Model UN Research. Position Paper.

We will be looking at many challenging and daunting topics over the course of our MUN preparation. Most research sources looking into these complex global issues are written for scholars and professionals, not students! However, we’re hoping to make that process much easier for you. By focusing on the five main sections of research for Model UN, you can walk into a committee armed with all the knowledge you need to represent your country and write an incredible resolution.

Don't forget to make use of existing material, such as the UN themselves; To begin, try here from the UN on the SDG goals

When researching for Model UN, and in particular a position paper, you should think about five different types of research:

1. Country Profile

2. Topic Background

3. Past International Action

4. Country Policy

5. Possible Solutions

Country Profile

To get started with research, it's important to understand the country you’re representing- where it is, who lives there, who your allies are, what type of government your country has, and more. Together, the answers to these countries comprise your “Country Profile”. Practice on various countries before you find out your specific delegation for our conference. Here are some guiding questions to get you started:

Physical Geography

What is your country’s official name?

What region of the world is your country located in?

How big is your country? (square miles)

Who are your country’s neighbors?

How would you describe your country’s physical features and climate?

Politics and Government

When was your country founded?

What type of government does your country have?

Who are some of your country’s leaders?

How many people serve in your country’s military?

Who are your country’s allies? Enemies?

What is your country’s capital?

Culture

What is your country’s population?

What is your country’s ethnic composition?

What is your country’s official language?

What other languages are spoken?

What are some of the major cities?

Economy

How would you describe the quality of life in your country?

What is your country’s total Gross Domestic Product?

What are some of your country’s natural resources?

What is your country’s currency?

What are your country’s major imports and exports?

What are your country’s biggest trading partners?

Topic Background

Aside from your Country Profile, the other step to get started is to gain a basic understanding of the topic you’ll be discussing. To do this, you should research your Topic Background. Some of the best resources for your topic background will be specific to your topic- websites about your issue in particular, or books about the topic for your committee! To properly research your topic background, make sure you can fulfill three key steps:

1. Clearly define what the topic is.

2. Identify the key terms related to the topic, and answer key questions about the topic such as “What causes this issue?”, “Who is impacted by this issue?”, and “Where is this issue most prevalent?”.

3. Make sure you’re using credible sources of information to understand your topic- don’t just use Wikipedia, the news, or blogs!