Becoming A Model Un Delegate 2016 Munplanet Ebookpdf

Becoming a MODEL UN delegate page 2
Structure of the Book

The text is or ganised into an introduct ion, th ree chapter s and a The first section of the eBook covers the questions such as The third section deals with what comes after a MUN conference
conclusion. The chapters are called sections (“Pre-Conference selection of conferences you might wish to attend - star ting from - that is, why every delegate has to reflect on what this or that MUN
Phase”, “Conference Phase”, and “Post-Conference Phase”, your local MUN, to maj or national or internatio nal g athering s of means to him or her. Preparing for your next Model UN can also
essentially representing the chronological and functional stages the MUN community. Attending your first MUN is an interesting be a matter of routine, but in the majority of the cases it is a ver y
of the organising process of a model UN. Guided by good discovery and you will need to be well prepared. Learning how unique and exciting experience. One notes the advancement
practices, experience and insights provided by a selected team to create a strong application for international conference s, do and development of the MUN performance as time goes by. It
of MUN writers and members of the MUNPlanet community, quality research, be good at public speaking and know what to is the delegates that make the Model UNs, and we - together
this eBook aims to provide an accessible collection of practices, expect on the ground is important, and this publication provides - make this specific experience unique. Thinking about what
advice and specific guidelines on how to make the most of the you wi th an i nsight into this pro cess. MUNs are and what they mean to us or the broader society
MUN experience and understand the advantages of this activity contributes to the development of the conference itself, or to us,
that makes for a unique avenue that connects education and The second section leads you to the conference venue and offers in that we are growing conscious of our self-developmen t, which
preparation for international careers. The conclusion reflects on a look inside the committee room filled with practices that range is reflected during a session. We are actors and active subjects
the purpose of the publication and points to some open issues from teamwork, various in-session dynamics, negotiation, lobbying who, in the communit y discussions, part icipate in t he s haping
that may be useful for fur ther community discussions - ranging and the problems and approaches to MUN from the perspective of the vision of MUNs in the future. Thus MUNs are a living
from the trends in MUN-ing to what and how the delegates can of delegates. The question that remains in the end is what one thing whose purpose is spreading the culture of cooperation
build on their MUN experience 5, 10 or 30 conferences later. wants to get from the first couple of MUNs. The perspective we and learning globally.
This is also a way to par ticipate in a co llective ef fort o f imagining set for ourselves and how a conference is shaped largely influence
and constructing the collective meaning of MUNs. what we will g et from our MUN participation in the long term. In
any case, a great learning and social experience is guaranteed.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate page 3
About MUNP lanet

MUNPlanet has been serving its members as The Mod el UN co mmunity has engage d MUNPl anet to dis cuss the nut s, bolts a nd the ad vanced app roach to do ing and o rganising
MUNs over the past t wo years, and we are proud to present you the collection of the best pieces of writing, based o n insights and
an information, social and knowledge platform
practices lived and experienced by MUNers from all parts of the world. Some of them have tailored their texts specifically for this
– a community where the members talk about publication, while the others have taken part in online discussions at various occasions. There are hundreds of questions, articles
how MUNs are done and how they resonate with and discussion threads that cover the aspects of MUNing - conceptual, organisational, social, research-orien ted or geared toward
shedding light on the links between Model UN and early stages of career building. This testifies to the vibrancy of the MUNPlanet
the wider global affairs. Our members answered
community and the fact that its members see the importance of leaving a legacy of their Model UN conferences to the next generation
more than 4,000 questions, provided more than while sim ultaneousl y learni ng about the exper iences of o thers, whi ch on the o ther hand helps them improve thei r own p erfor mance.
6,000 comments, followed over 275,000 topics, This enables the inn ovation of the wor king pro cess and improvement of o rganisati onal knowl edge. It doesn’t mat ter whether you have
attended 20 conferences or are completely new to your local or global MUN circuit - this interactiv e Q and A exchange bene fits both
and engaged in a number of discussions, from
those who are willing to share and those who are willing to learn.
Model UN experiences and international security
to sustainability and career development. MUNPlanet helps MUN delegates and conference organisers exchange information and knowledge that complements the process
of advancing the culture of MUNing globally - going beyond the traditional centres of MUN tradition and spreading the story about
why MU Ns are probabl y the b est hob by for globally-mi nded st udents and those w ho want to develo p their leadership potential.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Table of content page 4
1. INTRODUCTION 2. Pre-Conference 3. Conference phase 4. post-Conference

phase phase
08-09 The Meaning of Model UN 18-20 What MUNs mean? 82-83 How to Become a Better Delegate?
64 On MUNs and what it means to
Better vs. Best Delegate
10 MUNs defined by MUNers 21-28 MUN and the World of International represent a country
Relations 84-87 Becoming a better UN delegate

11 History of MUNs: Globalising the Practice 65 Representing a Country at Model UN
29-31 Why people join MUN? 88-89 Becoming a Model UN Chairperson

12 Why MUNs Are Important Today 66 Model UN Conference Activity
32-33 Special Focus: How to prepare 90-91 A Note on Organizing Model UN

13-15 What Does it Mean to Be a Successful 67-68 The Opening Speech
for your first high-school MUN
MUN Delegate? 69-70 In-Session Dynamics 92-94 Thinking about the Key Value of MUNs
34-40 Basics of the United Nations
16 Conclusion 95-97 Model UN and Careers
71-76 Negotiation and Lobbying
and Model UN
98-99 Conclusion
77-79 MUNs: Learning and/or competition?
41-49 Model UN Research
0 8 Conclusion
50-61 Public Speaking
62 Conclusion
Becoming a MODEL UN delegat e | AUT HORS page 5
Christopher Bergedahl Vid Tomić Rory Mondshein Eduardo Palomino

is pursuing a doctorate in Law at the University of is graduating from MA programme in International graduated from Bard College (United States) with a is concluding his freshman year at the High School
Malta and is concurrently enrolled in Deloitte Malta's Relations at University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). He has B.A. in Political Science & Social Policy in May 2014. of the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores
Pathway Programme. Christopher has a keen been to approximately 20 conferences, maybe even Known as “Rory the Revolutionary” for her leadership y Medios de Monterrey (Mexico). He has been to
interest in cross-border taxation and international more. He is also the co-founder of MUN Slovenia on Bard’s Model UN team, Rory has attended over 9 MUN conferences so far, including NHSMUN
affairs. He is a founding member of the Junior Club and MUNSC Salient: Youth Conference on 15 conferences and has been published all over the 2016 and WIMUN 2015, and is always ready for
Chamber of Advocates Malta and the Malta Model Global Matters, now acting as Senior Advisor. As a world for her involvement with educational initiatives in more. He loves being a delegate, but has also
United Nations Society in which he ser ved as firm believer in the idea of MUN, he is always involved more than five countries. Rory is currently the Political chaired committees and founded K-MUN in 2015,
Founding President. He is currently serving as a in different projects that are somehow related to Student's Chief Community Officer, and serves as a serving as Secretary-General. He is currently writing
member of the Secretariat of MaltMUN 2016 . He this field, thus trying to share his experience, know- a Policy Adviser to a local candidate. In September, a novel, The Heresy Trials, which will soon be
has maintained an active interest in the international how and passion for this phenomenon with younger Rory will pursue her Msc in Human Rights at the completed and published.
simulation circuit, having actively participated in generation. Other than that, he works at Transparency London School of Economics.
several conferences throughout Europe. International Slovenia.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate | AUTHORS page 6
Yasmin Helmy Dio Herdiawan Tobing Bushra Hashem Allan Munyao

is currently in her third year of the Actuarial Science is a final year student and researcher at the is an English Language and Literature student in the is graduating from the LLM Programme in Public
programme at the American University in Cairo (Egypt); Department of International Relations, Universitas Arab Open University in Cairo (Egypt). She was a del- International Law at the University of Groningen
she has been participating in MUNs as well as other Gadjah Mada (Indonesia), specialising i n International egate at several MUNs including TEIMUN, and was (The Netherlands) in 2016. He is an Advocate of the
simulations for four years now. She currently works Peace & Security Studies, primarily in the field of awarded best delegation at CIMUN. She attended High Court of Kenya and has been to a number of
at MUN Inc. as part-time associate and blogger, and Public International Law. He is also working as an several MUN conferences and debate training pro- MUN conferences and other simulations from 2012-
has just concluded her experience at the 28th Cairo intern staff member and research assistant at the grammes in 2015 and 2016. 2016 as participant, chair, judge and organiser.
International Model United Nations as the Rapporteur ASEAN Studies Centre at the same University. Dio He is also the first African to serve on the Board
of the Security Council. has been involved in MUN since 2013, having been to of Directors of TEIMUN. Assertive, versatile and
around 15 conferences worldwide. Last year he had
purpose-drive n; Allan always brings with him a “big
the privilege to serve as President of the fourth edition
picture” attitude, “hands on” work style, teamwork
of Jogja International MUN, the largest and most
experience, diligent spirit and fresh ideas.
diverse MUN Conference in Indonesia. To contact him,
please write an e-mail to dio.tobing@yahoo.com
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Introduction 1.0. page 7
– The Meaning of Model UN

– MUN s defined by MUN ers
– History of MUN s : Globalising the Practice
– Why MUN s Are Important Today
– What Does it Mean to Be a Successful MUN Delegate?
The Meaning of Model UN

“Model United Nations is an “As delegates representing UN member states, students research their Model UN simulations have become synonymous with the case study
authentic simulation of the UN country and issue, which can include topics such as human rights,
approach to teaching and understanding the way the United Nations
General Assembly, UN Security peace and security, food and hunger, economic development, and the
Council, or other multilateral body, environment, and develop a position. They then participate in Model UN and various multilateral bodies and institutions operate. In the past
which intro duces students to the conferences, where they give speeches, negotiate with other states, draft ten years, the Model UN method of simulation has spread to other
world of diplo macy, negotiation, and pass resolutions, and ultimately attempt to resolve world problems
multilateral, historical, fictional and futuristic simulations (from the
and decision making.” UNA-USA and conflicts. Through this process, students gain understanding of the
needs and goals of the country that they represent and how their country
European Union councils to historical cabinets and, most recently,
interacts within the international community on the given topic. Students to Harry Potter, The Fellowship of the Ring, and The Game of Thrones,
that participate in Model UN are more globally aware and develop skills thus increasing the variety of “creative” discussions on the conference
in researching, writing, public speaking, communication, critical thinking,
menu that go beyond the “pure” MUN concept.
and conflict resolution.” U.S. Department of State
What is Model UN: Purpose of the eBook

The Context
Model United Nations is a proven method for practicing and teaching internation al relations, MUNPlanet has envisaged the present eBook as more than a plain guide to doing MUNs.
born in the United States in the f irst half of the 20th century. The first MUN conference , Vari ous reso urce s f or Mod el UN can be foun d o n t he Inte rnet (see, for exam ple, UNA-
whi ch s imul ated the wor k of the Leagu e o f N atio ns, w as h eld at Har vard in 1927. Li mited to USA), and they are good and extensive in that they offer the overview of the essential steps
the United States for several decades, the MUNs started spreading first to Europe, in the every MUNer must take. However, this publication takes a different app roach, offering
second half of the past century, and then to other par ts of the world at the beginning of the you a living, breathing documentwritten by MUN delegates and authors who explain
21st century. Today, MUNs are organised at various levels – from school-level conferences and analyse the crucial aspects of MUN activit y from the perspective of b eginners. In this
in small towns, to big internati onal conferences that take place in off icial UN buildings. publication you will learn more about the ways to get the most out of MUNs and be able
Hundreds of thousands of students from all the levels attend MUNs every year to practice to understand why this is one of the best hobbies and activities students can take up.
diplomacy and learn about the United Nations system in an interesting and fun way. They In this collection of global voices and relevant insights, the authors outline and discuss
make friends and establish networks of valuable contacts. practices and paths to doing MUNs and understanding them as a way of learning, personal
development and social interaction.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Introduction 1.2. ı Examples p a ge 10
“Model United Nations is a simulation game aimed to teach participants in a fun, interactive way about the
United Nations, the importance of i nternational relations, allowing them to practice their diplomatic skills.
Model United Nations is also a socially active event that helps young people from all around the world to
learn and understand others ’ points of view in a friendly environment and build long-lasting international
cooperation and friendships.”
Juliane Jokinen, Estonia

TMUN, Tallinn
“ Model United Nations has moved beyond an activity undertaken by i nternatio nally minded individuals. “Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extracurricular activity designed for students
In many ways, it has become rather central to how I work. The principles it instils, those of analysis, who wish to place themselves in the shoes of diplomats, politicians, government officials or journalists to
debate and productivity, are vital. It teaches you how to work within a deadline, how to manage a group discuss current issues and offer new solutions to political, economic or social problems. Despite its name,
of people with different objectives. It teaches you to compromise. All these things create a concept Model UN encompasses the world of international politics: the UN, OPEC, European Union, G7/8/20, domestic
larger than the basic understanding of what MUN is. It has become an output device for individuals relations cabinets, historic events, the world of the press, etc. Every year, more than 200,000 universities and
striving for more. It allows people to grow and develop. Ultimately, MUN is a learning tool, one that has high schools come together in conferences across the globe to share their passion for international affairs, the
been widely distributed , moulded and changed.” art of diplomacy, and the principles of the United Nations and many other international organisations.”
Wilf Mountfield, Lucas Amorelli Ribeiro Kornexl,

LIMUN, London WebMUN 2014
From the first simulation of the League of N ations at Harvard (1927 ), to the first simulations of the
work of t he Uni ted N ations (1953), the M odel UN has been the f ocus o f hun dreds of t housand s
There is a growing number
of students all over the world. In the early stages of its development, mostly reserved for a small of students who discover the world
number of Western countries, the Model UN has star ted to gradually spread both horizontally (to
other countries) and vertically (to different levels of the education system). In the United States and attend MUN conferences in all four
there are various levels of MUN simulation: from K- 12 and university, to international conferences, corners of the world through this
and those are counted in thousands.
unique educational and social practice.
Europe has been a host to some of the most prominent MUN conferences in the world, and has
been developing its MUN scene for several decades now (since 1968). From the beginning of
the 21st century, MUNs have spread not only throughout Europe and become more connected
(both horizontally and vertically), but have also become popular in Asia, South America, Afr ica and
Austral ia. It can be said that Model UN went global.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Introduction 1.4. p a ge 12
Why MUN s Are Important Today

MUNers and MUN s: Why is Model MUNs represent introduction RELATED LINKS
Understandingthere lationship UN community to procedural issues and Articles:

How is Model UN Useful?
“...Model UN profoundly changes you as an individual. Your horizons
expand when you engage in MUN because you can't really succeed special? knowledge needed to function
An MUNer Who Has Become
with all of your assumptions about the world; it challenges you to think
outside of your perspective, to see the world from the perspective of
“...An amalgam of ego, intelligence,
dedication, cooperation, empathy at the UN a Leading UN Scholar:
others, and act for the benefit of everyone, not just yourself.” - choose a positive characteristic “I participated in one Model UN conference as an undergraduate in Interview With Professor
and it can probably be applied. Canada. It was an opportunity to combine an interest in international affairs Ian Hurd
All of these elements make our with the interesting challenge of trying to adopt the positions of a national
Tomas Empire
Inland Ocampo,
Conference, Model UN community special.” delegation – and to experience the reality that different delegations may
have profoundly different perspectives and interests on a problem; these
are real and cannot be wished away. The Model UN experience was also a
Wilf Mountfield,
LIMUN good introduction to the procedural issues that regulate many UN meetings
and operations, which are rarely in the news but are an important part of
the knowledge needed to function at the UN.”
*From a MUNPlanet interview with professor Ian Hurd, Northwestern University

What Does it Mean to Be

a Successful MUN Delegate?
Model United Nations is an activity performed by hundreds of thousands In general, success is defined as
of students every year, in almost every country in the world. However, one “the correct or desired resul t of an attempt”
can ask if there is a method to the MUNs, and how Model UNs are done
(Merriam-W ebster dictionary) or
successfully. In order to achieve some positive or favourable results, first-
“the accomplishment of an aim or purpose”
time MUNers need to keep the consistency in their MUN participation
and develop their potential and MUN skills that are accompanied by their
(Oxford Dictionaries) .
education. In a nutshell, MUNs are an educa tional tool that help s students
learn and practice their knowledge about the United Nations and world politics.
Some conferences, such as BIMUN, include the component of “education
for the world of diplomacy”.
...and pre are to b mazed!

