United Nations Simulation

MODEL UNITED NATIONS SIMULATION

Global Crisis. Diplomacy. Power.

OVERVIEW

Welcome to the Model United Nations Simulation, where students step into the role of global leaders navigating real-world crises.

Over the next two weeks, you will:

  • Represent a country and defend its national interests

  • Respond to fast-moving global crises

  • Negotiate with allies and adversaries

  • Draft resolutions that shape international outcomes

This simulation will evolve:

  • Phase 1: Crisis Response (fast, reactive, high tension)

Phase 2: Formal UN System (structured debate, resolutions, Security Council)

Background Resources

Country Allotment

  • United Kingdom

  • France

  • Germany

  • Japan

  • Russia

  • China

  • India

  • Iran

  • Mexico

  • Brazil

  • South Africa

  • Nigeria

  • South Korea

MODEL UNITED NATIONS SIMULATION

COUNTRY CASE STUDIES (Preparatory Assignment)

Choose and commit. You and one partner will choose one country from your teacher’s list and serve as that country’s two co-ambassadors. You are one delegation, so you must speak with one policy voice and cast one final vote for your country. In major conference models, one or two students commonly represent a country together, and delegates are expected to advocate the assigned country’s interests rather than their personal opinions.

Prepare your country case study. Before the Assembly begins, your team will create one joint PowerPoint that explains your country as a comparative-government case. Your goal is to teach the class how your country’s history, institutions, people, economy, and political priorities shape the way it acts in world politics. Delegates are expected to prepare carefully, and strong preparation begins with researching the country, the issues, and the procedures of the simulation.

What your PowerPoint Case Study must include:

  1. Country snapshot — Official country name, capital, region, population, major languages, key map

  2. Historical turning points — Two to four events that shaped the present political system

  3. Government structure — Regime type, constitution, executive, legislature, judiciary, election system

  4. People and political culture — Ethnic, religious, regional, or class divisions; civic values; legitimacy issues

  5. Economy and resources — Major industries, trade, natural resources, economic strengths and vulnerabilities

  6. State power and constraints — Military, political, economic, and soft-power assets; domestic limits

  7. Current domestic challenges — One to three major internal issues affecting stability or governance

  8. Foreign policy priorities — Alliances, regional interests, security concerns, economic goals

  9. Likely Assembly positions — What this country will probably support, oppose, or try to amend

Bring diplomatic tools, not just slides. In addition to the PowerPoint, each delegation should arrive with a 45–60 second opening statement, a one-page “country priorities” sheet, and at least three policy ideas the country could realistically support. Delegates are expected to prepare what they will say with care and to listen closely to other delegations before taking the floor.

Stay in character during the simulation. Your job is not to argue what you personally believe. Your job is to represent your assigned country as accurately and professionally as possible. During the simulation, you should speak in caucuses, negotiate with other countries, help write at least one working paper, contribute to at least one draft resolution, and explain your final vote if called upon to do so.

Bring issues that matter now. Your teacher may present agenda items to the Assembly, but you may also petition to add an issue if you can show that it matters to more than one country, fits the scope of the Assembly, and connects to your country’s interests. The purpose of consultations in diplomatic settings is to make positions known, gather information, and discover where coalitions are possible, so issue proposals should emerge from research and consultation rather than from surprise speeches alone.

YOUR ROLE

Each student is assigned a country and will act as that nation’s:

  • Diplomat & Ambassador

  • Strategist

  • Negotiator

You are responsible for:

  • Understanding your country’s history, alliances, and goals

  • Communicating with other nations

  • Making decisions that impact global stability

You are not yourself—you are your country.

Committee and General Assembly Roles:

CRISIS BRIEFINGS:

Global Issues for the General Assembly and Security Council

Find TWO major issues from this list (or create TWO of your own based on your country’s objectives in the current world order), and draft a RESOLUTION for each of them. You will then have the opportunity in the simulation to present your resolution if you bring it to the floor. You must have Chair approval and a second to bring the resolution to the floor for debate.

