Model United Nations

Brussels Model United Nations at the Committee of the Regions in Belgium
Model United Nations in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Turkish International Model United Nations in Istanbul, Turkey

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is an educational simulation and/or academic competition in which students learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. MUN involves and teaches research, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.[1] Usually an extracurricular activity, some schools also offer Model UN as a class.[2]

Participants in Model UN conferences, referred to as delegates, are placed in committees and assigned countries, or occasionally other organizations or political figures, to represent. They are presented with their assignments in advance, along with a topic or topics that their committee will discuss. Delegates conduct research before conferences and formulate positions that they will then debate with their fellow delegates in committee. At the end of a conference, the best-performing delegates in each committee are sometimes recognized with awards.

Model UN participants include students at the middle school, high school, and college/university levels,[3] with most conferences catering to just one of these three levels (high school and college conferences being most common). Delegates usually attend conferences together as delegations sent by their respective schools' or universities' Model UN clubs, though some delegates attend conferences independently.[4]

Most conferences are hosted by high school and college MUN clubs, though organizations such as UNA-USA also host Model UN conferences.[5] As of 2012, there were about 400 MUN conferences worldwide.

History

Model UN began as a series of student-led Model League of Nations simulations. It is believed that the first Model League of Nations conferences were held in the 1920s, before transitioning to Model UN after the formation of the League's successor organization, the United Nations, in 1945.[6] Today, some Model UN conferences include simulations of the League of Nations among their committee offerings.

It is disputed which conference was the first Model UN conference held in the world, with the major claimants being Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN),[7][8] Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), and National Model United Nations (NMUN NY). However, it is clear that the first was held some time in the early 1950s.[9][10]

In recent decades, Model UN has spread to East and South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa, with major conference organizers such as Harvard and THIMUN establishing additional conferences in these regions to meet burgeoning demand.[11] The Ivy League Model United Nations, an arm of the Model UN at the University of Pennsylvania, hosts conferences for high-school-aged delegates in India and China, as well.[12][13]

Conference

Procedures

Delegates negotiating during an unmoderated caucus

In order to maintain decorum, most Model UN committees use parliamentary procedure derived from Robert's Rules of Order. However most crisis committees forgo the formality of parliamentary procedure so as to ensure smoother operation. In addition, recently the United Nations has spearheaded efforts to introduce new Model UN rules of procedure that are more closely aligned with those used by the actual UN.[14][15][16][17] Since there is no governing body for MUNs, each conference differs in the rules of procedure. The following rules of procedure apply to general MUNs but may not apply to every MUN:

MUNs are run by a group of administrators known as the dais. A dais is headed by a Secretary-General. Each committee usually has a chair (also known as moderator), a member of the dais that enforces the rules of procedure. A delegate may request the committee as a whole to perform a particular action; this is known as a motion. Documents aiming to address the issue of the committee are known as resolutions and are voted for ratification.[18]

MUN committees can be divided into three general sessions: formal debate, moderated caucus, and unmoderated caucus. In a formal debate, the staff maintains a list of speakers and the delegates follow the order written on the 'speaker list'. Speakers may be added to the speaker list by raising their placards or sending a note to the chair. During this time, delegates talk to the entire committee. They make speeches, answer questions, and debate on resolutions and amendments. If there are no other motions, the committee goes back to formal debate by default. There is usually a time limit. In a moderated caucus, the committee goes into a recess and the rules of procedure are suspended. Anyone may speak if recognized by the chair. A vote on a motion is necessary to go into a moderated caucus. There is a comparatively shorter time limit per speech. In an unmoderated caucus, the delegates informally meet with other delegates and the staff for discussions[17][19]

Resolutions are the basis of all debate.[20] They are considered the final results of conversations, writings, and negotiations. Resolutions must go through a draft, approval by the dais, and consequent debate and modification.[21]

Languages

Placard for the United Kingdom in Spanish at the International Model United Nations of Buenos Aires (MINUBA) in Argentina

Traditionally, English has been the official and working language of most conferences, but, as Model UN has become more popular around the world, and as conferences in countries such as the United States have sought to appeal to underrepresented minorities (such as the Spanish-speaking community), committees using languages other than English, or which are bilingual, have become common.[22] It should be noted, however, that this is still not yet a mainstream phenomenon, especially not in the United States, where most bilingual or Spanish language committees are found at conferences hosted in Puerto Rico or the South.[23] Certain conferences will sometimes have selected committees run in languages related to their topics: for example, many Middle Eastern committees may be run in Arabic.