But, this is not where the meaning and purpose There are m any exa mples of M UNers that tell The stor ies by Wilf, Diego, or Juliane tell us what RELATED LINKS
of MUNs end - this is just the beginning. Being us what the markers of success in the MUN MUNs meant to them. If you are too impatient to
a MUNer can be a “successful” path that can worl d co uld be - and what a successful student wait sever al years to reflect on why you have Articles:
bring about individual development in learning and MUNer is. In any case, MUNs are a way to become successful, just think of fun and learning , 54 Conferences Later:
and developing social relationships for a greater achieve positive results that will spill over into and all those new friends that you will meet at the Diego Salama on Leadership
purpose and a sense of fulfilment in life. Being highly resonate with whatever else you may be conferences, or the fact that you will be more and Key MUN Lessons
a high-school or university student, one can doing as a student or later in life - as confirmed by confident speaking in public, doing research,
definitely see the benefits of doing Model UN - many alumni success stories, in which attending or writing. That is just a small measurement of Living in the Golden Age
especially those who, by chance, or perhaps by “that conference” was one of the decisive steps success, and preparation for something that you of MUNs
design, discover the world of MUNs and develop on the path to success. If you continue to develop may transform into a profession or a valuable asset
an interest in international relations as a f uture your sense of v irt ue an d lea dersh ip i n inter cultur al after you graduate from college.
profession. One can argue that after just communication, while developing skills that are
several conferences Model UN delegates transferable to your future professional career -
develop significant skills and social that is a great achievem ent i n the long term .
networks that enable them to be informed
global citizens and members of a unique
community of practice that largely reflects
the needs and ways of life in a globalised
and interdependent world.
RELATED LINKS
Articles:
Five Model UN Organizers on Good Practices
and Future of Model United Nations
Questions:
What are the benefits of attending a Model UN?
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Introduction ı Conclusion page 16
How MUNPlanet Can Help You

Become a Better MUNer
MUNPlanet has been serving its members as information, This is how MUNPla net c an h elp you becom e a more p roficie nt MUN er:
social and knowledge platform - that is, as a community of • We work to enable MUN delegates to learn about the culture of MUNing all around the world, while taking part in
practice where members talk about how MUNs are done and interactive discussions on the topics most relevant to the MUN community.
how they resonate with wider global af fairs and careers. In the • MUN delegates, chairs, and conference organisers can improve their own performance by learning from their fellow MUNers.
first twelve months since its launch, MUNers have answered If you had participated in 20 conferences, your knowledge and experience may be useful to other, less experienced
more than 4,000 questions, commented 6,000+ times, delegates. On the other hand, more experienced MUNers may find inspiration to drive their conference participation
followed over 275 ,000 topics, and engaged in a whole range further and work on the small details, while benefiting from the interaction within the biggest MUN online community.
of discussions, from Model UN experiences and international • MUNPlanet helps the newbies as well as experience d delegates exchange information and knowledge that complements
security to sustainable developmen t and career development. the process of proliferation and raising the level of professionalism of MUNs. Hundreds of conference opportunities
Model United Nations topic on MUNPlanet has attracted the are promoted on MUNPlanet through its high-school and university-level MUN calendarand you can browse through
attention of thousands of MUN delegates and conference a comprehensive MUN conference calendar when looking for your next MUN.
organisers who shared their views on how to make progress
on your MUN path.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Pre-conference Phase 2.0. p a ge 17
2.0.
PRE-CONFERENCE
PHASE
– What MUN s mean?
– MUN and the World of International Relations
– Why people join MUN?
– Special Focus: How to prepare for your first high-school MUN
– Key Pillars of MUN Preparation
– Model UN Research
– Public Speaking
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Pre-conference Phase 2.1. page 18
What MUN s mean?

BY VID TOMIĆ
Pioneering fields are usually Defining MUN is as tricky as trying to explain the functioning of the rocket engines to a five year The next logical question, especiall y if you are not an internatio nal
those connected with biggest old or to somebody like the author of this text. It is, in other words, rocket science . Thus, let us try relations ‘geek’, would be:
misunderstandin gs of the
concepts pertinent to its
to explain this phenomenon using a definition accessible via the Internet. “Model United Nations,
also known as M odel UN or MU N, is an educ ational simulat ion and/or acade mic compet ition
why would anybody do something like that?
existence. The same logic in which students can learn about diploma cy, inte rnation al relatio ns, and the United Nations. What good does it do for you?
applies to the world of MUNs, MUN involves and teaches researching, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition This is al so o ne of those questions that are diff icult to a nswer,
which, af ter lon g years of to critical thinking, teamwork, and le adership abilities. Usually an ex tracurricular activity, some even though they have been tackled many times , and one that
pioneering quest, still suffers schoo ls als o of fer MUN a s a class.[1]” In other words, anyone, irrespective of their background, I have been struggling with for a very long time. Students and
from lack of recognition. knowledge or education, can step into the shoes of professional diplomats and use the tools they colleagues I worked with in preparing MUN conferences , people
Thus, the first questions we – have at their disposal, in a genuine setting, wearing the same clothing and using the established who teach others w hat MUN is and how to d o it, have answered
MUN enthusiasts and alumni – code of conduct, to tackle relevant issues in the international community. For a limited period of my question: “What have MUNs given to you”.
have to answer are usually time, they take on the roles of the leaders they respected, criticised, hated or feared, and try to do
What does MUN stand aoutbetter job. They can also learn, meet their peers from all over the world, and push themselves
of their comfort zone.
for? What does it mean?
I would summarise these answers and related discussions The second factor, which is closely related to the first, is personal The third factor is the people, and the moments we share
into three major factors shaping one’s decision to revisit the growth and development of your skills
. This may sound like with them. N o mat ter w hat else you g ain, meeti ng p eople from
wor ld of MUN beca use o f it s po siti ve ef fects on an indi vidu al. guru talk, but doing MUN really forces you to grow and shapes all over the world and forging relationships is the biggest perk
The fir st facto r is knowledge. MUNs are one of the best you as a p erson. Placing MUN activities in yo ur CV will not do of doing MUNs. As someone who has attended around 20
learning processes I have ever witnessed. This learning comes you a ny signi ficant favours most of t he time, but what you g ain conferences and has been teaching MUN-ing to colleagues, I
in different forms. From learning about specific problems as MUNer is far greater than a catchy item in your CV. MUN is an strongly believe that acquaintance s, contacts, genuine fr iends
and issues in international community, public speaking, exercise in building confidence and work ethics, where you get and/or life-partners that you meet on MUNs are the reason why
communication with people with different (sometimes to learn how to stand up for your position in a constructive way . people keep coming back for more thrills connected with MUN.
challenging ) personalities and backgrounds , learning how to While prepari ng for the conference, you have a chance to nurtu re They are the ones who make MUN th e experi ence that it is.
transcend cultural, personality and ego-related challenges, and improve your critical thinking, while in-session dynamics can
researching completely unknown subjects, negotiating and also force you to challenge yourself in numerous ways and thus
improvising, preparing strategies , or using different tactics and evolve. One learns how to ‘read’ people, observe closer one’s
learning how to search for solutions in innovative ways. This is worki ng environment, and assess any situat ion in just a moment.
possible precisely because of the very specific way in which an All this event ually contribu tes to boosting your leadership skills.
MUN works – it is a game-based problem solving activity. There is, ho wever, one thing t hat will s tand out from the rest. By
doing MUN’s, you will learn how to improvise, adapt and perform
What you d o makes
a dif fer en ce!
complicated tasks, or design quick and effective solutions to
complicated problems under extreme pressure . This is a virtue
that is applicable in every aspect of life and which every MUN
alumni cherishes.
“I see MUNs as an awareness-raising activity, not only for young “What we as MUN organisers or MUN alumni should be trying to RELATED LINKS
men and women who will be tomorrow’s world leaders, but also for get across is that the work does not stop with the delegates’ dance,
the future “world citizens” who may, one day, each with their own but that it can be the beginning of a long journey to make a positive Articles:
expertise, make a concrete change in the field. In this respect, I can contribution to (our shared) world, at our own individual pace and Why We Need Global Civics?
only encourage MUN organisers to invite not only political science or sphere of influence of course. Getting involved in projects or supporting
law students, but also students pursuing medical, agricultural, energy causes of a social nature is one dimension of it, developing a whole
Questions:
(water in particular) or education studies. MUNs should be seen and culture of solidarity and basing our future decisions in our jobs on that
How to become an MUNer?
designed as means to sensitise tomorrow ’s citizens to the most type of culture is yet another dimension. Of course, all this probably
serious issues “the peoples of the United Nations” are facing.” sounds as overloaded idealism, but I think we s imply cannot afford to
do less than that.”
Benjamin Samson, France
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview Darko Petrović, Serbia
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview
Model UN & the World

of International Relations
Philosophical side of Model UN
BY DIO HERDIAWAN TOBING
“We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests
are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.”
- Lord Palmerston, 1848.
When we hea r the phr ase “Mod el Unit ed Nati ons”, t he words “ Unite d Natio ns” Similar to the international community, MUN conferences are adjusting to global change and
trends, and the agenda and topics of discussion are evolving. Jean-Robert Leguey-Feilleux
are often associated with the International Relations major. No wonder; the
emphasised redefining the actors involved in the conduct of diplomacy within the international
conference is mostly attended by International Relations students, and many community in his book “Dynamics of Diplomacy”. He called upon the involvement of new types
have believed this sort of conference is only available to those who practice of practitioners and professionals to contribute in the policy-making process.
in the field of International Relations (IR). I would raise an objection to that and
Greater involvement of experts in the decision-making process is a key to successful promotion
would rathe r claim that Model UN conferences go b eyond this fiel d of stud y. of one’s interests. This is manifested by the growing number of international conferences that
MUNs taught me character building, conflict resolution and leadership, and deal with technical issues, such as global warming, arms control, population and development,
crime prevention or drug abuse. True, it is the duty of diplomats to engage in diplomatic condu ct,
no matter what your background is, you can be a Model UN delegate.
negotiation and policy-making process, but diplomats are not always experts, and they are not
fully acquainted with the technicalities of the problems and the core of substantive matters. This
is why in many international forums, even in the United Nations, meetings are hosted where
“But then again
correlated withwhy should
politics andwe
IRsparticipate in a MUNor
? I am an engineer, Conference if you
a lawyer, or said that
a medical MUN is”
student. experts can engage in the decision-making process and supervise the negotiation of policies
between diplomats or heads of state. The importance of the chamber of experts, widely known
This typ e of quest ion is m ostl y ra ised by n on-I Rs o r no n-Poli tical Scienc e ma jors. I am an I R
as the Committee of Experts, is that it ensures that policies which are negotiated can actually
student, and practicing all the theories and knowledge that I have received at school is the
be applied globally.
most fundamental reason why I participate in MUN. However, although atmosphere of the
conference is indeed ours, the technical issues are yours.
MUNs as a preview of how intern ational

relations/or negotiations work
Another impor tant r eason w hy you should involve yo urself in the world of M UN is that i t wil l allow
you to see how internatio nal po litics work. In MU N, you will learn how to turn what you are good
at into policies which you will then defend. MUN will give you great experience in fighting for your
principles by promoting and defending your interests. In this regard, through MUN, you would be
able to practice your leadership skills to influence others, negotiat e interests for the benefit of all,
and find solutions to the world’s greatest problems. The more you participate in MUN conferences,
the more sharpened your soft skills will become. Now, imagine an expert who knows how to
engage in diplomatic conduct.
Yes, that could be you. The world would be a much better place if experts were skilled in this
particular field and if they were placed by governments to directly represent countries in international
conferences, even though the Committee of E xperts should also be kept to ensure sustainability
of non-political matters. By joining MUN conferences, you will understand how the technical issues
meet politics.
Examples of diploma tic

expertise
You do not ne ed to have a n IRs bac kground to attend a n MUN co nference; you jus t need to have Let us review a case to reflect the explanation above, the Conference of the
the courage to apply your expertise in a global context. I would truly suggest to those with legal Parties (COP) 21, held in Paris in December 2015. The conference was also
backgrounds - especially internat ional lawyers - to also take part in MUN conferences. The reason known as the UN Climate Change Conference, and was aimed at reaching an
is, simply, because politics is the process of reaching legal outcomes. MUN brings a different agreement on how to tackle global warming as one of the world’s most pressing
approach to understanding legal science to those who are involved in legal af fairs. It will not only issues and negotiate proposals based on the i nterests of each of the state
teach you how to understand the legal grounds and interpret each of the clauses, but also to parties. The conference was regulated under the United Nations Framework
understand why specific legal documents are created, and even draft a few that would only be Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, not many people know
possible to understand from the political side of legal science. Legal science frequently provides a that under the framework of the UNFCCC there is a chamber known as the
framework for understanding and analysing the law, often forgetting however that the law itself will UNFCCC Roster of Experts. These experts are nominated by the respective
never escape the influence of power politics. This aspect is frequently neglected by legal scholars. parties of the convention to evaluate, monitor, and review the implementation
Many have believed that it is less important for those who practice law to study the ‘power politics, ’ of the policies that have been agreed upon at the related conventions. Experts
but I would say that this is a common mistake. For students of international law it is especially are needed to ensure that the negotiated policies are concretely implemented
important to actively engage in MUN in order to understand the nature of power in the making of worldwide. Imagine if diplomats were also experts in a given thematic field.
international law . MUNs will help us understand how international laws are politically biased towards Policies would certainly be more concrete and less politicised.
the states’ interests. As Martti Koskenniemi argued, evidence that international law is being too
dependent on the states reflects its character as a manipulable façade for power politics.
Variet y of MUN experiences and

non-I R educa tional backgroun ds
We have presented and argued previously that MUN Conferences are not only exclusive
to political science or international relations students.
First, if you are a medical student, you might want to know why Several years ago, when the outbreak of Ebola was at its highest
during the Ebola outbreak not all countries in the world imposed point, many MUN conferences tried to simulate the World Health
travel restrictions to isolate the Afr ican countries, even though this Assembly (WHA) committee by debating this topic, and finding
would have been the most efficient way to contain the outbreak. solutions that would serve the common interests of the world.
You will not find the answers to such questions in medicine and According to medical research, the only feasible and logical solution
health science books – you can find them by participating in MUN, to end the outbreak of a disease is to isolate the infected patients
bringing with you your expert k nowledge of the technical topic. The and provide them with special treatment. However, this is purely the
answer, of course, would be “to defend one’s interests.” medical perspective which, if transformed into international policy,
would lead to a much worse situation on top of the objections of
the infected African countries. Courtesy of MUNSC Salient
Simulating the work of international courts

If we combine medical research with political perspective - we get the phenomenon called After introducing the imp ortance of j oining MUN confere nces, a nother c hallenge that mig ht pop up is finding MUN
conferences that most suit your background. This is not to say that being a delegate in an MUN should always be
Global Health Politics, which allows us to see this case from a very dif ferent point of view.
related to our backgrounds , but choo sing MUNs r elated to what we have practic ed in dai ly life would always provi de
Global Health Politics studies do not only take into account the practice of health and medical
additional advantage, especi ally for f irst time rs.
science; they also present the politics behind the decision-makin g process related to the
health science . By combining the two, we will understand that the outbreak of Ebola is not Today, MUN conferences are organised throughout the world. Finding a conference that matches your educational
only a matter of medical, but also political importance. Have you ever thought how massive the background require s patience and enthusiasm and, of cours e, time! Those special ising in Legal Science mig ht want to
escalation of undocumente d travellers or migrants would be if we tried to isolate the infected try MUN as an alternative to Moot Courts. The MUN chamber most similar to Moot Courts would be the simulation of
countries? No, this probably wouldn’t even cross your mind if you looked at the problem only the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, not all MUN conferences
host ICC or Inter national C ourt o f Justice (ICJ) as their committees. For insta nce, if you are a legal scholar and you
from the medical perspective. Isolating countries would also mean imposing a travel ban on
wish to try something new in an MUN that is still closely related to your field of study, the Legal Committee of the UN
their citizens, causin g their behaviour to spiral out of control. If resources for proper treatment
General Assembly would probably suit you the most, as the mandate of this committee is to legislate international
of patients were very limited, finding a way to get out of the country would justify all means. Not law, and you will get to p ractice how t o negotiate and enact l egal docume nts within an international arena. If you are
only the patients, healthy citizens would also look for ways to escape an isolated country to save a medica l student, you might want to tr y to get involved in the chamber of the WHA c ommittee of the World Healt h
themselves. And the result? The outbreak of Ebola wouldn’t come to an end and the disease Organization (WHO). If you are an environmentalist or a Sustainable Development student, try to debate world issues
would gradually spread. in the United Nations Environme nt Programme (U NEP).
Model UN a nd the Society

by Jop Rang
When you finally pick the MUN that matches your demand, There are two types of society that are can be empowered I have been to several domestic and international MUN conferences
MUN will change your life. Joining domestic and particularly by getting involved in MUN. I will divide the term ‘society’ into since the first time I decided to build an MUN career, and the MUN
International MUN will absolutely bring new knowledge to your verti cal societ y and horizont al societ y. buddies I met on my first MUN conference are still in contact with me
educational experience and increase your professional skills. The wor ld of MUN s is also a way to bui ld a new soci ety. today. This is not only on a domestic scale, but also on a global scale
But not to be limited to personal self-advanceme nt, MUN activity MUN is an example of vertical society because it is a sort of because we get to build friendships worldwide. This life-changing
also has a strong relation with the society. a parallel society that is characterised by unique experiences, experience could be yours as well, if you get out of your comfort zone
friendships, networks and all the benefits that you receive from and engage in MUN activity. The interconnectivity of our world today
your MUN act ivit y. There is a saying whi ch goes, “MUN buddies promises a massive interdependence, which provides challenges
are lifelong friends” and I cannot agree more with this quote. but mostly benefits. It is due to the process of globalisation that we
are interconnected with people from other parts of the world and
are becoming global citizens.
On the other hand, I would define horizontal society as our home society, the one with which All in all, t aking par t in MUNs does not re quire you to b e a Political Science or I R student, as t hese
we deal in our daily lives. The overall experienc e t hat you will bring back home from any of the conferences are not provided to them exclusively – they are for everyone. Being involved in MUN
conferences would undoubtedly benefit your home society, as MUNs affect people and their conferences will provide you with a unique and memorable experience, but will also contribute to
environment in both direct and indirect ways. your c haracter b uilding and sof t skill s. It will no t only benefit you exclusive ly but also yo ur soci ety.
I hope this lit tle picture of MUN will inspire you to start your MUN career. Happy MUN-ing!
This does not necessar ily mean that when you co me back home af ter the conferen ces you will b e
a public figure that will advance the grassroots in your home society. I mean, yes, you could. But
most of the time the impact of your involvement in a domestic or international scale of MUN activity
would be shared mouth-to-mout h and your story could inspire others. The changes that you
bring from the conferences will be reflected in the improvement of your soft skills (e.g. leadership,
communication and public speaking). These kinds of improvements would turn into public attention,
“MUN buddies
deserving to be emulated. Moreover , after coming back home from MUN conferences, you could
empower others by becoming an MUN coach in the MUN clubs or somewhere else. Perhaps the
changes that they see in you will influence them to take steps to get involved in MUN activity and
are lifelong friends”
impact the society too!
Why people join MUN

