WHAT IS MUN?

What are Modal United Nations (MUN)?

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real-world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. For example, a student may be assigned to the United Kingdom and will have to solve global topics such as nuclear non-proliferation or climate change from the policies and perspectives of the United Kingdom.

Students can attend Model United Nations conferences around the world. These conferences are organized by universities, high schools, non-profit organizations, and other educational groups. Conferences are offered for different academic levels: college and university, high school, middle school, and grade school. There is no central governing body for Model UN — any school can create a Model UN team and register for any Model UN conference they wish to attend.

Delegates must research their allotted countries in great detail, understanding their own foreign policy and thus, the considerations and compulsions that determine state behavior at an international level. They must also research their committee agendum, fully exploring the intricacies of the issue at hand, including the background, history, its treatment in the UN system, resolutions passed on it, major countries involved, causes, consequences, a past action, and more. Finally, delegates must research and propose innovative and feasible solutions to the problem, within the mandate of the organ or agency they are simulating. The entire discussion is carried out through formal rules of procedure that require students to truly step into the shoes of a UN Diplomat.

Preparing for, and participating in, a Model UN conference can help students and young people develop leadership skills as well as research, writing, public speaking, and problem-solving skills. The imperative of devising solutions that are acceptable to a majority of the states present engenders skills of deft negotiation, conflict resolution, and cooperation.