Attire

Nearly all Model UN conferences require delegates to wear Western business attire (WBA), as dressing professionally is an important way to show respect for the nation, organization, or individual one is representing, as well as for the rest of one’s committee.[24] At some conferences delegates may be allowed to dress in a manner that reflects their committee and topic or their assigned nation, organization, or individual (provided their portrayals are accurate and appropriate), however this is less common.

Committees

General Assembly delegates at Model United Nations Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart, Germany

The number of possible committees in Model UN is very large, limited only by the creativity and vision of conference organizers. In spite of differences in type and topic, most all committees share a few common characteristics. An example of this would be a dais (also known as a committee staff), which facilitates the smooth running of a committee. A dais is headed by a chair and/or director who presides over the committee, maintaining decorum, ensuring delegates follow the established procedures in committee, and guiding delegates through the resolution or directive-writing process. Another example of a common characteristic would be note passing, which allows delegates to discreetly communicate with one another and the dais during debate.

Committees in Model United Nations can be divided into a variety of categories, based on

Committees at Model UN conferences can simulate a variety of bodies. From the more commonly simulated six main committees of the United Nations General Assembly and the UN Security Council, to corporate executive boards and national cabinets, Model UN committees reflect the diversity of the delegates who participate in them.

Model United Nations committees may be modern, historical, futuristic, or fantastical.

A special committee that does not have a parallel in the actual United Nations which deals with a crisis is known as a 'Crisis Committee.'[25] In this committee, a crisis is given to a team of students and the teams must come up with solutions.[26] The Crisis Committee focuses on a single historical event. The event may be fictional or non-fictional.[25]

Organization

MUNs are usually organized by high school clubs or college clubs.[27] Organizations that coordinate MUNs such as the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) are considered important organizing forces.[28]

The United Nations hosts a site called the UN Cyberschoolbus which contains general information about MUNs such as: advice for researching papers for MUNs, starting MUN conferences, and methods to help finding MUNs. The program also has an international Internet forum in which participants can share information.[29] Organizations such as the Osgood Center for International Studies[30] have aided in the creation of MUNs.

Model UN by region and country

WEMUN Expo in Beijing, China

Although Model United Nations originated in the United States, MUN clubs and conferences are not isolated to that country. Rather, like the actual UN, Model UN is found in countries around the globe.[31] Because Model UN is decentralized and has grown autonomously around the world, there are significant differences in how MUN is done between regions.[32]

North America

United States

Model UN was first developed in the United States and it is where many of the world's most respected conferences are held. The United States has several regional centers of Model UN,[33] including the East Coast (Northeast), the West Coast (California), the Midwest, the South, and Puerto Rico.[31]

Europe


The Netherlands

MUN in the Netherlands is almost entirely related to The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference, which includes over 3500 participants coming from 100 different countries. Although it is not located near the United-Nations Headquarters in New-York, it is one of the pioneer MUN conferences in the world, since it has been founded in 1968 and located in the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) world city of the Hague. A whole network of conferences is marked by its THIMUN affiliation, a label which basically describes the universality of the procedures that rule the conference and make it part of the UN recognized foundation. Its prestige and authenticity made it the renowned conference it is today. In 1995 the THIMUN Foundation was accredited as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information. Also, the THIMUN has established its own conferences' network throughout time : THIMUN Qatar, THIMUN Singapore, THIMUN Online MUN (O-MUN) and THIMUN Latin America conferences have been set up from on 2005, each characterized by the same excellence and quality as the original one.

Here below is the list of the THIMUN affiliated conferences :

As it is showed in the list above, there are many other conferences in the Netherlands, which have been italicized.

Belgium

MID (Model International Delegate) which is one of the biggest student organization in Brussels, promotes and organizes MUN in Belgium and mainly in Brussels. In 2015, from 25th to 27th march was organized the First Edition of BRUMUN (Brussels Model United Nations). More than 200 people attented to the event as delegate and 60 as observers. This MUN is considered by the Belgium medias as one of the most attractive MUN in the world because of its FREE PARTICIPATION and the presence, next to the MUN Venue, of all the European Institutions.

United Kingdom

Model United Nations is a huge event in the UK particularly at University level, with the larger University conferences including Oxford (OXIMUN) and Reading (RUMUN). Reading University Model United Nations is regularly attended by over 150 Delegates who are from both national and international societies, with excellent links to other Universities in Belgium, Germany, France and Russia.

Germany

Model United Nations is quite popular in Germany, with numerous conferences held each year at the high school and college levels.[34] Most conferences use English as their working language, though there are also bilingual conferences and committees.