“At my college they were advertising a Model UN. My knowledge “Model UN motivates students to learn and teaches them Model United Nations is more than an extracurricular RELATED LINKS
of the UN was superficial back then, but they had the “Self- about world issues. It is a way to become an active, more activity. It's a "process" where one is able to develop his or
Determination of Iranian Kurds” case at the ICJ, a topic that concerned global citizen, and in this era of globalization being her capabilities through debates, negotiations and public- Articles:
directly drew my attention. That was the moment when a turn globally aware is more important than ever. Furthermore, speaking. MUN forges your personality and provides
MUNs are everywhere - why?
in my life was made.” Model UN builds confidence and leadership and diplomatic essential diplomatic values to the youths.
skills. MUN is an exercise in research, public speaking and
Team work - what MUN can
Gibryon Bhojraj, USA teamwork. These are the skills that you will need throughout I've attended more that 26 conferences where I've been able teach you
your career, and MUN gives you a chance to practice them to forge my own personality through meetings, debates,
while you’re a student. You can also leverage your MUN exchanges, but most importantly by sharing. I believe that Key Questions:
"In my programming world, I have my computer to speak to in experience and network to get into college and find jobs in we are all here to give and share, and by participating to Why should every student
zeroes and ones, and in my MUN world I get to speak out loud this field. But, above all, MUN is a CHANCE given to every such events you share more than your own culture. attend Model UN?
on behalf of different countries." student to speak! Your voice is being heard, your ideas are
going global! It is your chance to dream, travel the world, Today, I have so many friends. From Columbi a, Chi na an d
Nareman Darwish, Egypt gain lifetime experiences and get out of your comfort zone!” Canada to South Korea and Japan.
Maritina Karava, Greece Yannick Somauroo, France

The Main MUN Takeaways:

The Alumni Perspective
“I see two main takeaways. First, MUNs are great opportunities to develop both your Second, you need to become very familiar with the rules of procedure of the body you are RELATED LINKS
knowledge of the United Nations system and your oral communication skills. acting in. They’re often considered unimportant or boring. However, rules of procedure
are fundamental and raising a relevant point of procedure may prove tactically very helpful Articles:
MUNs force you to engage in quite intensive debates with your fellow delegates and to be during a debate.
5 Things I Learned From My
very reactive in order to push forward the interests of the States you’re representing.
First International MUN
This is equally true for d rafting rules. UN l anguage is ve ry specific and every word ha s a
Experience
However, defending your State’s interests efficiently requires some preparation. particular political and legal meaning.
This preparation enables you to get acquainted with both the legal and politica l
aspects of the UN system. First, you need to identify the position and alliances of the The second is more pe rsonal but no le ss important. I me t some great peopl e with whom I’m Key questions:
How do I prepare for my first
State you’re representing concerning the issue considered during the conference. still friends, even though we all walked different paths.”
MUN?
During the preparation of BIMUN 2008, I met in a person in Paris, at the Embassy
of the Republic of India which I represented at the General Assembly, and discussed Benjamin Samson, France What moved you to attend
the position of India on the revitalisation of the role of the General Assembly.
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview your first MUN?
Preparing for Your First MUN

Attending you first MUN is cert ainly a big moment. Another shoulder you can lean on is your co-delegate. “You can figure out which committees are more suitable for beginners (WHO, UNEP, all the big committees
You're heading into "new waters" and i t might n ot Often there are a few delegates representing the like the GA) - sometimes you cannot place delegates according to their level of expertise, as beginners tend
be easy, but you'll get the hang of it. same country. In this case you should get to know to lean toward different committees – unlike the ‘pros’ who are probably more likely to choose the SC over,
them before the conference, and try to share the let's say, DISEC. You can practice mock-debate with them, but what I think is crucial is to get compassionate
Once you've applied and have been chosen to workload required for successful preparation. If chairs who will explain what is going on in the debate every now and then, and who will not get easily
participate in an MUN, there will be a few months you're enthusiastic about writing, you can arrange discouraged by questions or mistakes made by the delegates. Many beginners I talked to got blocked and
long preparation period. During this period, your so that everyone does their own preparation, with remained passive during the debate simply in fear of being mocked or making a mistake. Once you create a
organising team or your Chair will be giving you small the condition that you need to agree on the key "learning-friendly" atmosphere in the committee, it becomes easier for them to open up. Try engaging more
tasks to perform. This is all usually done via a string points. advanced delegates into that, too. Otherwise they can get bored and refrain from serious debate.”
of emails to coordinate and check up on you work. See? Not that hard.
It will start with you receiving your assigned country If you're still in the process of applying for an MUN, Dominika Jędrz ejczyk, Poland
and getting to know the topic, followed by a decent check out the 4 things you should pay attention to .
MUNPlanet link
amount of research and resulting in a position paper.
As the confe rence draws near, you should keep Masha Preger, Serbia
reading up on the current developmen ts in the field
MUNPlanet link
of your topic. If you get stuck with your position
paper, you can always turn to your Chair for advice.
If you're late with your assignments, your Chair will
be there to remind you of your tasks and see if
something has gone wrong.
Special F ocus :
How to Prepare for Your
First High-School MUN
BY EDUARDO PALOMINO
If you have decided to join the amazing world of MUN-ing, first, let me
congratulate you. This was no eas y choice. You are about to be immersed in a
whole new wo rld. P lease, get on this magic carpet and prepare to b e amazed.
Please, be aware that it is very difficult to leave this world, but I believe you
won’t be that keen on l eaving any way. You will work harde r t han ever on t his
Project, but the results will be quite satisfying. Now, without any further ado,
welcom e to MUNs: High Schoo l lev el!
MUNs are a great experience for young people of High School Luckily, doing well at MUNs also makes you enjoy them, so don’t worr y if you still want to be the
age! They’ve got everything: professional skills, academic best delegate. But you must know what the focus of High School Models is if you want to be on
value, moral a nd ethical val ues, social amb iance and les sons the same page.
about leadership. Unlike the College Models, the High Schools;
model focus is more general public-friendly. This means that MUNs, being an educational tool, will always have a special focus, and in the case of the high
in College most participants are already interested in some school model, it is to introduce you to being a leader. Yep, the best delegates at these conferences
way in internat ional relatio ns; in high scho ol level mo dels you receive awards because of their leadership. Best delegate awards are not given according to a strict
don’t have to be looking to work in diplomacy. The ambience standard which ta kes into account foreign policy, but are based on the abil ity of a delegate to achieve
focuses on debate rather than international policy and long consensus. So, what you can expect from your first high school level MUN is to be introduced
boring discussions over wording. Model UN has gained a lot to the art of getting your way while simultaneously letting everyone else think it’s their way too.
of popularity over the years; the most enthusiastic delegates Of course, as you will be developing your skills, you will soon realise that winning a discussion
started MUNning in high school. As you are now reading this is not a guarantee to being the best delegate. But for the time being, your focus should be on
Guide, perhaps you’re looking for a way to excel at your first losing your fear of speaking publicly . High school-level conference s similarly work as a preface or
MUN. Well, I will now offer you a new goal: prologue to international relations. Participating in them, you will learn to deliver speeches, argue,
research information and make connections .
instead of striving to become

the best delegate, find a way to enjoy
every second of your MUN.
Basics of the United Nations

and Model UN
BY CHRISTOPHER BERGEDAHL
Regarding the United Nations
Vi ew of the hea dq ua rt er s in the 195 9 MGM thr il le r No rt h by No rt hwe st by Al fre d Hi tch coc k
Withou t exception, I always commence t he introd uctory session o f any t raining progra mme For this reason it is crucial that you familiarise yourself with the history, structure and role of the
for a Model UN delegation by posing the following question: United Nations. Whilst it is true that Model UNs are not a perfect simulation of the workings of the
United Nations, grossly exceeding the scope of a committee’s remit prejudices the authenticity
“What is the United Nations? What does it do?” of the simulation and undermines the hard work of those who spent hours preparing the content.
Case in point: I once attended a simulation where a bloc of nations represented in the Council of
Understanding what you are simulating is crucial to success. One would be awfully surprised to Europe attempted to force through a resolution regulating the fiscal policies of its member states.
note that many delegates suffer during Model UN sessions because they are unaware of (i) the The outc ome was both fr ustrating and po orly constructe d.
fundamental role of the United Nations in international affairs; and (ii) the specific mandate and
limitation of competence of the committee they are simulating.
If one had to ask Joe Citizen about the United Nations, it’s highly Delegates must also be taught to appreciate that the United Nations is not perfect. All things
likely that his answer would allude to the General Assembly. This considered, it has performed admirably in the face of a habitually disunited front and geopolitical
is unsurprising as the General Assembly is the main organ of the realities. The organisation is routinely criticised in the media for being bloated and ineffectual.
United Nations and is fur thermore considered to be a spectacle This guide won’t delve into the merits of this part icular discussion; however, for now I feel that
of international politics: it is one of those rare occasions when it is appropriate to remind aspiring delegates of an inconvenient truth of the United Nations.
world leaders simultaneo usly convene. However, delegates In the words of its second Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjöld:
must understand that there is much more to the United Nations
than simply the General Assembly. The United Nations is
made up of a myriad of agencies, programmes, funds and “It has been said that the United Nations
related organisations; each with its own unique composition,
functions and responsibilities. Coming to terms with the sheer was not created in order to bring us to
complexity of it all is by no means an easy feat; however,
even being vaguely familiar with the overall hierarchy goes a heaven, but in order to save us from hell.”
long way to demonstrating your understanding of the system.
This can work i n your favour.
Regarding Model United Nations
Model UN is an academic simulation of world Regardless of the set-up , there is one t hing that delegates must keep in mind: that although Model Whilst I admit t hat there is
UNs strive for authenticity, the reality is that time constraints only allow delegates to simulate a no universally sanctioned
politics. Its name has actually become somewhat
fraction of the workings of their particular committee. In last year’s Malta Model United Nations, the philosophy, I think that most
of a misnomer, as modern conferences habitually local representative from the UNHCR attended the final committee session to observe proceedings, experienced delegates can
post several non-UN committees such as the and whilst commending delegates on their fruitful debate, reminded them that their efforts were point towards a number
only the tip of the iceberg. of key values that make or
European Parliament or NATO. Some go as far as
break best delegates.
incorporating fictional or fantasy elements to their The point here is that delegates must remain grounde d in what they seek to achieve at the
conference, as many fundamentally misunderstand their role as delegates. On many occasions
conferences, such as the Lord of the Rings I have seen delegates resorting blindly to rhetoric, hyperbole or gesticulating speeches to try to
or the Game of Thrones.
make point that was quite unnecessary. It is crucial that delegates are made aware of the core
“MUN Philosophy” from the outset.
First, Model UNs have always presented themselves in a clear and Second, delegates must learn to appreciate the value of compromise. Finally, although a delegate’s principal aim is to adhere to his country’s
consistent manner: that they are incubators of diplomatic qualities, with This can be a bitter pill to swallow, particularly if you have an assertive policies as closely as possible, this should not be done without keep ing
the endgame being a broader understanding of the challenges faced character. The fact of the matter is that delegates are not representing an eye on the bigger picture. Filibustering and torpedo tactics for the
by representatives of national governments. In fact, many conferences individual interests, but are merely acting as the mouthpiece of their sake of authenticity will not make you a popular delegate and will likely
(most notably Harvard WorldMUN) eschew delegate awards in favour national governments. Invariably, national interests collide and disputes ruin the fun for everybody else. Yes, you should properly represent
of diplomacy awards
. arise. Oftentimes these disputes raise tricky questions and provide no your country’s interests, but you should also be pragmatic and work
clear solutions. What does one do in such situations? Politicians are towards the attainment of the common good, which in this context
often criticised for achieving watered down versions of their policy goals means passing a resolution acceptable to as many states as possible.
in international initiatives - however this is simply because diametrically
opposing interests cannot be resolved through brashness or hard-
headedness. Compromise is thus a necessary evil, and one which
delegates would do well to acquaint themselves with.
MUN Clubs, MUN Societies, MUN T rainings

BY BUSHRA HASHEM
What are MUNclubs/societies? What MUN clubs/societies offer Why join an MUN club/society?
An MUN club or society is where you can learn m ore abo ut
and what to expect from them
MUN and its rules of procedure , practice debatin g skills and
MUN clubs offer training sessions for national or international Joining an MUN club or society is a very important step if you
prepare for conferences.
MUNs, and these sessions usually include: want to become a better delegate. While experience gained
from attending dif ferent conferenc es is great, attending training
• Debating skil ls sessions will put you in direct contact with people with extensive
Where they can be found • Academic informa tion about the committee/ council experience in the field, and you will have the chance to learn
from them and ask questions. Being in an MUN club or society
• Public speaking skill s
An MUN club or society can be found at your university. Check doesn't only affect your performance at the conference which
with the student activities’ office at your university, or with law • Information about the rules of procedure and follows the training; it also provides you with great tools and
schools and faculties that teach po litical sciences and international conference regulations information to help you with all your upcoming conferences. Not
relations. They can also be found in high schools or secondary • Mock conference sessions to mention the like-minded friends you will meet, with whom you
schools, and they provide the necessary preparation and training will have a tighter bond because you will have spent both the
to attend national or international junior MUN. training and conference together.
MUN trainings (training sessions and what you will learn from them;
how many sessions; how important your performance is during a session)
Training sessions: Your per forman ce du ring the s essi ons: Where can you find an MUN club/society?
They c an var y from once a week to o nce ever y two weeks, or As you can see, there is a great variet y of skills a nd ac tivities As me ntione d, they are fo und a t many univer sities under
once a month. You should expect to gain much kn owledge from that you will learn/experience during the sessions. So the more student activities; however , if you can’t find on e at your own
the sessions, but you should also expect to do some work. The you pay attention and the more you work during the sessions, university, try this:
organisers can assign you tasks such as giving a speech or a the better delegate you will become. Also, in situations such
presentation, creative fun tasks like coming up with plays or as these, selection of best delegate or delegation depends on Check out the law faculty, international relations
stories that are relevant to the topic, or preparing a mini/mock your performance throughout the entire period of preparation, or political science student activity programs.
conference so you can gain some experience. You should also not just on what you have shown during the conference.
expect to perform many of these tasks in teams, as this will Check other nearby universities for MUN clubs
prepare you for teamwork and leadership. Conferences: or societies; many universities accept applicants
After the per iod of tr aining sessio ns, you wi ll atten d a nati onal from other schools if they fit the criteria.
The nu mber of se ssions ca n vary sig nific antly; som e clubs wil l or international MUN conference; this will be your chance to
have only a handful of sessions (4 – 6), while others will have put all the skills you learned to practice. Check Facebook pages or websites of universities
as many as 10. But don't worry; MUN clubs always interrupt in your region, as they will usually post information
their activities during the midterms and the pe riod of the finals, of the student activities they organise.
as well as during the breaks.
School and university How to find a MUN club/ The process of applicatio n RELATED LINKS
clubs and societies society that is right for you and/or interview Articles:
How to be confident on your
first MUN
The difference between a university and school MUN Depending on your personal preferences and your level Some clubs or societies interview potential delegates
club or society is simply the level of proficiency. If it is in MUN, you should choose the MUN club or society to decide whether they should be allowed to join, Are you infected by the MUN
a university club, it will likely be more difficult and more that is right for you. If you are a beginner MUNer and while some simply request that you fill out an virus? Symptoms and cure (?)
competitive, and the school one will be simpler, and have are looking for knowledge and gaining experience, application form. Preparing for an interview - if there
less complicated topics to target middle/preparatory try to find an MUN club that is not too competitive or is one - is not that important. You should have some Key questions:
and high/secondary school students. fierce, as this will give you more flexibility, allowing you to general information about the UN and the current
What are the peculiarities in
Unlike the university MUN clubs and societies, school take your time and learn. On the other hand, if you are world news. You should a lso know something a bout
the addressing ‘beginners’ vs
‘pros’ at the conference?
clubs are much less likely to allow students from other confident in your MUN proficiency level and are looking the committee/council of your choice and be able
schools to attend. But sometimes, student activity for a challenge, then try to find a club that will provide to tell why you chose that one in particular. The
communities or clubs can host MUN training sessions those things for you. It won't be dif ficult to find out what interview shouldn't be very long or difficult, but like
outside the scope of a certain school, so keep an eye type of MUN club is the one you are applying for; MUN with any intervi ew, it is impor tant that you make a
open for those as well. clubs and societies have wide reputations and you can good impression .
ask former delegates or organisers of the club about
the level of proficiency you should expect.
Model UN Research:Overview
Every MUNer is expected to perform his/her research as part of preparation
for a conference. Otherwise, your MUN career will be finished before you have
Understand ing your role as a delegate
even started the journey. You cannot start an MUN research unless yo u know your countr y or commit tee. Nor can you do
your research withou t k nowing its purpo se. Th e p urpose of MUN research is to equip you with
The Oxfor d Dicti onary defines resea rch as “the syst emati c inves tigat ion into
knowledge (and facts) necessary for writing a Position Paper and the Opening Speech (before
and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach
session), participating in discussions and negotiations (in session) and Resolution Writing (session
new conclusions”. Being a university student is all about preparing for doing outcome).
When it comes to research, you will in the end reap what you have sown. The greater your
proper research and gaining knowledge that is useful for solving practical or
knowledge, the better will be your chances to become a power-delegate . But there is more than
theoretical problems. that. Your MUN research can help you improve your per formance in college, or discover interesting
Before going into the nuts and bolts of an MUN-specific research, let’s go career opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have known existed.
through some important elements of MUN research together.

