Basically a simulation of a United Nations assembly, a MUN provides students with the opportunity of stepping into the shoes of diplomats representing specific countries on major international bodies of the UN, such as the Security Council and UNESCO. Together with other diplomats, they must confer and form multilateral solutions to contemporary problems of global significance.
Preparing for one’s first MUN can be a daunting task. Deciding on which country to represent is a starting point – many delegates tend to favour larger and more powerful countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. However, do not overlook smaller countries, as developing nations often have more at stake, depending on the topic, thus they can also contribute significantly to the discussion. Having selected the topic and the country, the preparation then begins.
Research the Topic
The chosen topic should be something that suits one’s interests; it is generally something that has been covered extensively in the media, so information should not be too hard to get hold of. MUN organisers will generally release Briefing Papers outlining the background of the topic, but additional research never hurt any delegate.
Brush up on knowledge of the topic’s history, recent developments and which countries are involved. Some useful resources include newspaper archives and news websites like BBC News UK, The Economist or The Diplomat.
Alternatively, talk to experts such as lecturers of International Relations or Strategic Studies, who can be goldmines of information.
Getting Familiar with the Country
To be able to accurately represent a country, delegates should understand its basic political structure, history, economy, culture and development situation. This will help delegates in identifying their country’s position on issues, potential solutions to problems and possible allies.
Start by looking up the statistics of the country, using guides such as the CIA World Fact Book, which can be found at the CIA website. Then, review speeches made by the country’s representatives at UN councils, official policy statements, or texts of resolutions sponsored by the country. Determine the position each country will advocate, then criticise and refine it.
Understand Conference Proceedings
Successful participation at a MUN requires basic understanding of the UN organisation itself, including rules of procedures. A good reference guide is the UN Charter, which can be found on the official UN website.
Different MUNs may have slight variations with committee proceedings, so it is a good idea to check with the organisers, who will provide detailed information and delegate training. Understand the differences between moderated and unmoderated caucuses, and the strategic uses of each. Draft resolutions and amendments are vital components to MUNs – the Working Paper produced at the end of the day is essentially the desired outcome of all the debate and politicking.
Pay attention also to the possibility of points from the floor, such as points of order or points of procedural inquiry. The terminology used in MUN sessions is very specific, and can be slightly intimidating initially, but it just takes a bit of getting used to.
Practice Makes Perfect!
MUN veterans agree that skills picked up at MUNs – public speaking, negotiation, innovative problem-solving abilities – last a lifetime, and are applicable in just about any situation outside of conferences. Conversely, one can hone these skills in everyday endeavours, including presentations in class, or parlaying with difficult siblings on who does the dishes.
MUNs are held all over the world, and they provide invaluable learning experiences and global contacts. Larger MUNs include WorldMUN or Asia-Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC), but there are also frequent regional conferences. So do a quick search for nearby MUNs, and get into the global debate!
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