France

Mun is very popular in France. One of the biggest conferences is PACMUN

Denmark

Danish Model United Nations (DanMUN) is a non-governmental organization, staffed entirely by volunteers. DanMUN was founded in 2005 around the desire to increase awareness and create a basis for knowledge-sharing around a singular, uniting topic: the United Nations. Denmark furthermore has a number of MUN conferences at both high school and university level; including EGMUN, BIGMUN, MUNNY, UCPHMUN and MUNA.

Turkey

Model United Nations is mainly a new trend across the Asia Minor among high schools and universities. One of the most outstanding conferences, also the first and only trilingual conference of Turkey, is IELMUN IELMUN. With over 300 university and high school students from 4 continents, 10 countries and 20 cities gathering together in Istanbul annually, IELMUN offers youngsters a festival of various ideas and cultures. Project Managers of IELMUN are Cagan Mungan and Erdogan Ata Gezen.

Among the MUN conferences in Turkey, GSMUN is a MUN organization held by the International Law and Diplomacy Club of Galatasaray University, which is situated in Ortaköy, one of the central districts of İstanbul. Although the main language of the conference is English, GSMUN has also a committee of which the official language is French. Each year, over 150 students from top universities of Europe and around the world attend this conference.

Latin America

The largest MUN conference in Latin America is the Brazil Model United Nation's (BRAMUN). Taking place in Salvador de Bahia for the past 5 years, BRAMUN has seen an increase in participants year by year. In 2015, it consisted of more than 600 participants, and 10 committees.

Asia-Pacific

Australia

Model United Nations conferences in Australia are typically separated into tertiary and high school levels. At the high school level, the large majority of Model United Nations events are organised by the various state and territory branches of UN Youth Australia,[35] or by the many branches of Rotary Australia.[36] Tertiary events, typically running for three to four days, occur within several Australian states, and are timed to coincide with holiday periods in tertiary semesters. The following is a non-exhaustive list of tertiary Model United Nations conferences in Australia;

Although NCMUN, SydMUN, and VicMUN are affiliated with the United Nations Student Associations of their respective states and territory, AMUNC and BrizMUN are distinctly independent associated entities, a technicality that emerging conferences such as GriffMUN have used to attempt to join the ranks of tertiary conferences in Australia by help of their student associations.

China

Model United Nations first came to China in 1995, when the elite China Foreign Affairs University held the country's first collegiate MUN conference.[41][42][43] Arriving in Chinese high schools in 2005, Model UN expanded rapidly. Peking University (PKU) students, after attending Harvard's HMUN, organized the first national Model UN conference for high school students in China. PKU's conference was initially backed by UNA-USA, however support was curtailed in 2010 due to the Great Recession.

Between 2005 and 2010, national MUN conferences such as those organized by PKU and the rivaling Fudan University in Shanghai drew the best high school students from around the country, who competed for limited spaces. Over time, lesser-known national conferences, as well as regional and even local conferences for high school students, began to develop and gradually spread to cities beyond Beijing and Shanghai.[44]

In the realm of interscholastic MUN conferences in China, the widely acknowledged top 3 conferences are called "the ABC": Asian International Model United Nations held by rumored Peking University; Beijing Model United Nations held by China Foreign Affairs University, the forthgoer of MUN in China; and China National Model United Nations, held by United Nations Association of China, hosted in different cities annually.[45]

Most MUN conferences in China are organized through private or academic enterprises, however some government-affiliated MUNs have also flourished, and recently, unofficial student-run grassroots conferences have begun to dominate the Chinese MUN scene.[44]

India

The first Model United Nations conference in India was the Cathedral Model United Nations (CMUN) hosted by The Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai in 1996.[46] Since then, Model UN has become increasingly popular in India, with an estimated 200 conferences held in the country in 2012 alone, most concentrated in Delhi, Mumbai, and South India.[47][48] As major conference organizers have sought to expand internationally, India has seen the creation of such conferences as HMUN India, which in August 2011 became the first major conference established by a well-known group from outside India.[49]

Pakistan

The first Model United Nations conference in Pakistan was the LUMUN hosted by Lahore University of Management and sciences. Since then, Model UN has become increasingly popular in Pakistan. Notable MUN conferences include ZABMUN, MUNIK, GMUN, NIMUN, HYDMUN, MUNINP, LUMUN, PAFMUN, and IUMUN. [50] [51] [52] [53] [54]

Singapore

Singapore has a number of Model United Nations conferences which include conferences such as SCMUN, organised by Singapore Chinese Girls' School and IMUNC organised by Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). The list is as follows and is not exhaustive;

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has two main model united nations conferences which are primarily aimed at scholastic students.

