Model United Nations
Model United Nations (also known as "Model UN" or simply "MUN") is an educational simulation that focuses on civics, communications, and multilateral diplomacy. The founding idea of the Model United Nations is that "Politics is to be experienced and not just observed" [1].
Conferences
During a Model United Nations conference, students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an intergovernmental organization (IGO). Participants research a country, take on a role as a diplomat, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world issues. During a simulation they must employ a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of their country.
Most MUNs are simulations of a body in the United Nations system, such as:
- Economic and Social Council
- Economic and Finance Committee of the General Assembly
- Executive Committee of UNICEF
- Security Council
Many conferences simulate other IGOs including:
- European Union
- African Union
- military committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- Arab League
Reasons for participation
Model United Nations simulations allow participants to “experience, practice and experiment with conflict resolution, public speaking, small group dynamics, and negotiation." This interactive format can be very empowering. Sometimes students also organize and run conferences taking on various leadership roles including Secretary General, chairperson and treasurer.
Model United Nations simulations aim at being academically rigorous. It requires research that includes current affairs, economics, geography, government, history and politics. Students must do in-depth research, and are often required to write foreign policy principles and position papers giving a broad summary of their country's position, addressing both problems presented by the topic and possible solutions that they intend to propose, and learn parliamentary procedure. They must formulate prepared presentations as well as give extemporaneous speeches. They must grasp foreign policy and culture norms. They must write properly formatted United Nations resolutions. Students practice listening, decision-making, and strategic-thinking skills as well.
Participants
Model United Nations groups are usually organized as either a club, conference, or class. A class can be a full semester class called "Model United Nations", "International Relations", or just one class period devoted to a short simulation. A conference is a school-wide, local, regional or international gathering of Model United Nations students who come together over a period between one and five days.
In the early days of Model United Nations, participants were mostly students at select colleges in the United States of America. Today, Model United Nations has greatly matured and expanded. It is now practiced all over the world in classes, clubs, and conferences on every continent besides Antarctica. Model United Nation participants are elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. Recently even university alumni and professionals have taken part. Participants come from public and private schools and universities, and they live in city, suburban and rural areas.
Over 90 000 students take part in Model United Nations Conferences in the USA. [2] The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) publishes the most comprehensive calendar of Model United Nations conferences: the 2003-2004 edition lists 400+ conferences in 48 countries. [3]
Some simulations are small, including only members of a single class. For example, 20 students can do a one-hour simulation of the (15-member) United Nations Security Council in their classroom. On the opposite end, the two most famous MUNs are the World Model United Nations (run by Harvard, but taking place in a different location each year) and the National Model United Nations in New York. The majority of conferences are between 70 and 300 students and the students come from one regional area,although the largest conferences can have thousands of participants. Each simulation and conference varies greatly in number of participants and their involvement.
History
Model and civic simulation education are older than the United Nations. The Model League of Nations was founded in 1923 in New York City [4], simulating the predecessor to the United Nations. Following the founding of the United Nations, the Model League of Nations became the Model United Nations in 1946. [5]
In 1996, the United Nations OnLine, a virtual MUN, was founded to allow individuals from around the world to both learn about the United Nations organization and participate in a global simulation of annual conferences.
Languages
Simulations are conducted in many languages, including the six official languages of the UN. Because MUN was created in the USA, and a majority still take place in the USA, the majority of simulations are in English, although some conferences offer at least one bilingual committee, usually in English and Spanish. Some places have conferences in two or three languages. For example, in Mexico and the Southern United States, many conferences are run in both Spanish and English, while in Canada, both French and English are used.
Support
The United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) supports Model United Nations in four key ways:
- the Model United Nations Discussion Area on the United Nations Cyber School Bus
- the Public Inquiries Section in New York
- the United Nations Information Centers (UNIC)
- allowing several large Model United Nations conferences to use its rooms for committee space.
The CyberSchoolBus is the on-line education program created by the United Nations. It features a Model United Nations Discussion Area and a list of Model United Nations Experts who answer inquiries as well as excellent research tools for country research.
The Public Inquiries Section at UNHQ assists by helping Model United Nations groups to find speakers and it arranges briefings in its New York offices. UNICs in Argentina, Mexico, Panama, and the UK have been extremely involved in Model United Nations activities helping with research, Model United Nations support, and sometimes with facilities. United Nations offices in The Hague, Netherlands; Nairobi, Kenya; Vienna, Austria and Geneva, Switzerland also support Model United Nations and serve as hosts for at least one conference each year.
The Organization of American States has been involved from the very beginning in the creation and growth of the Model OAS in the Americas. It has sponsored annual conferences and helps participants to understand OAS functions, international issues and foreign policy. Other regional organizations have provided information and basic support to international civic simulations. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation annually supports the Model NATO conference in Washington, DC with speakers, consultations and advisors. Other IGOs provide research assistance to simulations, conferences and students. Additionally, many UN Missions and Embassies support Model United Nations activities. Many mission and embassy websites have recently added sections created specifically for Model United Nations. Embassies and Consulates will often invite groups to discuss country positions or send a speaker out to speak to Model United Nations clubs, classes, or conferences. The overall support of simulation education activities by the international community is increasing rapidly every year.
Some preparation books are also available, such as The Winning Delegate by Kerem Turunc.