenship, and the reconstruction of devastated areas.
Another early MUN event was held at St. Lawrence University from February 11 to 13, 1949, organized by Dr. Harry Reiff and Otto L. George. Delegates represented regional colleges, including Adelphi University, Alfred University, Champlain College, Clarkson University, McGill University, Middlebury College, Potsdam College, Saint Michael's College, and the University of Vermont. The conference continued annually for years, and has since been revived on campus.
Three of the oldest active conferences in the world were established in the early 1950s. They are the Berkeley Model United Nations at Berkeley, the Harvard Model United Nations at Harvard, and model United Nations of the Far West, which has held college-level conferences since 1951. The first was held at Stanford University, where diplomat Ralph Bunche spoke.
Academic aspects
One of the main objectives of participating in model UN is to develop skills in negotiation, speaking, and communication. Material issues of diplomacy and policy are approached through a quasi-academic process. Crisis committees involve rapid response to evolving crisis scenarios, which require participants to make quick decisions. In preparation for a conference, topics are chosen for each committee. Typically, research and background guides are made available by the organizers of a conference. Based on these guides, delegates of each committee are often expected to research and formulate a position for the country or group they represent and submit a position paper. Position papers outline each delegate’s stance on the topic and summarize relevant research.Procedures
Model UN committees often use parliamentary procedures derived from Robert's Rules of Order. In addition, the United Nations has contributed to the development of model UN rules of procedure that are more influenced by those used by the actual UN. Since there is no governing body for model UN, each conference differs in their rules of procedure; conferences affiliated with the same format often use similar procedures.The following rules of procedure apply to general MUNs, but may not apply to every MUN:
Points and motions
Points and motions outline how topics are prioritized, how resolutions are voted on, and how the general flow of debate is facilitated. Points are used to discuss topics that are outside of substantive debate. They are more personal and do not require a vote. There are several types of points, including a point of information, which is a question asked of a speaker after their speech; a point of order; a point of parliamentary inquiry; and a point of personal privilege.Motions are used to discuss procedural matters, and they help to further the discussion on a committee topic. A delegate may request the committee as a whole to perform a particular action, such as moving to a voting procedure. If a motion is objected to, it may not be entertained at the discretion of the chair. Most motions will require a vote in order to pass; the number of votes required to pass these motions works according to a Quorum – this is the minimum number of delegates required to make decisions in a committee. The motions used at any given time in a model UN committee change, according to where the committee is in the flow of debate.
Flow of debate
Most MUN committees follow a structured flow of debate, typically starting with a speakers list, followed by formal or informal debate, and concluding with voting procedures. A dais will maintain a list of speakers, and the delegates follow the order written on the 'speaker list'. Delegates may be added to the speaker list by raising their placards or sending a note to the chair. During this time, delegates talk to the entire committee. They make speeches, answer questions, and debate on resolutions and amendments. If there are no other motions, the committee goes back to the speaker list by default.Formal/informal debate can include both moderated and unmoderated caucuses. A caucus is an opportunity to discuss policy ideas. A moderated caucus is more formal and is run by the committee chair; an unmoderated caucus is a time when delegates move around the room and hold a more informal discussion on the topic. In both moderated and unmoderated caucuses, the committee enters a recess and suspends its formal rules of procedure. During a moderated caucus, delegates may speak once recognized by the chair, and speeches are typically limited to a shorter duration. Entering a moderated caucus requires a motion followed by a vote. In contrast, an unmoderated caucus allows delegates to engage in informal discussions with other delegates and staff without needing recognition from the chair.
Resolutions
A resolution is a legal document that expresses the general opinion of the committee. Once passed, it outlines the actions that the committee recommends.Resolutions are the written compilation of the ideas discussed during debate. They are considered the final results of conversations, writings, and negotiations. Resolutions must go through a draft, approval by the dais, and consequent debate and modification.
MUN Resolutions are composed of both preambulatory and operative clauses. Preambulatory clauses outline the problems addressed by the resolution, and are typically not debated, while operative clauses propose solutions and present them in a structured and organized manner.
Conference management
MUN societies and conferences are run by a group of administrators known as the secretariat. A secretariat is headed by a Secretary-General. Other members of the secretariat could include the Director-General, Under-Secretaries-General and President of General Assembly.Committee dais
Each committee usually has a dais that is composed of a chair, one or more vice-chairs and a team of note-passers.In crisis committees, there can also be a crisis staff composed of a crisis director, assistant director, and crisis staffers. These members are responsible for facilitating the back-room portion of a committee.