SLMUN is the largest conference in Sri Lanka with over 1000 students attending the conference which is normally held between August and September with foreign delegates attending from India,Maldives etc. COMUN mainly involves students from schools in Colombo and this also has foreign students attending the conference from regional countries.

New Zealand

A high number of New Zealand high schools operate their own MUN events, with UN Youth New Zealand functioning as a managing organisation. UN Youth NZ also organises regional and national events, along with Aotearoa Youth Declaration, the Pacific Project, and New Zealand's THIMUN delegation.[59]

Taiwan

Taiwan currently has 5 main universities hosting MUN conference, including National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan Model United Nation Conference, TWMUN), National Cheng Kung University(Phoenix MUN, PMUN), National Taiwan University(PAMUN), National Chengchi University(TMUM), and National Taipei University(island MUN, IMUN).

Taiwan has also sent more than 30 delegations yearly to World Model United Nations.

Some other universities such as Tunghai University and National Central University have the model united nation student club and had been sending students to world MUN several times.

Middle East and North Africa

American International School Model United Nations (AISMUN), Egypt http://www.aismun.com

Dhahran High School Model United Nations, http://www.dhsmun.com

Nigerian International Secondary School Model United Nation Society http://www.nigmuns.org/

King's Academy Model United Nations, Jordan http://kamun.net/

Modern American School Model United Nations, Jordan http://www.masmun15.com

International Academy Amman Model United Nations, Jordan http://iaa-mun.com/imun14/

Amman Model United Nations (AMMUN), Jordan http://www.ammunjo.com

Global Classrooms Lebanese American University Model United Nations (GCLAUMUN), Lebanon http://gclaumun.org/ and http://mun.lau.edu.lb/

Modern Science & Arts University Model United Nations (MSAMUN), Egypt http://www.msamun.com/

Notable participants

Model UN builds skills that are useful in a wide variety of fields, with many participants having gone on to become leaders in diplomacy, politics, law and the media.

When I was an undergraduate at Stanford, I was twice a delegate to the Model United Nations and once a member of the Secretariat (when Stanford was the host). Students are enthusiastic role-players. We had to learn how nations and their representatives could work with others. We learned about how the United Nations (and international relations) worked in practice. The experience was valuable; the conferences were educational; and it was great fun. I am delighted to learn more than half a century later the Model UN is still going strong. I should think that in today’s great global conversation it offers ... students an even more valuable experience.
—U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer

