About Model United Nations
Simulations of
international organizations are older than the United Nations. Model
United Nations can trace its lineage to simulations of the League of
Nations, the predecessor of the UN, back to the 1920s. Modern day
Model UN conferences began in the 1950s and have seen a tremendous
growth, in terms of interest and participation, since that time.
Today more than 60,000 students worldwide, from middle school to
college, participate in Model UN simulations annually.
In Model United Nations, students step into the shoes of
ambassadors from UN member states to debate current issues on the
organization's agenda. Students make speeches, prepare draft
resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries, resolve
conflicts, and navigate the conference rules of procedure - all in
the interest of mobilizing "international cooperation" to resolve
problems that affect countries all over the world. Model UN is an
academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate
participants about civics, current events, effective communication,
globalization and multilateral diplomacy. In standard Model UN,
students take on roles as diplomats and participate in a simulated
session of member states of the United Nations. Participants
research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate
international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop
solutions to world problems.