Looking for reliable, useful and objective sources Source breakdown

Any resea rch proc ess Knowing how to critically value your sources is crucial. Most For basic information on current events, start from news sources. Use a major Internet search
implies a lot of searching, sources are available online (from newspapers to blogs to engine (Google, Yahoo, etc.) and look for news. For primary sources such as speeches,
reading, and writing - both traditional academic journals) , but you can still visit your university reports, resolutions, use the official United Nations and governmental websites. Then, you can
online and offline. With library and look for referred journals and academic articles, or try searching various tanks (but pay attention to their objectivity) for specialised thematic areas.
the hyper-production and use the power of indexes and databases . For additional reference, use academic publications, books and ar ticles.
ready-made availability of The in stant ava ilabilit y of online sources is a two-ed ged sw ord.
content on the Internet, it is You can access the i nformatio n q uickly, b ut you have to know Once you have figured out w hich sources to use,
important, now more than where to look and which sources to trust. Please avoid web you sho uld deter mine how to use t hem to f it you r MUN needs.
ever, to use sources that are pages that are not dated or that do not credit their sources.
credible and useful. Also, check if an organis ation or a newspaper publishing the Marko Kovace vic, Serbia
information is poten tially biased regarding a certain issue . If you MUNPlanet link
cannot find a relevant official source of information, then always
try using reliable books, ar ticles or news sources first.
Model UN Research:
Rules of Procedure
BY CHRISTOPHER BERGEDAHL
The Rules of Procedure (“RoP”) are a bit like taxes: nobody really likes them but
they are absolutely essential to the smooth running of a committee session.
Consequently, delegates often overlook the RoP in favour of other aspects of

Model UN training, reasoning that they can pick them up during the conference. It
is my duty to inform you that this is a woefully incorrect attitude to take.
The RoP are the strongest tool in a delegate's arsenal. A thorough knowle dge of the RoP’s technical In addition, directors often look favourably upon delegates who have taken an interest in preparing
details can empower delegates to take the lead in a committee by setting the agenda and directing themselves adequately in the RoP. Considerable time is wasted on reprimanding delegates for
the flow of debate. Grabbing the bull by the horns from an early stage - such as guiding the debate incorrect use of the RoP, particularly where points and motions are concerned. On the flip side,
to one topic or another - is a strategic way to assert your authority and encourage more timid delegates refrain from overzealous behaviour such as directly challenging committee directors for
delegates to gravitate towards you. The benefits of this simply cannot be overstated. Case in point: the sake of demonstrating proficiency in the RoP.
I had once par ticipated in a committee whose first topic heavily favoured larger developed nations
at the expense of less developed ones. The second topic was much more equitable in this respect Delegates with a Machiavellian flair can also use the RoP to gain a tactical advantage at a crucial
and would have ensured the active participation of all delegates. Unfortunately for the delegates point. One of the most well known strategies is the ‘disruptiveness doctrine’ - whereby motions that
representin g the smaller states, a seasoned veteran immediately took charge by convincing the are considered to be most disruptive are voted upon first.
committee to opt for the first topic. This par ticular delegate’ s actions set the tone for the weekend
and he was revered by his fellow colleagues for his striking competence.
MUN Research:Public Speaking

as a Social Skill
I often feel that there is a widespread misconception Model UN is an inherently social activity. If it were not so, then I had once read an interesting piece of work regarding the qualit ies
it is likely that not much would be accomplished as in between expected of best delegates within the context of leadership.
amongst the students regarding Model UN: that it is
speeches delegates would simply sit at their tables twiddling What struck me t he mo st w as the manner in w hich t he aut hor
simply a glorified public speaking exercise. Without their thumbs! A talented orator may be persuasive and inspire approached the topic and communicated his philosophy.
wanting to undermine the importance of good oration, the masses to answer his call; however this counts for little if s/he A dele gate should not str ive to be a leader s imply b y assuming
is then unable to convert it into concrete resu lts in a resolution. the most prominent role within a bloc or committee. Rather,
I would maintain that public speaking proficiency is
a true leader is one that empowers his team to perform
.
just a fragment of a much larger skill-set needed in Creating personal relationships and strategic alliances is arguably Accordingly, a leader oug ht to g ive credit where credit is due. A
any delegate’s toolbox: social skills. more vital than great speeches. Therefore , equal time ought to leader ought to avoid micro-managing the members of his bloc
be dedicated to social skills such as friendliness, greetings, by taking principal control of all aspects of resolution building. A
politeness, courtesy and leadership . true leader is one who inspires his fellow delegates to rally around
his cause as a single unit. Achieving this is no simple task: it
takes measures of charm, cunning and knowledge to be able to
mobilise and command the respect of your fellow delegates.
MUN Research: Position Papers

Why are position papers
important?
First impressions count, and they have the potential The position paper is another underrated element of the Model UN experience. It is the first port of call
for (i) directors interacting with delegates; and (ii) delegates between themselves. A thought-provoking
to lay the foundations of your relationship with third
and carefully constructed position paper goes a long way to winning the favour of your directors.
parties. Unfortunately, given the time constraints of

a Model UN, first impressions do not take place in If one is eyeing a prize, then position papers cannot be underestimated. Direct ors interact directly
with d elegates onl y spari ngly, especiall y if the size of t he commit tee ranges f rom medium to large.
person but are conducted through a more abstract
Consequently, position papers are one of the few ways that directors can monitor whether delegates
medium: position papers. are presenting themselves in a clear and consistent manner to their fellow colleagues. Incidentally ,
this point was stressed upon by the directors of a committee that I recently participated in. During
a feedback session, the directors praised those delegates whose opening speeches, alliances
and personal initiatives were at harmony with the policy goals outlined in their position papers.
Invariably it was these delegates who garnered an overall better performance.
Style and format

of position papers
Tangible benef its are not onl y evident in the aw ard resul ts,
but also on a more practical level. Whilst pre-conferen ce/
There is no commo n standa rd regar ding th e styl e and format
of position papers. Length and content requirements often
› 1. Designations
initial networking may be possible for committees with thirty vary from o ne conferenc e and a nother. Diffe rences may Every position paper should kick off with the following basic information:
delegates, the same cannot be said for those that spor ta also be observed between different committees in the same
hundred or more delegates. Seeking out alliances is time- conference where such committees differ in size and scope. Committee name (e.g. WHO)
Country represented
consuming, and as the old adage goes: time is money - or The po int here is that delegates are t ypically afford ed some
Delegate name & MUN club represented
in this case, the influence that time can buy you. Clearly discretion and flexibility in this regard. Topic
delineating your country's policy goals makes it much easier
for your fellow colleagues to identify you as a potential ally, That b eing said, when tr aining d elegates I have of ten stressed
See the example below:
or vice-versa. This symmetry of information is a power ful tool the importance of a coherent and logical structure to position
in the hands of a delegate and ensures a considerably more papers: one whereby ideas are clearly divided and policy goals
effective and eff icient caucusing strategy . for the conference are easily identifiable. For the purposes of
this guide, I will share my ow n thoughts on what I consider
from experience to be the best practices regarding position
paper drafting.
Committee: Interational Monetary Fund

Country: the Central African Republic
Delegate: Christopher Bergedahl, Malta Model United Nations Society

Topic A: Adapting the quota system to the economic and financial challenges
of the new millennium
› 2. Section one: topic background › 3. Section two: country performance & policies
The o pening section of a position paper should provide a quic k The secon d section focu ses exclusively on a cou ntry’s cur rent policy towards the topic in question. O bviously this needs to be adapted to the topic
background of the topic. This operative word here is brief: the directors discussed: some times this section will be laden with statistics, at others with statements by government officials. This can prove tricky in certain
would a lready (hopeful ly!) kn ow the topic li ke the back of their hands, instances as some states do not collect reliable data for public dissemination. Thus, delegates must show some ingenuity when developing their
and will be in no mood to beat around the bush. That being said, a country’s profile. Take for example this extract from my position paper when representing the Central African Republic at the International Monetary Fund:
couple of sentences demonstrating your understanding of the key
issues at play will not go amiss. Here’s a helpful tip: in the study guides, “The Central African Republic is no stranger to these challenges, albeit it has suffered considerably more than its neighbours due to ongoing internal
directors often hint the issues that they deem worthy of inclusion in a strife. Th e government has been involved in protracted strugg les against various r ebel groups, effectively impeding the implementation of any cohere nt or
potential resolution. Now is the time to explore some of these issues long term mac roeconomic pol icy. Although it was repor ted that the economy grew marginall y in 2014 following a contr action of 36% of GDP in 2013, the
succinctly. Central African Republic faces an uphill struggle for a number of structural reasons.
These difficulties have been acknowledged by successive governments and have led to a strategic partnership with the IMF and the World Bank. In 2012,
the IMF approved a request under the Extended Credit Facility (“ECF”) to the tune of SDR 41.775 million in an attempt to facilitate economic recovery. The
government planned to use the funds to increase human and institutional capacity in order for it to pr oceed with plans to brin g about a comprehensive
tax policy and the implementation of an adequate system of public financial management. The resultant fiscal space derived from increased efficiency
would be utilised to alleviate poverty, invest in infrastructural projects and maintain a sustainable level of debt. Notwithstanding this, the IMF noted that the
Central African Republic was under moderate risk of debt distress, and thus any new debt issued by third parties ought to be on a concessional basis.”
› Section three:
policy goals
Helpful tip:
This i s the most importa nt section As a Sub-Sah aran state, th e Central Af rican Rep ublic is in a pri me position
your desired policy goals should be RELATED LINKS
of the entire position paper. It is here to act as a voice of the region in its efforts to achieve economic stability
that you ought to categorically list and debt sustaina bility. During this Conferen ce, the Delegati on of the constantly referred back to throughout Articles:
down those policy goals that you Central African Republic shall be pursuing three principal aims:
intend to achieve over the weekend. the debate on the topic. Directors will take MUN Research:
You can also take this opportunity to 1. Calling for cautio n and prudence on behalf of sub-Saharan 3 Basic Components
name-drop some states that you’re govern ments issuing sovereig n debt at competiti ve rates.
note of your consistency and be able to MUN Research Sources
looking to work with, which could
easily form the basis of a strategic
The debt-to-GDP ratio throughout the region has risen from
below 30% in 2008 to around 70% in 2014, and only stands
easily assess your performance in terms Position Paper Writing
partnership over the conference. to grow in the wake of the African sovereign debt boom. of your ability to convert your aspirations Model Un Glossary: Words
In terms of design, I encourage
into concrete resolution clauses. Every MUNer Should Know
delegates to make use of numbered 2 Advocati ng the provision of technical assista nce to aid administrations
lists, as they conveniently divide up in imple menting fiscal reform w ithout sacrif icing ta x sover eignty. T he MUN resolut ion No.1:
Encourages in-depth
the goals and make them more intended ef fect is to broade n the tax able base a nd ultimate ly achiev e
easily readable. fiscal consolidation. research
Some position paper samples
Researching:
Take for example this extract 3. Calling for a dual approach to address the growing concern of
Four Surefire Facts
from my position paper when access to credit (both large scale and micro-fi nancin g) in sub-
represe nting the Central Africa n Saharan territories: underlining the importance of legal certainty How to write a standard
Republic at the Interna tional and secur ity in credit transac tions by callin g for technica l and alternative versions
Monetar y Fund: assistan ce in civil/comme rcial law reform; and suppor ting of MUN study guide
the spread of successful initiatives undertaken by a number
of African states such as Senegal, Benin and Tanzania.
Public Speaking
Facing the crowd: Introduction
BY YASMIN HELMY
What is the first thi ng that comes to your mind when you think of p ublic speakin g? Politicians, rig ht?
Maybe TED Speakers and teachers, or professors, if you give it a bit more thought; or maybe you
think of business people giving a presentation to a board of directors.
Well, what about when you think of yourself ? Do yo u see yo urself as a pub lic spea ker?
Were you ever one?
Even if your answer is a definitive and assertive “of course not,” chances are you have spoken
publicly at least once in your lifetime. How come? Well, public speaking requires three main
components, or elements: a speaker (obviousl y), a message (the aim of the speech), and an audience
(the receivers of the message). So, technically, when you ask your parents for money and need to
explain why you need it - you’re a public speaker; when you tell your friends “the big news” - you’re
a public speaker; when you “pop the question” - you’re a public speaker.
The difference between our conventional underst anding of public What is pub lic speaking? Even though public speaking is a wonderfully useful tool for
speaking and the true - and many - definitions of public speaking Public speaking, sometimes called “oration,” is “effective oral communication, many people shy away from learning more
is that in simple, everyday situations the role of public speaker communication with an audience.” about it, or practicing it altogether . Each person has his/her own
alternates much faster than, say, at a political rally, a lecture, or a We can derive several t hings f rom t his def inition; the f irst being reasons for this; but these different causes of reluctance usually
business presentation. This is due to the difference in the nature the set of three main elements of practicing public speaking, boil down to the same thing; the last element of public speaking
of the message, as well as the audience. which we have already mentio ned and i dentified. - the audience.
The purpose of this chapter is not to make you the next Nelson Second, notice the word “effective;” this should be the core of
Mandela, but rather to place you on the path to becoming that. We any public speaker - to be effective in their performance. It can be The au dience may b e the ‘monster under the b ed’ t hat p eople
will take a good look at each of the three elements of public speaking achieved in many ways, and is perhaps the most important goal fear the most. Fear of rejection and mockery cause a big barrier
and explore how each of them shapes the overall performance of any public speaker should have in mind when preparing a strategy. that many people run up against when facing a crowd, and
a public speaker. We will also go over how to sufficiently prepare Third, it ’s very imp ortant not to fo rget that, at the end o f the day, while the audience should always be the top prior ity when
for being a public speaker, particularly in MUN; where public public speaking is all about communication, and communication composing a speech, it is possible to disengage from the fear
speaking can be used within the different settings of MUN; and can be achieved in many different ways. Within the framework and overcome it. This, of course, comes with practice. Another
how to prepare for being a public speaker in each of the different of public speaking you will find that there are many strategies cause of reluctance is the fact that people believe that they are
settings that MUN has to offer.] to communicate your message to the audience. Some are just not good enough for “that sort of thing.” Which begs the
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; so we better take a few wonder fully entertaining, some are boring, some are eng aging, question: is public speaking a talent or a skill?
steps back. and some are isolating.
(1) "Public Speaking." Def. 2. Merriam Webster. Merriam Webster, n.d. Web.
<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20speaking>.
War, peace, and everything in between:

the import ance of public speak ing
Those who have pract iced publi c s peaki ng have been the cause
of war, peace, revolution, fear, movements, the birth of ideologies
and much more. Orators have an incredible power that many
people seem to take lightly… and also for granted.
People who are reluctant to practice public speaking lack faith

that they will be any good at it - they don’t think they have what
it takes; they don’t believe that they have the required talent.
Granted, some orators are better than others, but the weigh of
factors that affect the quality of a speech outweigh the question
of mere talent by a landslide.
Public speaking: a talent or a skill?
What is i t th at d raws us to great public speakers? Charisma is usu ally the first thing that comes
to people’s minds, but they’re wrong to think so - not because the speaker isn’t charismatic , but
because all that people see is the speech as it’s being delivered; what they don’t see is the hard
work b ehind it. Their mind will neve r immediately g o to the fact th at a 10-minute speech too k many
gruelling hours to compose and prepare. We only see the pretty picture, and not the blood, sweat
and tears put into creating the picture-perfect result we see as the final result.
Whenever you se e a politici an gi ving an elo quent address, or a pe rfor mer g iving an accep tance
speech that really touches you, rest assured it’s no rabbit pulled out of a magician’s hat - hardly
any successful end-result ever is. You can say with certainty that the quality of a public speaker
depends vastly on how much effort was put into the preparation of his/her speech, and on how
this effort was invested. You can spend much time in preparation and still not get the end result
you want, simply b ecause you misdirected your ef forts.
Don’t be disheartened if you realise that your peers are getting the hang of public speaking “better
than you are,” they probably invested their efforts correctly from the get-go. Or it was beginner’s
luck, you can say, that makes it seem like they have the genes (or talent) that make them ingenious
public speakers; so don’t give up easily and read on to find out how you can become the next
Nelson Mandela.
Under a looki ng glas s: the three elements