In popular culture

As Model UN has become more well-known, numerous references to the activity have appeared in popular culture.[64] At times inaccurate, the depiction of or reference to the activity in the mainstream media and the entertainment industry, in such shows as Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, and Jeopardy, raises the profile of Model UN, and shows how it is perceived, while also shaping the perception of the public in the process.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "What is Model United Nations?". Best Delegate.
  2. ↑ "How to Build Your Model UN Program". Best Delegate.
  3. ↑ http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/modelun/faq.html
  4. ↑ "The Sudden Rise of Independent Model UN Teams: Homeschool, Community, and Private Travel Teams". Best Delegate.
  5. ↑ "Global Classrooms International Middle School Conference - UNA-USA - UN Foundation - Best Delegate". Best Delegate.
  6. ↑ Ross Feldman. "Frequently Asked Questions". United Nations Association of the USA.
  7. ↑ "Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN XLI): Transformation Into a True Teaching Conference". Best Delegate.
  8. ↑ "Berkeley Model United Nations Celebrates 60th Year as the First and Oldest MUN Conference in the World". Best Delegate.
  9. ↑ Ross Feldman. "Frequently Asked Questions". United Nations Association of the USA.
  10. ↑ Ryan Villanueva (March 12, 2012). "Berkeley Model United Nations Celebrates 60th Year as the First and Oldest MUN Conference in the World". Best Delegate. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Which Countries Love Model UN the Most? Analysis of the G20 Countries of Best Delegate Fans". Best Delegate.
  12. ↑ http://www.ilmunc-india.com
  13. ↑ http://www.ilmunc-china.com
  14. ↑ "UN4MUN Workshop Recap: 4 Big Differences Between Model UN and the Real UN". Best Delegate.
  15. ↑ Maher Nasser (August 13, 2013). "Letter: The U.N., on the Model U.N.". The New York Times.
  16. ↑ "UN General Assembly - Rules of Procedure". un.org.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Rules of Procedure". United Nations Foundation. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Model UN Glossary". United Nations Foundation. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  19. ↑ Shen, Sunny; Ryan Bae; Amanda Chen; Geneva Nam; Sarah Wang; Marco Wong; Lance Zhou (2012). "The MUN Manifesto" (PDF). Connect Global Youth Association. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  20. ↑ "What is a Resolution?". University of Tennessee. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Resolutions". United Nations Foundation. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  22. ↑ Ross Feldman. "Global Classrooms: Minnesota Model UN Conference". United Nations Association of the USA.
  23. ↑ "Model United Nations San Antonio (MUNSA) Finds Success Through Community". Best Delegate.
  24. ↑ Ross Feldman. "Dressing for Success". United Nations Association of the USA.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Parrin, Anjli (August 2, 2013). "The Dog-Eat-Dog World of Model U.N.". The New York Times Company. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  26. ↑ Montero, Nicole (November 22, 2013). "Model United Nations Team Hopes to Rank First Among the Country". FIU Student Media. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  27. ↑ Yossinger, Nili Sarit (August 23, 2012). "What is Model UN? (And Why Should You Care?)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  28. ↑ Brennan, Mary Beth (1996). "The Importance of the Model United Nations Experience". Johnson Country Community College. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Guide to the UN Cyberschoolbus". BEST DELEGATE. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  30. ↑ Jackson, Robert P. (October 28, 2013). "Africa: U.S. Envoy on Africa at Opening of Model U.N. Conference". United States Department of State. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Model United Nations Conference Database: 2014-2015". bestdelegate.com.
  32. ↑ "A Tale of Two Coasts: 5 Key Differences Between West Coast versus East Coast Model UN". Best Delegate.
  33. ↑ "The 150 Best High School Model UN Teams in North America 2013-2014". Best Delegate.
  34. ↑ "www.model-un.de – Model United Nations in Germany". model-un.de.
  35. ↑ https://unyouth.org.au/event/the-evatt-competition/
  36. ↑ http://www.rotarynews.info/3/Club/76641/7833/
  37. ↑ Although often hosted in Australia, AMUNC can, and has, been hosted elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region
  38. ↑ Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference, http://www.amunc.net/ (2015)
  39. ↑ Brisbane Model United Nations Conference, http://www.brizmun.org/ (2015)
  40. ↑ National Capital Model United Nations Conference, http://ncmun.org/about/ncmun/, (2014)
  41. ↑ "记外交学院首届模拟联合国活动 - China Academic Journals Full-text Database".
  42. ↑ "Intro to CFAU-MUNA".
  43. ↑ "外交学院举办"2012北京模拟联合国大会"".
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 Wendy Qian (25 April 2013). "Romance! Money! Intrigue! It's Model UN ... in China". The Atlantic.
  45. ↑ "模拟联合国(MUN)简介". U.N. Association of China. 23 September 2013.
  46. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/the-diversity-and-potential-of-model-united-nations-in-india/
  47. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/model-un-india/
  48. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/south-indian-circuit/
  49. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/top-12-scheduling-and-market-trends-from-the-2011-12-model-un-conference-calendar/
  50. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/harvard-national-model-un-2013-a-proud-moment-for-pakistan-2//
  51. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/pakistani-delegates-reflect-on-their-success-at-harvard-model-united-nations-india-2012/
  52. ↑ http://bestdelegate.com/the-journey-from-pakistan-to-harvard-mun-2012/
  53. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/667034/new-record-the-lyceum-school-wins-harvard-mun/
  54. ↑ http://tribune.com.pk/story/424210/kgs-wins-best-delegation-award-at-harvard-mun/
  55. ↑ http://www.yncapmun.org/
  56. ↑ http://fundamentalmun.org/
  57. ↑ http://hccri.org/
  58. ↑ http://www.slmun.org/
  59. ↑ "The Hague International Model United Nations". UN Youth New Zealand. UN Youth New Zealand. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  60. ↑ "- The Washington Post". Washington Post.
  61. ↑ http://bern.usembassy.gov/mobile//ev_120514.html
  62. ↑ "My Interview with Journalist Joel Stein". Best Delegate.
  63. ↑ "A glimpse into Rainn Wilson's 'SoulPancake' - USATODAY.com". usatoday.com.
  64. ↑ "Diplomacy on the Silver Screen: Model UN from a Pop Culture Perspective". Best Delegate.

Further reading

External links

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