MODEL UN RESOLUTION TEMPLATE

Global Issues for Resolution Writing

1. Global Conflict & Security

War in Ukraine

  • Should the international community increase military aid or push for negotiated peace?

  • Should sanctions on Russia be strengthened or reduced?

  • What role should NATO or the UN play?

Israel–Palestine Conflict

  • Should there be a two-state solution, one-state solution, or alternative?

  • How should humanitarian aid be delivered and monitored?

  • Should international forces intervene?

Taiwan Tensions

  • Should the UN formally recognize Taiwan?

  • How should countries respond to potential Chinese military action?

  • Should economic sanctions be used as deterrence?

Cyber Warfare & Digital Attacks

  • Should cyberattacks be treated as acts of war?

  • Should there be global limits on hacking and cyber espionage?

  • How do you enforce digital accountability?

2. Migration, Borders, & Human Rights

Global Migration Crisis

  • Should countries have the right to fully close borders?

  • Who is responsible for refugees: neighboring countries or global community?

  • Should there be UN-enforced migration quotas?

Human Rights vs National Sovereignty

  • When should the UN intervene in domestic human rights abuses?

  • Should countries lose sovereignty if they violate human rights?

U.S.–Mexico Border & Global Immigration Policy

  • Should stricter border enforcement be global policy?

  • Should economic aid be used to reduce migration?

3. Climate & Environmental Crisis

Climate Change Responsibility

  • Should major polluters like United States and China pay more?

  • Should developing nations be held to the same standards?

Fossil Fuels vs Green Energy

  • Should the UN phase out fossil fuels globally?

  • What happens to countries dependent on oil economies?

Climate Refugees

  • Should climate refugees receive special international protection?

  • Who pays for relocation?

4. Global Economy & Inequality

Economic Sanctions

  • Do sanctions actually work, or do they harm civilians more?

  • Should sanctions require UN approval?

Global Debt Crisis

  • Should developing nations have debt forgiven?

  • Should wealthier nations be required to assist?

AI, Automation, and Jobs

  • Should there be global regulation of AI?

  • Should countries limit automation to protect workers?

5. Science, Technology, & Ethics

 Artificial Intelligence Regulation

  • Should AI development be globally controlled?

  • Who decides what AI is “safe”?

Genetic Engineering

  • Should countries be allowed to genetically modify humans?

  • Should there be global bans?

Social Media & Free Speech

  • Should governments regulate misinformation?

  • Where is the line between free speech and harmful speech?

6. Global Health & Biosecurity

Pandemic Preparedness

  • Should the UN have authority to override national decisions during pandemics?

  • Should vaccines be globally shared or nationally controlled?

Big Pharma & Access to Medicine

  • Should life-saving drugs be free worldwide?

  • Should patents be eliminated during crises?

7. Power, Influence, and the Future of the UN

Reforming the United Nations

  • Should the Security Council veto power be abolished?

  • Should new countries be added as permanent members?

Rise of Superpowers

  • Is the world becoming multipolar?

  • How should smaller countries respond to dominance by major powers?

OPTIONAL “RISKY” BONUS ISSUES:

Mandatory Military Service

  • Should all nations require it?

Nuclear Weapons

  • Should all nuclear weapons be eliminated—or are they necessary?

Government Surveillance

  • Should governments monitor citizens for safety?

Internet Control

  • Should countries control access to information?

UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

As the simulation progresses, we transition into a structured UN system:

General Assembly

  • Open debate

  • Resolution writing

  • Majority voting

Security Council

  • 5 Permanent Members + rotating nations

  • Power to pass binding resolutions

  • Veto authority changes everything

CORE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this simulation, you will:

  • Understand how global diplomacy actually works

  • Experience the challenges of international cooperation

  • Analyze how power, alliances, and interests shape decisions

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

  • Stay in character at all times

  • Speak from your country’s perspective

  • Respect diplomatic protocol

  • All actions must go through:

    • Debate

    • Negotiation

    • Official submissions

SUCCESS IN THIS SIMULATION

To succeed, you must:

  • Be strategic, not just reactive

  • Build alliances early

  • Use leverage (economics, military, diplomacy)