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Model United Nations

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Model United Nations (also known as "Model UN" or simply "MUN") allows students to do the same with social science, civics, communications, sociology and psychology, as scientific laboratories allow students to experience, practice and experiment with the theories and ideas in biology, chemistry and physics. Model United Nations is a simulation education activity focusing on civics, communications, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. 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 problems. 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, like the Economic and Social Council, the Economic and Finance Committee of the General Assembly or the Executive Committee of UNICEF. Many conferences simulate other IGOs including the summit meeting of the African Union, the military committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the Arab League. Even though not all simulate the United Nations, this type of simulation education conference and simulations is generically called “Model United Nations".

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. These are all empowering roles, allowing students to make their own decisions and forge their own success.

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, write foreign policy principles and position papers, 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 do technical writing as they craft properly formatted United Nations resolutions. Students practice listening, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills as well. Model United Nations requires a full complement of skill proficiencies that will serve them well in all future endeavors.

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" 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 one day or even one week for a simulation.

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, or conferences on every continent besides Antarctica. Model United Nation participants are elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students…and recently even university alumni and professionals; participants come from public and private schools and universities; and they live in city, suburban and rural areas.

Model United Nations International estimates that over 400,000 students annually participate in a simulation education activity (class, club or conference) in over 70 countries and territories with over 500 conferences and myriad classroom simulations. 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 (on-line) edition lists 400+ conferences in 48 countries. Today, Model United Nations is one of the fastest growing and most popular extra-curricular programs and an estimated 30-50 new classes, clubs or conferences are created annually. It also is interesting to note that South Africa and Dominican Republic have both initiated national Model United Nations programs.

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 Hague International Model United Nations Conference (THIMUN) in the Netherlands regularly hosts over 3,300 high school students from around the world at its annual conference. THIMUN is the largest simulation education activity in the world and they simulate the Security Council and many other bodies in the UN system as well as other IGOs. The majority of conferences are between 70 and 300 students and the students come from one regional area. Each simulation and conference varies greatly in number of participants and their involvement.

History

Model and civic simulation education is older than the United Nations. Records indicate that as early as the 1920s students in the United States of America were participating in collegiate simulations of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations. The modern day National Model United Nations (New York City) started as a model League of Nations in the early twenties as did the Harvard National Model UN (Boston, Massachusetts). Other early models in the 1930s included the Alma College Model League of Nations, the New England Model League of Nations, the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Model League of Nations (Geneva, New York) and the Model League of Nations of Macalester College (Northfield, Minnesota), alma mater of current UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. As the League of Nations was dismantled and the United Nations was born in 1945, Model League of Nations was transformed into Model United Nations.

Organizers and supporters

Main article: Regional organizers and events of Model United Nations.

Although universities and colleges organize the majority of Model United Nations, secondary schools also organize them. Professors or teachers and students work together in these situations. Some conferences are also run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on international education. Some are sponsored or supported by civic organizations. United Nations Associations (UNAs) have been the groups that have done the most work in sponsoring, supporting and promoting Model United Nations around the world.

Many Model United Nations Conferences are incorporated as NGOs themselves and help sponsor other simulations. The aforementioned THIMUN is a good example as it has a network of “affiliated” MUN conferences originally throughout Europe, but now throughout the world.

The list of supporters and regional organizers is in the article Regional organizers and events of Model United Nations.

Languages

Simulations are conducted in many languages, including the six official languages of the UN. Discussions are usually conducted in the language of the host country of the simulation or conference. 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 can be used. Recently, trilingual conferences have been run in the US, Mexico, and Brazil.

Support

The United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) supports Model United Nations in four key ways: 1) the Model United Nations Discussion Area on the United Nations Cyber School Bus, 2) the Public Inquiries Section in New York, 3) the United Nations Information Centers (UNIC) and 4) allowing several large Model United Nations conferences, including National Model United Nations and UNA-USA Model United Nations, 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. UNIMUN was the Model United Nations conference co-sponsored by UNDPI and hosted at the United Nations New York Headquarters. It first took place in August 2000 as the official youth component of the United Nations Millennium Assembly. It attracted the most experienced and international staff to date for a Model United Nations activity. United Nations offices in The Hague, Netherlands; Nairobi, Kenya and Geneva, Switzerland also support Model United Nations and serve as hosts for at least one conference annually.

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.

Adapted from "Questions and Answers about Model UN" by MUN International (The international network for Model UN and Simulation Education)

Several preparation guides are available. Arguably the best one is Kerem Turunc's The Winning Delegate: An Insider's Guide to Model United Nations (see http://www.keremturunc.com/mun.htm)

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