Model United Nations

Model United Nations (also known as "Model UN") is a simulation education activity focusing on civics, communications, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. In Model UN, students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an intergovernmental organization (IGO). Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, 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 Model UN's 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 Organization or the Arab League, or simulations of national cabinets or business groups. Even though not all simulate the United Nations, this type of simulation education conference and simulations is generically called “Model UN”. One founding idea of the Model United Nations is that "Conflict resolution and diplomacy is to be experienced and not just observed"^{[citation needed]}

Simulations

During a simulation they must employ a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of their country. These skills include public speaking, small group communications, research, policy analysis, active listening, negotiating, conflict resolution, note taking, and technical writing.

Most Model UN's 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
International Court of Justice

Many conferences simulate other IGOs including:

Many conferences also simulate crisis of the simulations in which hypothetical real world factors are included in the simulation, including national cabinets or representatives from groups. Also, historical simulations and war games can be found in some MUN conferences.

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 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. [1] 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. [2]

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. Large scale conferences. The majority of conferences are between 70 and 300 students and the students come from one region, although the largest conferences can have thousands of participants. Each simulation and conference varies greatly in number of participants and their involvement. Some conferences require participants to write position papers.

History

Model and civic simulation education are 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 in New York City started as a model League of Nations in the early twenties as did the Harvard Model UN in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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. ^{[verification needed]} Interestingly, some conferences still perform historical simulations, for example a League of Nations crisis situations.

Languages

Simulations are conducted in many languages, including the six official languages of the UN. Because MUN was created in and the majority still take place in the USA, most simulations are in English. Some conferences, however, are conducted in two or three languages. For example, in Mexico and the Southwestern United States, many conferences are run in both Spanish and English. In Canada, both French and English are used. There are even a few conferences that offer committees in three languages.

Support

Model UN activities are supported by many organizations, private groups, non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations and national governments. United Nations Associations around the world and its international organization the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) have supported MUNs for decades. WFUNA WFUNAorganized the first collegiate MUN in China and works with MUNs all over the world. In the USA the main support is given by UNA-USA. They offer conferences, training seminars and publications. UNA-Dominican Republic introduced MUN to the DR and now it is a part of the national education curriculum. In Europe the main support is from THIMUN, which has affiliate conferences through out Europe and around the world. MUN International MUN Internationalhas just created a new global membership association to help "expand and increase MUN activities" , the MUN International Network and has aided conferences in Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the US. Rotary International chapters around the world support many MUNs, e.g. the first international MUN in Hong Kong was organized and funded by three local Rotary Chapters.

Many intergovernmental organizations also support MUN activities. The EU published a policy paper just for MUN participants. The OAS actually oversaw the earliest Model OAS conferences. NATO often provides speakers and experts to Model NATO conferences. 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; Istanbul, Turkey; 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 Organization annually supports the Model NATO conference in Washington, DC with speakers, consultations and advisers. 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.

Additionally, national governments support or sponsor MUN programs. The US Department of State has been working in Washington, DC public schools for over 15 years as well as providing speakers to MUN conferences around the world. In the Dominican Republic MUN is part of the national education curriculum. Embassies and UN Missions around the world have been providing consultation, speakers, research documents for over 40 years. Many have even reviewed student's MUN resolutions for policy accuracy.

Information about specific conferences can be found at the end of the Regional organizers and events of Model United Nations article.