First element: the audience
In order to efficiently This is, perhaps, the most important of the three elements. The audience will determine everything It is very important to answer these questions. It’s also very important to know why your audience
that goes in a public speaking performance, and if the speaker does not keep the audience a is there and where they have come to listen to you as speak. These factors will determine
prepare for public priority, the result of his/her efforts will be quite poor. everything you need to include in your speech; what sort of language you will use - formal,
speaking it is important slang, or something in between - whether or not you’ll be allowed to incorporate humour, what
The key to efficie ntly prepa ring for public spea king is to respect yo ur audie nce. Thin k of it this kind of analogies it’ll be okay to use, should you choose to include them, what you’re going to
that you truly understand way: when an audience is listening to yo u speak, they’ve put their obligations on hold and wear for y our speech, your approa ch to your own message - everyth ing.
and study up-close the sacrificed their time and attention to listen to someone they’ve probably never met and know What else does respecting your audie nce mean?
nothing about. This is not meant to scare you even more as a potential speaker, but to make it
three elements without clear that being a public speaker is an honour which you should not take lightly. Well, one way to put it is this: less is al ways more. When it comes to publi c speaking, once you
which public speaking understand what it means to respect your audience, it should come as no surprise that there
Why is thi s important ? is no need to waste your audience’s time, or your own breath for that matter, by saying things
could not exist. Once Simply, once you regard being a public speaker as an honour bestowed upon you by your that will add nothing to the message you’re trying to communicate. Don’t waste time explaining
these three elements audience, rather than a means to show off, or as a means to have attention focused on you, or repeating really mundane things or going around in circles just so you can talk more. Instead,
your atti tude in pr eparing you r speech will chang e dramaticall y. focus on constructing sentences that’ll carry your message across.
are well understood,
you can transition to You may very well be wondering what it means to respect an audience. Well, rest assured
you do n’t ne ed to repeat the words “ladie s an d gentle men” or “sirs a nd mada ms,” a l ot, if at
the actual composition
all. Respecting your audience entails many things. First, know who your audience is. Are they
and preparation of your family? Are they friends from work? A team you’re leading? What about their age range? Are
they mostly women or men…?
speech.
Second element: the message Third element: the speaker

The message is the core, wha t you want to communicate; what you want the entire room to realise - i f not the whole The speaker’s role, other tha n to deliver the actual message, is to construct the best stra tegy to deliver the message
wide world. It is what you a re there for. Ideas are a power ful thing; you’ll find it qui te surprising how many go od ones to the audience under the present circumstances. As mentioned above, the audience determines everything about
go to waste because they are never written down or said out loud, or are said inadequately. how a speech is to be delivered. The message, on the other hand, determines what it is that the speaker must
deliver; so the speaker’s role is to decide how to effectively put those two together so that they fit perfectly.
A speaker’s message doesn’t have to be revolutionar y, pr ogressive and/or radical for the speech to be good,
sometimes even fantastic. There’s so much more to it than just that. It doesn’t really matter what people think of your This per fect fit can only be a chie ved throu gh r esea rch and prac tice.
ideas; what matters is that you believe in them - and that’s part of respecting your audience, too.
Speakers must have adequate knowledge of the topic they’re discussing and the message they’re trying to deliver
When yo ur audie nce sees your passion, and how much you believe in what you are say ing, they will listen to you within the fr amework of the topic. Not only will this give you a better idea of what you’d like to see, an d help you
even if they disagree with you. The audience will want to see the limits of your conviction, try to figure out why it’s decide which points you will want to cover; it will also give you the confidence you need to speak.
there in the first place, and it will all be because you believe in every syllable you’re saying. This is important.
Once you have your topic and the message you’re interested in delivering figured out, you’ll need to decide on your
But remember, when you sign up as a delegate for MUN you will not always be assigned a country whose beliefs strategy of delivery, which will be determined by the composition of your audience. You should really try to figure out
match yours word for word, so generating conviction will be difficult, and this is where you’ll need to use your who your audience are; this will help you in deciding wh at kind of analo gies to use, whether or not you’re allowed
imagination (and research) to understand your assigned country’s conviction and make it your own. to use subtle sarcasm, it will also determine the tone and the different vocal levels you will use. This is where you
add your personal touch to your performance by utilising different styles of public speaking.
Speaking of research, that’s important, too. Your passion is what you display to the audience in order to get them
engaged, but if you show little or no knowledge of what you're talking about, it will manifest as lack of credibility and
the audience will ignore you completely. It's not enough to say you believe in your message; you also need to show
that your conviction is well-grounded and that its roots are not imaginary.
"MUNs force you to engage in quite intensive debates

with your fellow delegates and to be very reactive in order to push
forward the interests of the States you’re representing."
Benjamin Samson, France

Fridays with MUNPlanet Interview
Diplomat-in-the-making:
how to prepare to be a public speaker
Suit and Tie: opening speeches and formal debate
As we’ ve men ti one d e arl ier, it ’s ver y eas y Not many MUNers prefer formal debate (actually, they hate it), because Formal debate, in every essence of the phrase, requires the use of more
delegations speak following a certain order (the list of speakers), and you complex vocabulary and a slower pace, as well as panoramic view points
to mistake public speaking for purely a talent. have to take notes at supersonic speed to be able to respond to all the - i.e. delegates usually use formal debate to provide an overview of what
In the previous few paragraphs we have points that have been put forward before you got your turn. So the idea is they think about the topic and how they believe the debate is proceeding
to make your speech sound natural and flow smoothly, rather than present in general. They address specifics quite rarely in formal debate, as they
described the end-result. Now, we move on a rigid collection of bullet points (which is what you will have in your notes). are discussed during the informal debate (moderated caucus) and un-
to the actual preparation. Formally speaking, moderated caucus.

In the actual UN, during a so-called formal debate, the speaker’s time is not
there are three spheres in which you can limited (though there is a list of speakers). As MUN conferences are relatively You can say that due to the general nature of formal debate foreign policy is
implement public speaking as a diplomatic limited in time, compared to the actual UN meetings, the time constraint most evident there, since delegates express their opinions concerning the
is a factor you must keep in mind as a speaker at all times. situation as a whole, proposing a very loose definition of the appropriate track
arsenal: formal debate, moderated caucus they think the council or committee should take. Like they say, “the devil is in
(informal debate), and un-moderated caucus; the details,” and so is foreign policy, which is sometimes difficult to pick up
during the discussion of specific aspects of the topic.
so roll up your sleeves, fire up your laptop,
and let’s get this show on the road.
Preparation: the opening speech

At this point in the conference, the main resource for a good speech is This is just a sample of how you should pre pare for your open ing speec h Silence allows your audience to process what you're saying.
extensive research. It is very important to exhibit well-rounded knowledge when you fir st come to address a topic, be it at the General Assembly of It is recommended to stop talking approximately every 5 to 7 words, on
of the topic or crisis at hand; where it came from; how it all started; why it is your MUN or in your chosen council/committee; and as we’ve mentioned average, if you’re facing a large audience, to ensure that all of your audience
still a problem; what steps have been taken to fix it; and whether the UN has before, this is all part of knowing what you’re going to say and how you’re members have an idea of what you’re talking about (again, this all depends
played a role in it or not - if yes, what extent (cite resolutions, peacekeeping going to say it. on how much time you have, and how much content and substance you
missions, different programmes, etc.) and if no, why not (was the UN slow to have put in your speech).
react, did a veto power purposefully cause a resolution to fail in the Security “Time is of the essence,” is perhaps the most applicable phrase for MUN
Council, etc.); how did dif ferent segments of the ideological spectrum analyse In some MUNs, delegates have 2-5 minutes to give an opening speech, in It's also important to remember that the larger your audience is, the smaller
it (explore different newspapers with different agendas or opinions), and so others it’s between 50 seconds and a minute and a half, so be very careful the words in your speech need to be - like four syllables and less. For one
forth. of how much content you put in your speech. If you have a short amount thing, this will ensure that all the audience members are following you. It
of time, give a vague and general overview of your country’s opinion on the will also make it easier for you to pronou nce ever ything clearly, which w ill
Following this process, once you have a very clea r idea of the topic, its history, topic at hand; if you have a bit longer, you can use the time to boast about guarantee that you will be heard.
its global effect and importance and how different international organisations your c ountry’s efforts, throw a little shade on the inter national community,
- primarily the UN - have dealt with it, it’s time to look at your own country, and maybe propose a course of action - should time allow this, of course. Don't be afraid to reach out to your audience, ask rhetorical questions, give
what i t thinks of the topic; whether it ha s release d any statements or not; examples by placing the audience in certain situations, or by sharing an
whether it has played an active role or not; whether it has had any substantive However, to reiterate, the purpose of giving a speech is not to just talk, it’s experience. If you remember your audience in your speech, your audience
role within the UN itself, and of course, what kind of rhetoric your delegation to deliver a message you (or in this case, your delegation) believe in, and will remember you.
primarily employs when addressing this particular topic. sometimes the best tool to help you achieve this is silence.
Preparation: formal debate speeches
Delivery RELATED LINKS
This is wher e y ou need to focus more on your body than on your voca l moveme nt and the conte nt of your Articles:
speech, which you have already prepared.
When you're spea king, it's ve ry i mpor tant to remov e any physi cal b arr iers betwe en yo urse lf an d the a udien ce, What are the best st rategies for public speech
as much as this is possible, (no, this doesn't include clothes). If you have to speak from a podium, try to
MUN public speaking tips and tricks
keep your head up high, your voice loud and clear, and your hands and arms as far from your torso area as
possible. The better the audience sees you, the more attentive they'll be. How to break the deadlock and enhance p ublic speaking at MUN
It is preferable that public speakers move around, but MUNers have to stay put. So, you need to remember From a citizen of the world t o world leader: a guide to public speaking
that your hand and arm movements are just as important in your speech as anything else; they are a part of strategies
your speec h. Keep your hand and arm moveme nts with in a 10c m r adius (appr oxima tely) from your self. That
should be enough moving space for you to be expressive without looking like a crazy person set on fire.
Key questions:
How to overcome the fear of public speaking
Not-so-suit-and-tie: the un-moderated caucus What are the most common mistakes the first time MUNers make?
This is a type of debate that deleg ates prefe r when work on potenti al resol ution s i s n ot yet read y to be set
in motion. The topic is broken down into several questions and aspects, and the delegates - on their own -
discuss these tiny elements that make up the topic. This is where the most agreed-upon course of action is
chosen to address the topic at hand. The time limit in this form of debate is much less restrictive than that
of the formal debate.
Model UN Roles: Delegates and Chairs

BY ALLAN MUNYAO
Being a Delegate Being a Chair

Having discussed variou s aspects of MUN conferences, make programmes and schedules for the conference, On the other hand, chairs also play a critical role. Chairs takes off on a totally different tangent. These and many
it’s also imperative that we look at the various roles that but the delegates actualise them by making what is are responsible for choosing topics and writing their others are the perks of being a chair, and who wouldn’t
different people play in an MUN Conference. At the on paper come to life and thus creating a worthwhile respective background papers. Moreover, they always want to be in charge of the conference gavel? As for the
beginning of my MUN life, I started off as a delegate. experience for each other. have a chance to chair sessions together with another disadvantages, what has always been a challenge for
This was imperative b ecause I wanted to lear n how the Moreover, it is from the platform of being a delegate co-chair in the MUN. me is the fact that as a chair you cannot participate in
MUN ‘world’ operates. Thus began my journey of an that diplomatic skills are nurtured and lobbying skills the debate. Delegates debate while the chair provides
avid MUNer. are developed. Public speaking is also enhanced, and Many believe that chairs are ‘hallowed beings’ and that guidance. Hence, the mind frame of a chair is different
As a delegate, you are the centre of the conference. research skills are honed. All these have seen great only a few people can be chairs. This is not the case. from that of a delegate, and if you have been a delegate
You are the one who gets the deba tes going a nd sets diplomats in the making in the real world. Fundamental knowledge of international relations is for a long time you may find chairing a bit constraining.
resolutions in motion. This is because the end result of Nevertheless, being a delegate is not always a bed enough to get you a chair or co-chair position in an But once you learn to get out of the bubble of the other
the conference is of the delegates, by the delegates of roses; the cultural differences usually make the first MUN conference. Hence, it is from the springboard of side of the floor, you will realise that chairing is indeed
and for the delegates. Hence, delegates play a key role days of the conference a bit ‘icy’. But once the ice being a delegate that one can leap into being a MUN a lot of fun.
in MUNs. is broken, international networks and friendships are conference chair. In summation, chairing at least one MUN should be
The key tasks for delegates in clude: creatin g debates, formed. In summation, success as a delegate comes Chairing an MUN conference has its perks and the ultimate goal of any MUNer. This is because it is
defending their positions, lobbying for resolutions and from extensive research, an endearing personality and disadvantages. As for the perks, you get to guide the a platform to share the knowledge and experiences
recommendations, as well as making the conference a a friendly character. debates of the delegates and to share your knowledge gained as a delegate.
worthwhile experience for other delegates. Boards and guidance in the event that a debate
Some Delegates’ Perspectives on Chairs

- A View from High School MUN s
BY EDUARDO PALOMINO
At your first conferenc e, the chair may look scary. But remember, The first chair type you may encounter is the “Blind and Deaf So please, if you are nervous, think through what you are going
they are just experienced, not mean. They are human beings, Chair.” You will try to speak and they won’t give you the word. to say and make sure it relates to what somebody else has
and they will not harm you in any way. What you must take into This is really frustrat ing, because during a conference discussio n just said. Even quote o ther delegates. This lets t he chai r k now
account, though, is that there are many situations chairs may the point changes so quickly that if you haven’t spoken after that you are following the debate and that the committee is not
put you into, and you must know how to cope with them. Chairs ten interventions, your participation may have already become in complete chaos. That way they will give you the word more
are there to make the best of the MUN experience. However, obsolete. Howeve r, they do not do this intentionally - moderating often than if you just agreed with everyone else.
still in high school, chairs tend to be young and usually don’t a committee is not easy. Imagine having to administrate the
have more than five MUNs of experience. They have some… participation of twenty delegates who participate at different
particular characteristics you may want to take into account. What frequencies, whose interventions focus on different matters,
you should know af ter reading this is that, apart from dele gates, who are eit her shy or ext rovert - w here you must make su re that
chairs will have a major influence on your performance. all have had the same opportunities to speak, while keeping the
flow of the debate stable and productive.
The nex t t ype is the “Hitler Chair.” The str ictest m oderators and p residents may pr ey on less c autious delegates, because order is RELATED LINKS
sometimes what keeps the committee productive. Their voices may be loud and some of them may be intimidating. But they are
never hateful or mean. Don’t play games with this type of chair; do not be insolent or submissive. Answer politely to whatever they Key questions:
tell you and avoid excessive contact with them. Chairs are sometimes just a way for you to communicate to other delegates , so if a
What are the most critical traits of a good MUN committee
chair is too strict, keep interaction with him/her to a minimum and focus on the delegates. No delegate likes these kinds of chairs,
chairperson?
but they indeed ensure a productive ambiance. However , if a chair becomes abusive and intransigen t, you better report this to the
organisers; you aren’t in the ar my, you’re simulating the UN. One simply doesn’t yell at diplomats. What makes a good committee chair?
How to become a committee chair?
Finally, there’s the “Amity Chair.” These people are excellent diplomats, and they will thank you even for par ticipating. Having these
kinds of chairs is really comfortable, but as a result the debate may be less intense. They focus on participation rather than on
comprehension . They look for a consensus instea d of sanctioning a country. They always smile and may act informally from time to Topic: Chairing MUN
time. You, as a delegate, must balance the attitudes of the chair with yours to always keep the environment productive yet diplomatic.
If your chair is aggressive, be polite. If your chair is passive, be proactive. Chairs also learn and gain experience in MUNs. They are
the fuel that turns o n the engine of your committee, but you must cooperate.
They are there to help you, and you should als o help them if they seem to be in trouble. If there is a clever deleg ate who is outsmar ting
the chair, a good Point of Order can make a difference. Do not annoy them because, in the end, you are under their authority.
Respect them, and they will always respect you. If you ever encounter an inexperienced chair, do not worry or try to by-pass the
rules; it’s best to support them. You are playing on the same team, the team of the UN.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı Pre-conference Phase ı Conclusion page 62
How MUNP lanet Can Help You

Become a Better MUN er
MUNPlanet has been serving its members as an information, This is how MUNPla net c an h elp you go thro ugh t he pre -confe rence prepar ation phase succe ssfully:
social and knowledge platform – a community where the members
talk about how MUNs are done and how they resonate with the • By becoming a MUNPlan et member, you can read about all things MUN and get a more profound understan ding
wider global affair s. O ur members answered more than 4,000 of the key challenges ahead of first-time MUNers;
questions, provided more than 6,000 comments, followed over • Hundreds of conference opportunities are promoted on MUNPlanet through its high-school and university-level
275,000 topics, and engaged in a number of discussions, from MUN calendar and you can browse through a comprehensiv e MUN conference calendar when looking for your next MUN;
Model UN experiences and international security to sustainability • MUN delegates , chairs, an d conferenc e organisers can improve their own performance by learnin g from their fel low MUNers.
and career development .
You can read abo ut all th e stages of the pre-conference phase, from t he conference choic e, through t he basics of the MUN culture,
Model United Nations topic on MUNPlanet has attracted the MUN research , position paper writing , public speaking , to MUN roles and what it takes to progress down your Model UN path.
attention of thousands of MUN delegates and conference
organisers who shared their views on how to make progress
down your MUN path.
3.0.
CONFERENCE
PHASE
– On MUN s and what it means to represent a country
– Representing a Country at Model UN
– Model UN Conference Activity
– The Opening Speech
– In-Session Dynamics
– Negotiation and Lobbying
– MUN s : Learning and/or competition?
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı conference Phase 3.1. page 64
On MUNs and what it means to

represent a country
BY RORY MONDSHEIN
Model United Nations has numerous educational benefits. On In committee, we are challenged to contemplate some of the In committee, we feel powerful because we hide behind the
the individual level, it helps students improve their public speaking most pressing issues of our time through simulation, in order to placard of a particular nation or representative. We often use
and develop a plethora of skills, including leadership, negotiation, get a better sense of p olitical institutions and the way that each committee sessions to experiment with our own identities, and
debate and personal confidence. On the professional level, it country fits into the global system. We spend days, weeks, even gain the personal confidence to take risks because we know
helps students become better public speakers and researchers, months preparing for conferences because we believe that our that, at the end of the day, it is just a simulation. For these
which benefi ts them in the job market. Finally, on the global level, work in educating other s is an essential par t of peace-building. In reasons, we find that, w hile delegates present a confident public
Model United Nations challenges students to learn about history committee, we are committed to upholding “the inherent dignity persona, they do not use their Model UN skills in their daily lives.
through the perspective of a particular nation -- perhaps a nation and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
they may not know about, or one they may not necessarily like - human family,” and deplore any unilateral or multilateral action
and represent that country’s position in order to understand the that violates it (UN Charter). In committee, we refuse to sit idly
global order and accept personal and social differences in it. because we are convinced that our voices and actions have a
ripple effect, which is why we take it upon ourselves to intervene
swiftly and quickly to ameliorate conflict.
Representing aCountry at Model UN

“Representing another country encourages you to see international problems from a different perspective. This “In my first MUN we were discussing the Gaza Strip. Neither the participants nor the organisers were aware
increases mutual understanding between the delegates, because you perceive the world from a different angle. For of the fact that the representative of a Muslim country was from Israel, which made the whole session quite
example, if you are a Dutch national, you read more or less the same newspaper every day, you look at the same difficult. The simulation game became very real to her. However, she remained in her role until the end and did
(Dutch) news every day, and you talk to your (Dutch) friends about the news and problems in the world. It is fairly a great job represent ing the views of a government with an entirely different opinion.
ease to represent and protect these interests, because you were raised in a certain environment and with certain
beliefs. But when you are encouraged to step into someone else’s shoes, you have to step out of your comfort zone I could go on with more examples, but this one is sufficient to illustrate the point. The most common mistake that
and suddenly take someone else’s preferences and ideas i nto account. many MUN beginners make is that they represent their own opinions rather than those of the country they were
assigned. It is understandable that someone who has always lived, for example, in the UK might have different
From my own experience I know that this can be quite a challenge; but if you succeed, this increases your opinions of certain issues than the government of Gabon. It is also very likely that most governments, even from
understanding of the world and wil l bring you closer to your fellow de legates. Therefore, I believe that MUNs do not your own home country, have opinions on some issues that are very different from yours.
necessarily change the way you perceive the world, but they broaden your world. By doing MUN conferences we
will not be able to bring everlasting peace, but we can try to take baby steps by creating awareness and facilitating It is always important to have your own personal opinions, to be able to justify and reason them. However,
international dialogue.” sometimes the time and place are not right. This is why it’s important to learn to recognise the right time to be
a person with strong opinions and when to practise diplomacy, and also to be able to represent opinions that
Dyonne Niehof, the Netherlands might not be in line with your own. This is what we can learn from Model United Nations: how to represent a
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview country and views that might differ from our own.”
Juliane Jokinen, Estonia

MUNPlanet link
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı conference Phase 3.3.
Model UN Conference Activity
Model UN usually begins with an opening ceremony that is followed by regular sessions (formal The sess ion beg ins most
and informal debate, resolution writing and voting procedure/ document adoption) . Many Mo del UN often by the delegations RELATED LINKS
conferences nowadays offer many social activities and other programmes that make the complete presenting their views of Articles:
event a memorable experience . But the main part of every MUN takes part in the conference the topic (e.g. opening
A Typical Model UN Conference
rooms where discussions go on for one to several days - simulating the possible scenarios that speech), followed by formal
Story Told Through 15 Obama GIFs
can or could happen in world politics. These situations go beyond the spirit of simulation and help and informal debates,
the delegates develop skills such as public speaking, negotiation, writing or leadership. Knowledge caucuses, resolution writing
and information are gathered and long lasting ties made at these conferences , thus making for and voting on the outcome
a unique place w here international social capital is developed among the students interested in documents.
global affairs. In this infographic you can see these elements of the flow of debate.
The Opening Speech

RELATED LINKS
Articles:
A to Z of Your Opening Speech
The importance of representing
your own country
Key questions:
How should delegations present
their opening speeches?
“The opening speech is definitely your time to shine. You should be adequately prepared, and should quote
several referential documents on your country or region in c onnection to the topic you are addressing.
If you are presenting your country as a delegation, one person - probably the one who is most
outspoken and has the least stage fright - should address the audience in the opening speech.
Others should make their say in coordination with the entire delegation as the session proceeds.
It is always important to think of the desirable outcome, i.e. "What does your delegation or country
want to achieve?" and to project your activities in that direction.
Remember that the opening speech is the first contact that fellow delegates from other countries are having
with you. Depending on the desirable outcome which your delegation has identified and wants to pursue, you will
position yourself and your country as straightforward and brutally honest, with an ultimatum which symbolises
a call for action; or you will be a leader seeking allies, solving a conflict situation, providing security…
In your opening speech, what you say matters (the content) as much as how you say it (your intonation,
the choice of words and pauses, your body language, the personality traits you expressed).”
Milena Milićević, Serbia

MUNPlanet link
Team Bui ldi ng
“This skill is not as obvious as research or public speaking, but it is

crucial to your success in committee. When you are in un-moderated
caucus, meeting people and finding others you can work with - you are
essentially building a team. Your team, also known as a caucus bloc or
an alliance, needs to work together to write resolutions and get them
passed. Being a leader of your team also helps you become a leader in
committee and in the eyes of your chair.
Tip: During un-moderated caucus, most delegates try to build a team

by talking about their own policies and solutions. However, it’s actually
more important to ask others what they think and get their input. That is
how you find people who share the same policies and solutions and with
whom can be on the same team. So talk less, and listen more.”
Feisal Ahmed, Ethiopia

MUNPlanet link
RELATED LINKS
Articles:
7 most common MUN fears (and how to overcome them)
Key questions:
When and how delegates should exercise the right of reply?
Five skills every delegate should learn
In-Session Dynamics
Moderated and un-moderated caucusing
BY EDUARDO PALOMINO
This is one of the most awesome parts of the MUN! Just to give you an idea of how a moderated caucus works, picture the following: it is a period
of the conference when you can raise your placard to ask for the word, and if you are given
Ask any experienced delegate what they think about
the word you may speak for a set amount of time about anything you think pertinent. You
caucusing, and almost everyone will say that it is exactly can make remarks, question someone, attack or compliment someone’s proposal. Everyone
what makes MUN so special. This is where you will in the room will listen to you, so you have better lost your fear of public speaking by then.
Arg umen ts str ike ever yone, and you shou ld be read y t o quar rel. Alt houg h t he main pur pos e
spend most of the conference, and also where you will
of the caucus is to start finding common viewpoints with other delegations - and you should
find out what you’re made of. If you see a two-sided absolutely do that – there are many delegates who enjoy debating and destroying others’
debate as a war, see caucusing as Battle Royale or the proposals. In negotiation you have two options: to prove that your proposal is the best or
destroy all the other ones until t he only remaining option for them is yours. If you are attacked,
Hunger Games. This part can be the most intimidating
do not feel discouraged; attack harder.
for a newbie delegate, but as long as you stay focused
you can do really well in it.
Aft er you have made allia nces and enemie s duri ng the mode rated caucus, it’s time for un- Giving an effective moderated caucus speech: RELATED LINKS
moderated caucus. Here, you may speak directly to other delegates, or walk around the room,
just l ike reg ular p eopl e do. Th is is w here yo u must b e as dip lomat ic as p ossib le. At th is tim e you “7% is what you say. What matters is how you say it.”
Key questions:
should negotiate for consensus. By then you should have reunited with your bloc, the countries
that came together by way of geopoli tical ties or positio ns during the debate. The ideal is that the Approach delegates - "Most distinguished council, I c all for your utmost How do you create a good
highest number of countries agreeing on the same point write a draft resolution and put all their attention." speech on any topic for the
ideas together. Here, every single idea is valuable, because the stronger your draft resolution moderated caucuses?
The key is to stand up straight, make eye contact and speak in a clear, loud
is, the more chances it has to be accepted by the entire committee. This time, you should act
voice, without yelling or bei ng offensive.
differently from the way you acted in moderated caucus. It is now useless to fight; you must find
common ground. Always say what your delegation wants, and how you plan to include that in
Make short points; do not provide data or anything like that. A statement
what your fello w de lega tions seek. Impo rt ant: do not get pers onal. Don’t say ‘what YOU w ant;’
is supposed to be convincing, not informing. Information can be shared
instead use the words ‘what your delegation wants’. Don’t place your own ideology at risk of much more quickly online or at the General Speakers list.
being criticised. After all, you are a country and whatever they are saying – they are saying it to
your count ry, n ot to you. W ith these tips in mi nd, yo u sho uld b uild an awe some draf t res olut ion When you only have 45 seconds, use them well. And always be polite,
together with your bloc. Cooperation is key here. approach other delegates with your statement, and finish with "I thank
you for the time, honourable chairs, and for your attention, honourable
Please note that you may be going back to moderated caucus af ter the un-moderated. These delegates".
are the final steps on the path to a resolution, so do your best. Be sure to engage with other
delegates and never stand in isolation. Even when someone starts to w rite the resolution on Frederike Kipper, Germany
MUNPlanet link
the computer, do not leave! Stay next to them, ready to suggest something new or correct
something you don’t like. Remember that the essence of MUNs is union and cooperation.
What othe r reas on wou ld ther e b e to call them Mod el UNI TED Nat ion s? Wo rk tog ethe r and,
always, always, always, enjoy the caucus.
Negotiation and Lobbying

5 approaches to problem solving
BY RORY MONDSHEIN
In life, we are always trying to pursue our goals. Yet, everyone Unfortunately, just as there is no universal solution to every
is different: we have different backgrounds, beliefs, values problem, there is no universally applicable method either. As
and goals -- and unfortunately, sometimes, our personal and the table shows, there are five different approaches to conflict
unique interests can interfere with someone else’s , which leads resolution, and they come each with its own benefits and
to conflict. Yet, it is important to note that, while conflicts and consequence s. It is important to reference this table in o rder to
clashes are inevitable, we have the power to either ameliorate or explore all your options.
exacerbate them . As a result, it is crucial for us to sit back and
evaluate our methodology to produce the best possible result.
Figure 1 shows five potential approaches to problem-solving,
based on Thomas Killman’s “Conflict Mode Instrument.”
Conflict resolution
A. Decid ing o n the mode B. Methods of conflict resolution
As previously mentioned, every problem is different and, as a result, • Is the conflict creating an uncomfortable environment Fortunately, while there may not be a universal framework for
there is no universally applicable method to resolving conflicts. for others? (For example: if/when someone is bullying problem-solving, there are actually some general tips that you
For these reasons, it is important to evaluate the situation and a fellow student, or, on the macro-level, when a larger can follow to resolve any and every problem -- whether in the
conduct a cost/benefit analysis when considering each solution, country is invading a smaller country) Model United Nations circuit, at school, or even at home.
because certain methods are better suited to certain situations. • Is the conflict interrupting perfunctory bus iness and
For example, if you are participating in the WFUNA International affecting a large number of people? (For example, if/when
Model United Nations (WIMUN), which focuses on consensus- the conflict spreads to other social groups or regions)
building, you will want to use the “Collaborat ive Approach” because • Does the conflict pose an active threat? (For example,
it forces each actor to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses if/when a government threatens to attack.)
and see how they fit into the global system. However, while the
“Collaborative Approach” may be useful for WIMUN and group If you have answered “yes” to more than one of these
projects, it may not necessarily ameliorate that sibling rivalry over questions, then intervention is definitely necessary; yet,
the television set as well as the “Compromise Approach.” the way to intervene is entirely up to you.yet, the way
you inter vene is e ntirely up to you.
As a delegate and facilitator, i t is your responsib ility to (acti vely)
listen, analyse , and lead parties to the best long-term solution.
It is up to you to decide which method will get you there. While
we sometimes wonder if interventi on is even necessar y - as
some conflicts tend to eventually resolve themselves on their
own - it is important to evaluate the situation and ask yourself:
Fact- Findin g Ethical evaluations
It goes without saying that to resolve a conflict we have to In addition to contemplating the current conflict, it is important to consider and find core catalysts that
know what the problem actually is. In order to get to the root motivate individuals/countries to behave in a certain way. In other words, we must know the actors
of the problem, we must consider the following: and their central values, including their backgrounds, beliefs and goals in order to paint a complete
picture of the problem, understand everyone’s role in it and identify what can(not) be compromised.
• Who is involved and what do they represent? “The Tree Model” in Figure 2 provides a visual explanation for understanding the role that individuals’
• What is the history of the conflict? Is it affecting backgrounds and ethics play in understanding and resolving conflicts.
the current situation, or is it entirely separate ?
Figure 2: The Tree Model
• What is the most contentious issue?
• Can we find common ground? Leaves:
every single conflict or
interaction a person has.
It is important to ask these questions because it helps us
Branches:
understand the problem at hand. In some ways, Model United
the way that these values and
Nations is naturally structured towards this approach: the experiences effect individuals'
every day lives.
Country List gives us an overview of the actors involved, and
the Background Guide provides an overview of the history of the T runk:
core values
conflict and the current situation -- it is up to us, as delegates,
(i.e. religious or personal) and
to determine the root cause of the issue and identify patterns formative experiences.
between country positions in order to find common ground . It is
root s :
also important to apply this model of thinking to everyday life and Individuals' backgrounds
(i.e. country/place of birth,
situations, to become a solution sleuth both inside and outside
family, social status, etc)
of a committee and a person who is able to resolve some of the
biggest issues in his/her personal life.
In Model United N ations,

As F igure 2 show s, each individu al is like a tree: thei r str ucture It is incredibly useful to make this analogy because, at the end of
is comprised of roots, a trunk, branches, and leaves -- each the day, we want to see if we can come to a resolution that benefits
element is a metaphor. As we all know, roots are planted all parties, so we must find so me common ground between them.
firmly in the ground, and represent the foundation of the entire
structure of the tree. Our backgrounds are our roots, because
In Model United Nations, we acknowledge that every country is
different, but our committee session provides a common platform
we acknowledge
they indicate where we started and provide grounds on which
to build our character. For trees, the trunk is the core element
for everyone to come together. In committee, countries confirm
their collective commitment to resolving [issue X ] -- their interest in
that every country
is different,
because it creates the structure for the rest of the tree. Our the issue is the common ground, but the way they view the issue
values (i.e. our core belief s) are our trunks b ecause they are par t is informed by their national roots and trunks.
of our central identity, giving us the intellectual and ethical prism
through which we view the world and our place in it. Stemming
from the tr unk, the branches represent an extension of the core;
Unfortunately, however, life is not that simple and it is up to us as
delegates and facilitators to take the time to parse each actor to
but our committee session
for us, the branches show the ways that our core values affect
our everyday experiences, which are represented by the leaves.
understand their backgrounds and values to better rationalise and
predict their behaviour. Although it may seem time-consuming at
provides a common platform
Now, I bet you are wondering: what is the relevance of this? Well, first, it actually saves you energy in the long term.
as my adviser and Model United Nations coach explained to me, for ev eryone
it is important to look at the actors holistically because it informs
us about the way they are viewing and approaching the problem.
By understanding the lens through which these individuals view
to come together.
the world, we can better understand their behaviour, identify
their values, and see if they have anything in common with the
other actors.
Frank facil itat ion & planni ng
Once you, the facilitator, have identified the common ground, In order to come up with an all-inclusive solution for everyone, it is
important to ensure that all voices are heard and that everyone’s
Conclusion
it is up to you to reveal your findings. In Model United Nations,
actors come to the table with particular goals in mind, and, if needs are met. This can be do ne through “Operation: Step Up, Step
Conflicts are inevitable, but there are many different ways to
you are a good researcher, you will know exactly what their Back,” which reminds leaders to listen to the others’ viewpo ints and
solve them. In order to determine the best possible approach it
goals are. Your next task, however, is to shift the conversation be cognisant of who has/has not spoken, and encourages more
is important to use active listening, as well as critical thinking to
from emotion to fact by showing each stakeholder that [action bashful representatives to speak without imposing an arbitrary
evaluate the situation based on the actors involved, their history
X] is in t heir best interest. time limit on conflict resolutions.
and their goals. In some ways, Model United Nations is structured
towards this approach because the Background Guide lays the
Now, it is important that you do not tell them, “Based on [insert Unfortunately, in the Model United Nations communit y, “Operation:
groundwork for explaining the problem, and the Country List
value], it is in your b est interest to [inser t soluti on]” because that Step Up, Step Back” is much easier said than done. In a world
outlines the groups affected. Now, it is up to us to evaluate each
can appear rather abrasive, and unnecessarily so. Instead, it is dominated by speaker points and awards, we often find that
actor involved, consider their interests, and create a plan of action
better to ask the important questions and use active listening to delegates are much more eager to speak to increase their
to resolve the conflict -- and we must apply the same approach
get each stakeholder to connect the dots. In other words, think chances of winning than to actually be diplomatic. Yet, if there
to our personal and professional conflicts.
of the stereotype of a therapist who constantly asks you how is anything to take away from this article, it is that awards do
something makes you feel. As the facilitator, you need to start not matter and that it is, instead, important to focus on actually
Special thanks to Jonathan Becker, the Bard C ollege Model
the dialogue and carefully construct the conversation without ameliorating the problem by encouraging delegates to speak,
United Nations and Change in Action programs, as well as
dominating it. listening to their points, and taking notes on them so that you can
UC Irvine for assistance with the technical terms.
write a comprehensive reso lution for all.
MUNs: Learning and/or

competition?
Since its inception, Model UN was envisaged as a simulation of the work of the main international
organisation, with a goal of practicing diplomacy and problem solving in the area of international
relations among students. However, today the spirit of learning and practicing diplomatic skills is
simultaneously followed by a rising competition among the student delegates, which raises the
following question: is winning a Model UN award the most im portant goal of ever y delegate, and what
does this ‘incentive’ bring about? What does this phenomenon tell us about MUN? Below are some
of the key points that can summarise the positions in this debate.
On the role of MUN awards

“At Stockholm Model United Nations there is only one award I believe it is counter-productive, if not even destructive, for delegates to focus on what they can RELATED LINKS
available, the SMUN Honorar y Medal. We use this award for do to win an award. For this reason, during the year when I was president of SMUN I encouraged
several purposes: presidents of all the councils to consider which, if any, delegates had shown sincere effort of
Key questions:
cooperation and unity in the spirit of the United Nations. For this reason we had a varying number
1. To show appreciation to exceptional speakers who have of awards in each council. How do you evaluate best
shown great willingness to help by returning again and However, this does not mean that awards cannot be used in a fun and productive way . It is essential delegates at MUN conferences?
again to hold workshops or lectures during the preparatory that due consideration be given to keeping MUN from becoming a competitive event where the
What is the role of awards at
events; person who manages to dominate a council is automatically given an award. Stepping between
your Model UN conference?
2. To award members of the Host Team who have shown the countries with strong opinions and mediating to reach a common compromise represents one
exceptional efforts to improve and organise the of the more dif ficult tasks in an MUN.”
conference; and
3. To award delegates who have laboured sincerely and Emil Hrafn Stensson (SMUN), Sweden
tirelessly to unite the council in a common compromise MUNPlanet link
to move forward in the spirit of the United Nations.
Learning by doing A critical perspective on MUNs

“Learning by doing”, as much as it sounds like a cliché, is an “This way, the knowledge and cognitive intuition of more students could be utilised to search for RELATED LINKS
outstanding technique for acquiring new knowledge. Obviously , solutions not yet found. It was evident that the introduction of an incentive came at a cost. Much
you cannot apply this concept to every thing, but a variety of like with any platform involving with a scoring system, competition arose between delegates. This
Key questions:
fields will allow you to do so. You can, for example, use the was ‘t he death of MUN.’
technique when you are studying for a particular subject of your How do you evaluate best
studies. It often helps to actively engage in a matter when you What d o we see at MUN conferences today? We see deleg ates blindl y voting for reso lutions, delegates at MUN conferences?
are trying to become an expert, or just someone who knows a based either on where their fr iends’ allegiance s lie, or simply for resolutions of which they are
What is the role of awards at
bit about a particular matter. I have learned so many things just signatories. The delegate s, especially in GA, don’t truly understand what is listed within the
your Model UN conference?
by doing them. Not only did I learn how MUNs work, but I also operatives, the purpose of operative clause 6; sub-clause b; part ii. But this is just the beginning.
learned how to organise or lead a team just by tr ying it.” The lack of under standing can be s olved, b ut the key under lying issue, which is slig htly mor e
difficult to deal with, is the thirst for awards.”
Finn Carlson (MUNOTH), The Netherlands
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview Rahal Wijewar dene, Sri Lanka
MUNPlanet link
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı conference Phase ı Conclusion page 80
How MUNP lanet Can Help You

Become a Better MUN er
MUNPlanet has been serving its members as information, social This is how MUNPla net c an h elp you becom e a more p roficie nt MUN er an d per form well du ring t he co nferen ce:
and knowledge platform - that is, as a community of practice
where members talk a bout how M UNs ar e done and ho w they • We work to enable MUN delegates to learn about the culture of MUNing all around the world, while taking part in interactive
resonate with wider global affairs and careers. In the first twelve discussions on the topics most relevant to the MUN community.
months since its launch,MUNers have answered more than 4,000 • MUN delegates, chairs, and conference organisers can improve their own performance by learning from their fellow MUNers.
questions, commented 6,000+ times, followed over 275,000 If you had participated in 20 conferences, your knowledge and experience may be useful to other, less experienced delegates.
topics, and engaged in a whole range of discussions, from On the other hand, more experienced MUNers may find inspiration to drive their conference participation further and work on
Model UN experiences and international security to sustainable the small details, while benefiting from the interaction within the biggest MUN online community.
development and career development . • MUNPlanet helps the newbies as well as experience d delegates exchange information and knowledge that complements
Model United Nations topic on MUNPlanet has attracted the the process of proliferation and raising the level of professionalism of MUNs. Hundreds of conference opportunities
attention of thousands of MUN delegates and conference are promoted on MUNPlanet through its high-school and university-level MUN calendar and you can browse through
organisers who shared their views on how to make progress on a comprehensive MUN conference calendar when looking for your next MUN.
your M UN path.
4.0.
POST-CONFERENCE
PHASE
– How to Become a Better Delegate? Better vs. Best Delegate
– Becoming a better UN delegate
– Becoming a Model UN Chairperson
– A Note on Organizing Model UN
– Thinking about the Key Value of MUN s
– Model UN and Careers

Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı post MUN 4.1. page 82
How to Become a Better Delegate?

Better vs. Best Delegate
Being a serial MUNer who gets to attend dozens You are more skilful with yo ur publi c appea rances; your understa nding of substance, s trategy
and tactics on the “grand chessboard” makes your solutions and negotiation capabilities more
of conferences has its good sides and brings a lot
prominent. Not to mention the confidence and comfort while dealing with the topics and crisis
of satisfaction, development, knowledge and social situations that appeal to an increased capacity to involve in problem solving. This b oosts
capital that can be drawn on in the years ahead. your cr eativit y and fits w ell wit h your overall ac ademic devel opment a s a stud ent and young
professional . However, there is a dif ference between becoming a better delegate in terms of
One conference after another and the experience
continuous self-de velopment and becoming “best delegate” who wins awards. Below is the
you gain makes you, quite naturally, a better delegate. discussion from the MUNPlanet community of what these t wo positions mean:
As Fur kan Kir az notes in his article at MUNPlanet:
“Here are my five steps to win the Best Delegate Award

. I admit that
pulling through by following each of these steps will take time and effort,
but a Best Delegate Award doesn’t just fall from the sky! Reminder: don't
go to a MUN just to win awards; go to gain knowledge and experience,
to test your limits, find new friends and see new places.
Imagine building a house with a weak foundation - will you be able to

build a massive house? No, it will just collapse once you try to make it into
a bigger one because you haven't paid enough attention to the ground
floor. Researching your topic will be the foundation of your argumentation
in the sessions, so do not underestimate this step or your hopes on
becoming Best Delegate will collapse sooner or later.”
STEPS TO WIN THE BEST DELEGATE AWARD:
a.) Research your topic well

b.) Write your position paper
c.) Prepare your arguments
d.) Prepare your resolution
e.) Think quickly , be have correct ly
and speak well in the sessions
f.) Learn from your mistakes
Becoming a better UN delegate:

a discussion
BY VID TOMIć
After each conference, once the post-MUN syndrome Write them on a small piece of paper, put the paper in your back pocket and check it constantly during the conference to remind yourself
what your goals were before different factors started to influence your behaviour. After the conference, check the list and evaluate whether
slowly fades away, people start reflecting on their
you have reached all of your goals. If yes, at what cost ? What did you have to sacrifice and what was a good pay-off? If not, why were
recent experience. Most of us tend to seek new you unable to achieve them? Could you have performed better and is there anything you would have done differently, given the chance?
ways to enhance our knowledge and performance at This technique is one of the best tools to use if you want to improve as a delegate and a negotiator in g eneral.
MUN, thus asking ourselves how we could become

The sec ond t hing to do is to thi nk abo ut yo ur str engths and w eaknesses during the co nference. If you are attending a confere nce
better delegates. As I often suggest to striving MUN as a delegation, make sure that your co-delegates/colle agues give you feedback on your per formance and vice-versa. Constructive
newbies, one of the main things you need to do before and ‘objective’ self- criticism is your best f riend if you wish to evolve as a delegate. Once you identify your weak points, you have to
make sure to challenge yourself next time and try to master the techniques. For example, if you have received several awards as
a conference is to prepare a list of three goals you
a delegate of ‘rogue’ states, think about trying something else and next time pick a country that is the flagship of democracy and
must achieve as a delegate of a specific country. respect for human rights. Try a committee you are not familiar with and a topic you know nothing about. You will evolve only if you
push yourself further and dive deeper.
What does it take to become the best delegate?

People often think that receiving the Best Delegate award gives What do chairpersons look for when selecting the Best Delegate? As discussed earlier, everyon e has RELATED LINKS
you t he stat us of an untouc hable, a cosmic aura of knowled ge their own way of evaluating performance. My approach, based on years of careful developmen t of
and good performance as a delegate. Several things need to the method, includes several factors. The best delegate has to show clear and in-depth knowledge
Key questions:
be considered at this point. First, the way awards are given at of the topics on the agenda, the workings of the United Nations and international community in
conferences is not standardised, meaning that each conference general, and s/he has to master the Rules of Procedure and know how to (mis)use them. When Discussion points
and chairperson has its own rationale as to how to choose the it comes to performance, s/he has to be a confident speaker who can steer the debate in a
How can I win the best delegate
best delegate. This can result in some extremely interesting productive manner while respecting his/her country’s policies, propose solutions, and potentially
award?
decisions from time to time. The fact that someone did not draft the resolution (this should not be the decisive factor). In general, s/he has to be the driving
receive an award does not mean that his/her performance was force in a committee, a true leader w ho knows when to speak and when to listen, and someone How to bull$@!t through a
not good, maybe even amazing. In fact, there are many very good who can consi stently prod uce results. In realit y, there is rarely a delegate w ho does all of the t hings conference and get an award
in the end
delegates who have never received the Best Delegate award. mentioned above brilliantly, but these are the factors that must be taken into consideration before
This c an be the resu lt of severe co mpetition, lack of consistent taking the final decision. A proper chairperson will keep track of these things during the conference
performance throughout the conference, bad presidency of the and make a substantial amount of effor t before taking this decision.
committee that fails to recognise a good performance or simply
does not care about who receives the award, etc. The gist of
this grammatical maze is that receiving the Best Delegate award
is not always a goo d indicator of your per formance.
Evaluating the MUN experience:

5 or 50 MUNs later
The appeal of MUN s Why is it difficul t to retire from MUNs?
“Like other people might take drugs, I attend MUNs and simply cannot “Well, it is hard to retire because it’s fantastic to have the chance to leave your day to day life behind for a long
stop. I have attended 20 MUN conferences so far, if I am not mistaken, weekend, travel with your friends, play the role of a diplomat, and get to know people from all over the world.
and I will definitely continue. What makes MUN so addictive is the Every MUN is a new opportunity to make new friends and engage in global dialogue. I believe that MUNs are
complete package of academic learning and socialising. I love the the perfect platform for young people to practice cultural diplomacy because, even though we play a certain role
fact that you get to put the theories you encounter while studying into during sessions, at the end of day we are all students who have similar goals and cal learn much from each other.
practice, and negotiate and lobby just like a real diplomat. Besides
that, you also get to meet some of the best people and build long- I tried to retire twice so far. Now I’m hoping I will actually succeed after EuroMUN 2014. I believe that after you hit
lasting friendships even when you only see each other twice a year a certain age and/or a certain stage in your career it is no longer beneficial to actively participate in conferences.
at the MUN conferences. In the times of modern technology it is Moreover, seasoned MUNers have the responsibility to train the future generation of delegates, chairs, organisers
much easier to keep in touch, so your MUN connections really start and, when the time comes, take a step back and let them lead.
to matter and you grow very close with the people you meet.”
However, the fact that someone isn’t going to MUNs anymore doesn’t necessarily mean that they have retired
Finn Carlson (MUNOTH), The Net herlands from the MUN Community altogether. It’s possible to stay in touch with organisers and give advice when advice
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview is solicited. I think that spaces like MUN:Planet allow retired MUNers to keep in touch and support the current
leaders of the international MUN circuit.”
Diego Salama (EuroMUN), Bolivia

What comes after being a Model UN delegate?

What comes afterwards? I do wonder about that, every day. I could
do a lot of things with all the skills I now have: negotiating, debating,
You may wonder what happens after you have attended multiple
writing, critical thinking, management experience, logistical planning, school, university or international MUNs as a delegate. Having
coordination, etc. Running recovery operations, helping to right the
plethora of natural and other disasters that plague this Earth still gathered a vast amount of experience and a network of contacts,
presents itself as the most attractive option. Having said that, I
applying for the Fast Stream civil service in the UK to head towards
will be
the best MUNers usually continue their journey as conference chairs
the diplomatic corps, but I have many options. All the experience pays or organisers. What follows is a brief discussion of such possibili ties.
off, in so many ways.”
Wilf Mountfield (LIMUN),

Becoming a Model UN Chairperson

A measure of success of an MUN is tightly connected “A good chair is committed A good committee chair A good chair has the UN at A good committee chair is able
to more than just a superb helps delegates (especially heart:It's absolutely necessary for to effectively communicate
to the performance of delegates and chairpersons delegate experience at the first-timers) to gain self- him/her to be up-to-date with what's with people from diverse
alike. Successful MUNers hardly ever decide to conference,but also to creating confidence and form lasting going on in the United Nations. Fair backgrounds or varying
lasting change in the lives of friendships with people from knowledge of the UN Charter will degrees of ability: Bearing
abandon their Model UN “careers” at the first step, Delegates and Faculty Advisors. all over the world:
This can be do you a lot of good! in mind that our delegates
that is, while performing the roles of delegates. To that end, I define the roles of done by introducing fun-injectin g often come from many different
chairs in one word - 'Impact'. activities into a committee. A good committee chair is countries, with different cultures,
Many of the best delegates usually go on to Sometimes, I give my delegates serious about the Rules of a good chair will be comfortable
become chairpersons, trainers or MUN organisers. A good committee chair is very a 10 minute break so that they're Procedure: After chairing a with interacting with ALL the
well-behaved and definitely able to talk to a committee couple of times, I have come to delegates in the committee,
MUN conferences across the world are looking for well-read: This ensures that member they haven't spoken the conclusion that, in applying the regardless of their nationality,
chairpersons via official calls for applications and his/her delegates remain serious to yet. This is sometimes the RoP, chairs need to be strict and temperament, even accent (sadly
about how to make tangible, beginning of a lasting friendship, flexible at the same time. It's said I've seen the opposite happen).
you may try and apply once you have reached a lasting contributions and address or maybe a courtship, or better that 'Rules were made for Man, not This i s the spirit in wh ich t he UN
certain level of chairing experience. What follows is real issues. still, a marriage! Man for the Rules'. Based on this, a was established, and a good chair
good chair will make sure the rules believes and practices this!”
a discussion of a good chairperson profile.
are followed. On the other hand, a
good chair will not hinder the flow Joseph Mensah, Ghana
of debate if some extraordinary MUNPlanet link
rules are not followed.
Qualities of a good chairperson Five key points for first-time

“A good chair is a balance between a teacher, observer, mediator and adjudicator. For beginner committees, the chair
chairpersons
needs to teach the basics of Model UN in a way that helps those who need it, without giving preferential treatment. While
1. Know very w ell the Rules of Procedure
this can be done in many different ways, effective teaching and guidance can make or break a committee. RELATED LINKS
of the conference in question
Giving equal speaking time, while still choosing the right people to facilitate debate, is fulfilled by a talented mediator who
2. Understand the challenges that your committee Key questions:
will guide the debate from motion to motion and speakers list to caucus. To be able to do this, and still objectively observe
the diplomatic effectiveness of the delegates, is a very important skill when it comes to chairing. is facing in real life What are your top five tips for
future committee chairs?
Finally, to be able to recognise and award the most effective diplomats correctly, will leave all the delegates in the room3. Be confident
What are the most critical
with the feeling that theywere properly watched and guidedover the duration of the conference. In contrast, when a chai
r
traits of a good committee
makes the wrong call, the delegates can feel that no one was watching them and that their chair either didn’t know how4. Be organised
chairperson?
to read a room or wasn’t mentally there. As such, if you want to be a good chairperson, or identify one, look for someone
who, measured by their actions, can observe, mediate, adjudicate and teach. “ 5. Regard for both formal debate and more relaxed Is there such a thing as chairing
and fun periods style and how it could apply to
Daniel Gindis, I srael different MUN committees?
MUNPlanet link
Maria Gomez d e Olea, France
MUNPlanet link
A Note
on Organizing
Model UN
Last year MUNPlanet has published an eBook titled “Organising Successful
MUNs” that extensively covers the steps, processes and key challenges
of organising a conference. One of the co-authors, Maria Gomez de Olea
nicely captures the rationale and importance of organising MUNs and how
the delegates can see this process - and, more importantly, if they are
thinking of joining a MUN secretariat or organising another conference.
“The main reason why we organise MUN conferences is this: we have loads of Model United Nations is organised at many different places (and levels) – from RELATED LINKS
fun doing so, and it is a great experience. Organisers and participants are all very elementary school classrooms to universities, to conference centres and high-
motivated and dynamic, which contributes to the creation of a wonder ful environment profile UN buildings. Its essence and focus is youth who think about the world
SPECIAL FOCUS:
and a strong sense of community. The other reason we organize MUNs is, in my and believe in MUN as a concept that aims at fostering peaceful coexistence and
opinion, academic. As veterans, we want to contribute to the continuity of the cooperation among people and peoples through education and socialisation. Organizing Successful MUNs
activity and share our knowledge on various topics we have discussed throughout In the early 21st century we have been experiencing a “third wave” of MUN eBook
the years. After all, there has always been a sense that whenever we take over development and its proliferation throughout the world. With the advent of
Organizing Successful MUNs
a position in a MUN team, we ‘become’ the conference for a certain period of modern technologies and the availability of ideas and opportunities for learning
topic
time. It is not about us, it’s about the MUN. Moreover, as active citizens, MUNers and action for youth in various parts of the world – the MUNs have become
tend to have a strong sense of civic engagement and are pushing for youth that widel y po pular and are e njoyi ng a histor ical peak. We exp ect to se e t his t rend
is more informed and engaged in global issues. We organise MUNs because we continue, and the benefits of MUN to become greater for socialisation and
believe that, by doing so, we are creating a better world. To be quite honest, we promotion of a new generation of leaders, scholars, practitioners and globally-
are creating a future that we think is best for us (p. 42).” minded social entrepreneurs. This wonderful oppor tunity, however , also requires
responsibility and use of knowledge and practices to preserve and improve
MUNs for the future generations while expecting to see their impact on life and
culture of peace in the world.
Thinking about
the Key Value of MUNs
MUN as a practice of global citizenship
“And one of the things I wondered The value of MUN conferences lies in the fact that many people, with And all this boils down to one thing: Being a global citizen means you are feeling the problems of people who
about was this: What is the purpose many different interests, come together to discuss many topics of great public service. When you're willing are thousands of miles away as if they were your very own, that you are
of a MUN conference? The answer importance. They apply a full set of skills they have previously learned, to seek answers to these issues for not feeling the distance of a TV screen, but seeing this as a call for your
is quiteobvious,but the meaningis now with the aim to solve the problems, not of 10 freshman students, people you don't know, and feel it experience and opinion in the search for solutions. It means you are willing
a little more complex. but of millions of people they don't know, but who are expecting them is your responsibility to help them to give up a little time out of your life for others. And this is, I believe, what
to speak on their behalf and provide a solution so that they can have a out, it means that you have the it takes to be a true MUNer: to feel the call for public service and be willing
better present and a brighter future. right mindset to be a global citizen. to learn, unlearn and relearn as much as possible.”
Simon Yantani B eltran, Chile

MUNPlanet link
MUNs: inspira tion, knowl edge, act ion
"We all have dreamt about working at the UN, whose symbols of hope, “There are, of course, tangible skills you will take home after an MUN, and you will use those references to add RELATED LINKS
cooperation and dialogue seem appealing. However, many students value to your CV later on. But for me, the real benefits of MUNs go far beyond this, because MUNs are the golden
must realise that they cannot save the world on their own: they need to gate to a world of innumerable opportunities. First and foremost, there’s the networking. Talk to as many people
start by focusing on several linked and specific fields - politics, health, as possible, exchange ideas and perspectives, learn an expression or two and stay in touch! These people will Articles:
science, economics, etc. -in which they can optimise their skills. MUNs are most likely be the ones you will encounter in your professional life a few years from now. Second, always take the
Learning About MUN -
activities that can help build bridges between inspiration and knowledge, opportunity to participate, because starting from that one point may lead you to unexpected new journeys. I am
Interactive Game
but the real transition between knowledge and action depends on the stunned by how much I learn and grow every day thanks to this experience, but most of all I am delighted to see
students' ability to understand where they belong in international politics." where it has led me, with what kind of people I have interacted and what kind of new, undiscovered worlds I have Is being an MUNer ‘the new
been able to enter. MUNs have that power to truly connect you to the world and those who think like you do.” black’?
Sandrine Chabbey and Jim Zouridis (GIMUN), Learning by Doing - In the
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview Hana Hudak (PIMUN),
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview “Stronghold of MUNing” with
Finn Carlson
MUNs: from simulation games to trueleadership

“I can see MUNers in trans-national leadership positions, if they manage “First and most importantly, have fun! Second, while MUN is a great “Clearly, MUNs are far more than just plain “acting”: participants get to
to successfully transfer from simulations to real life; so that part of the way to learn about international cooperation, remember that there is no confront their views and meet people from different parts of the world.
question is a yes. substitut e for getting your hands dirty and helping out people in real life, Not only that, but also by having to defend interests you are not personally
whether abroad or at home. Working with an NGO, pressure group or linked with, you learn to understand others and adjust your perspective.
What I question though is whether a “transnational leadership force” will local political party can be tiring but it teaches you a great deal about Furthermore, by encountering individuals one wouldn’t otherwise,
ever be able to make substantial change. Most decisions are still made at organisations and personal relationships. Third, balance your interest participants build up a network with people who are as engaged as they
a country level and most nations are unwilling to give up their sovereignty and faith in the UN with a frank recognition of the organisation’s flaws. are, and find opportunities to step in the real United Nations . It happened
in that regard. Maybe that will change in the future but I honestly do That way, when you finally make it to Turtle Bay, you won’t be so horrified to some of our friends, and they notably said that the experience they
not see that coming anytime soon. Most people who follow international to see what a mess the real UN is.” gained as MUNers helped them to feel at ease in conference rooms as
politics are aware that supranational institutions such as the UN are often they are taking part in crucial multilateral talks.”
more of symbolic value than of actual impact. That is, in my opinion, Richardwith
Gowan (New York Unive rsity, CIC),
the sad reality. I would much rather see a more liberalist world where Fridays MUNPlanet interview Sandrine Chabbey and Jim Zour idis (GIMUN),
nations cooperate more effectively. But, as said, I have doubts that this Fridays with MUNPlanet interview
will happen anytime soon.”
Finn Carlson (MUNOTH), The Net herlands

Model UN and Careers

Starting acareer at the UN: Fourdecades later
“I guess the United Nations was always my dream job. I was involved with My immediate supervisor was George Brand who had My pride was to have largely written THE SECRETARY- RELATED LINKS
Model United Nations, since middle school. Living in the United States, with worked in the Nuremberg Trials, to whom I owe my career GENERAL’S REPORT (theoretically Mr U Thant’s) on the
a German mother and Austrian father, it also solved my “nationality” issue. as he gave me my first short term contract and then impact of scientific and technological developments on
By the time of my university years, I was a confirmed “internationalist” and probationary appointment. But we worked in a team with a human rights. I believe I got my permanent appointment Articles:
pacifist. I studied law with a special emphasis on international affairs at Cornell Georgian professor, Polish, Haitian, Guatamalan, Mexican, because I had been an assistant reference librarian as
University, in New York. My advisor was Herbert Briggs who had written and US lawyers. It was perhaps my best work experience part time job at university, and looked up new articles Four Decades in the United
the basic textbook, “The Law of Nations” and was a long time member of - I have tried to imitate the unflappability, determination to and research pertaining to bioethics, computer/privacy Nations: Michael Platzer
the International Law Commission. The great human rights lawyer, Harrup move things forward despite setbacks, and generosity of issues, and damage to the environment; whereas others Reflects on His Life and Career
Freeman, first took me with him to the Trusteeship Council in connection with my first boss ever since. It was the time of the cold war had simply cut and pasted previous SG reports.
his plea on behalf of the Micronesians. I was also privileged to study under – the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Israeli-Egypt six-day war,
the great comparative law professor, Rudolf Schlesinger and Professor John Indo-Pakistani War, and the Invasion of Czechoslovakia Michael Platzer,
Barcelo , with whom we founded the International Law Journal. My big life (the Prague Spring had been the topic of my Masters Fridays with MUNPlanet interview
changing break was to receive a Carnegie scholarship which enabled me to thesis). Things were blocked in the Security Council but
intern in the Human Rights office in the summer of 1970. I was lucky to work also in the Human Rights Commission. I was assigned
with the srcinal UN staffers, “The Last of the Mohicans” who had joined the to a working group to define what “massive violations of
UN Secretariat in the 1940s and still retained their idealism. human rights” would entail.
Development in the (MUN) world Model UN and the United Nations

“So, I went down that road, never expecting it to change me into actually wanting something different. United Nations has been a great school for me, by any means. I met a lot of interesting people, I saw and learned a
Consecutive MUNs enriched me mostly by having to interact wi th people from different countries and cultures, lot of things about how the organisation functions and got a chance to represent my country in the first committee
expanding my horizon and challenging my views of different subjects, understanding that things are more of the General Assembly, as well as in the European Union negotiations! For me this was a fascinating experience,
complex that one would expect and that actually everything is subject to interpretation or individual interests. but on the other hand, speaking of the negative aspects of it, I saw that multilateralism can sometimes be quite
disheartening: the decision-making process is extremely slow and when decisions are finally made, they are not
It was an exciting time and a lot of serious fun but my heart slowly wandered away from dipl omacy to very “ground breaking” in the sense that they do not end up making a lot of changes, and each and every state can
development and humanitarian affairs, partly due to disillusionment, partly due to a newfound passion. How I interpret a resolution in a way that suits them best by simply “twisting” the meaning of the words.
actually got into the UN? On the sur face, by doing what I l oved, working hard, not stopping to learn, and by bei ng
always ready to seize an opportunity. In p ractice: a friend of mine, wi th whom we organised EuroMUN, saw the As regards my MUN experience, I can say that it was very relevant! When I first entered an official session I didn’t
stuff I was posting on Facebook and then shared this link with me. I applied and six months later found myself in see many differences, especially in the debating process. The rules of procedure were the same, the debates were
Gambia…yep, another vagary of life. (Dear friend, if you read this you should know you saved my life!).” quite similar, but the only thing that differed, as I mentioned above, was that the negotiation process was slow,
producing not that many results.
Darko Petrović, serbia
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview Lamprini Basdeki, Greece
MU Ns and society: what everyone can do RELATED LINKS
“We should not underestimate the experience and the transformative power MUNs may have on people’s Articles:
attitudes and by extension on future decisions in the international arena. That’s why I think it is important that
Four Decades in the United Nations: Michael Platzer reflects
MUNs are able to instil a set of positive values that will remain with the delegates for their entire lives, something
on his life and career
that will make them more immune to selfishness, short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness so typical of much
of the political discourse we often see on TV, and more likely to embrace common objectives. For ‘Young Professionals,’ How to Land a Job at the UN
“What we as MUN organisers or MUN alumni should be trying to get across is that the work does not stop United Nations Internship: Is it all worth in the end?
with the delegates’ dance, but that it can be the beginning of a long journey to make a positive contribution to
Want to work for the UN, know the UN career application process
(our shared) world, at our own individual pace and sphere of influence of course. Getting involved in projects or
supporting causes of a social nature is one dimension of it, developing a whole culture of solidarity and basing
our future decisions in our jobs on that type of culture is yet another dimension. Of course, all this probably
sounds as overloaded idealism, but I think we simply cannot afford to do less than that.” Fridays with MUNPlanet interviews:
Darko Petrovic
Darko Petrović, serbia Benjamin Samson
Fridays with MUNPlanet interview Nareman Darwish
Diego Salama
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı post MUN ı Conclusion page 98
CONCLUSION
For more than 80 years, the case study method and simulation has been a way Early in the 21st century the MUNs have been riding the ‘third wave’ – spreading to all the continents
and levels – from high schools and universities to big international conferences. Today, an estimated
to learn about various subjects, including international relations and diplomacy.
number of more than 600,000 students take part in this unique learning and networking experience.
Model United Nations, from its beginnings in the 1920s, to its successors in the We b elieve in MUNs as a community of practice w hich contrib utes to the quality and quantity of
1950s, to the present day serve as a convenient educational device for teaching interactions that benefit the development of the international community and global citizens. The United
Nations have been committed to learning and acting to spread the culture of peace, and MUNs are
and learning about the UN and international organisations in general. The essence
in an interconnected way a compatible vehicle for addressing the virtues and the quality of leadership
and focus of this educational activity is the young generation, the one that thinks needed for successful international cooperation. It is the values of tolerance and cooperation that are
about the world and learns about the globalised international relations. The MUNers essential for building this type of inclusive and democratic culture, and the MUNers develop a set of
research, public speaking, negotiation and writing skills that enable them to be active participants in this
take part in spreading the culture, whereas the aim is coexistence and cooperation
process. The key benefits of the MUN simulations are: knowledge of the UN system and international
through international socialisation. relations, development of the soft skills, and an opportunity to socialise and develop an international
network in a unique community and its multicultural environment. Such environment seeks the best
from each of us, and that’s how one can achieve one’s own personal development.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate ı post MUN ı Conclusion page 99
CONCLUSION
Attending an MUN, the deleg ates get a ticket and are off on an amazing journey The p resent publicati on is a co llection of s uch pr actices and r eflections. This is
which they get to co-create w ith other members of the community. As in ever y not a finished book – to the contrary, it leaves many questions open , and is open
community, one gets to improve his or her skills, and look for opportunities that are for new perspectives, mapping and discussion of the emerging MUN practices.
compatible wit h his or her overall goals and objectives in life and care er. In one word, The a uthors of t his p ublication had i n mind the culture of asking questions and
we b elong to a bi g M UN alumni family that provides a numb er of oppor tunities. the plurality of perspectives in an environment that is marked by dynamics and
It is not just by getting the awards at the conferences that we become better change. Knowledge, learning, people and culture are the key pillar of the MUN
MUNers, but also by feeling that we have progressed by attending the MUNs environment, and we invite you to co-create this amazing world, as well as to
and learning in that process. And not just that –in a way, we are also preparing to contribute to a better understanding of the key dynamics and challenges faced
be competent in the world of international careers, and for living in a world that is by the MUNers and the wider community – in making a positive global impact.
more cosmopolitan and globalised every day. MUNs are an activity that exposes
us to the closest thing available to the real practices and international experiences
one can expect as a future leader, diplomat or international civil servant.
Becoming a MODEL UN delegate page 10 0
INTERVIEWS AND MUNPLANET CONTENT:

Gibryon Bhojraj, Nareman Darwish, Maritina Karava, Yannick
Somauroo, Ian Hurd, Benjamin Samson, Masha Preger, Dominika
Jędrzejczyk, Dyonne Niehof, Juliane Jokinen, Milena Milićević, Feisal
Ahme d, F reder ike K ipper, Emi l Hr afn S tenss on, F inn Carls on, F urka n
Kiraz, Diego Salama, Wilf Mountfield, Joseph Mensah, Daniel Gindis,
Simon Yantani Beltran, Sandrine Chabbey and Jim Zouridis, Hana
Hudak, Richard Gowan, Michael Platzer, Lamprini Basdeki, and
Darko Petrović.
Publication Editor:
Marko Kovačević
Design and Layout:

Andr ijan a Jok ić
thank
Publisher: MUNPlanet, 2016.
you

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Becoming a MODEL UN delegate page 2

Structure of the Book

About MUNP lanet

1. INTRODUCTION 2. Pre-Conference 3. Conference phase 4. post-Conference

Relations 84-87 Becoming a better UN delegate

29-31 Why people join MUN? 88-89 Becoming a Model UN Chairperson

32-33 Special Focus: How to prepare 90-91 A Note on Organizing Model UN

Christopher Bergedahl Vid Tomić Rory Mondshein Eduardo Palomino

Yasmin Helmy Dio Herdiawan Tobing Bushra Hashem Allan Munyao

– The Meaning of Model UN

The Meaning of Model UN

What is Model UN: Purpose of the eBook

Juliane Jokinen, Estonia

Wilf Mountfield, Lucas Amorelli Ribeiro Kornexl,

Why MUN s Are Important Today

Understandingthere lationship UN community to procedural issues and Articles:

*From a MUNPlanet interview with professor Ian Hurd, Northwestern University

What Does it Mean to Be

...and pre are to b mazed!

How MUNPlanet Can Help You

What MUN s mean?

Model UN & the World

MUNs as a preview of how intern ational

Examples of diploma tic

Variet y of MUN experiences and

Simulating the work of international courts

Model UN a nd the Society

Why people join MUN

Maritina Karava, Greece Yannick Somauroo, France

The Main MUN Takeaways:

Preparing for Your First MUN

instead of striving to become

Basics of the United Nations

Regarding Model United Nations

MUN Clubs, MUN Societies, MUN T rainings

through some important elements of MUN research together.

Looking for reliable, useful and objective sources Source breakdown

Consequently, delegates often overlook the RoP in favour of other aspects of

MUN Research:Public Speaking

MUN Research: Position Papers

parties. Unfortunately, given the time constraints of

Style and format

Committee: Interational Monetary Fund

Delegate: Christopher Bergedahl, Malta Model United Nations Society

War, peace, and everything in between:

People who are reluctant to practice public speaking lack faith

Public speaking: a talent or a skill?

Under a looki ng glas s: the three elements

Second element: the message Third element: the speaker

"MUNs force you to engage in quite intensive debates

Benjamin Samson, France

to the actual preparation. Formally speaking, moderated caucus.

Preparation: the opening speech

Preparation: formal debate speeches

Delivery RELATED LINKS

Model UN Roles: Delegates and Chairs

Being a Delegate Being a Chair

Some Delegates’ Perspectives on Chairs

How MUNP lanet Can Help You

On MUNs and what it means to

Representing aCountry at Model UN

Juliane Jokinen, Estonia

Model UN Conference Activity