What is Model United Nations?
Model United Nations (MUN) is an educational simulation where students role-play as delegates representing countries in UN committees. Participants debate real-world issues, negotiate with other delegates, and draft documents called resolutions that propose solutions to global problems.
MUN develops critical skills including public speaking, research, critical thinking, negotiation, teamwork, and written communication. It gives students a window into how international diplomacy actually works—the compromises, the coalition-building, and the painstaking effort required to achieve consensus among sovereign nations with competing interests.
Major conferences like Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN), the National Model United Nations (NMUN), and NHSMUN attract thousands of participants from dozens of countries. But MUN is practiced at every level—from high school clubs to university programs to professional training initiatives. The ReModelUN format, developed by UNU Macau and LPI, takes this tradition further by integrating AI-supported research and evidence-based policy output.
Why MUN Matters
Global Perspective
Represent a country’s interests—even if they differ from your own. Understand how geopolitics shapes policy.
Diplomacy & Negotiation
Learn consensus-building, coalition formation, and the art of compromise under time pressure.
Policy Writing
Draft actionable policy documents that address real-world challenges with concrete solutions.
Deep Research
Develop rigorous research skills across international affairs, law, economics, and technology.
A Brief History of Model UN
Model League of Nations
Students at Harvard and other universities begin simulating the League of Nations, debating post-WWI international governance.
United Nations Founded
The creation of the UN gives new relevance and structure to student simulations. Model UN conferences grow rapidly worldwide.
Global Expansion
MUN spreads to every continent. Major conferences like HMUN, NMUN, HNMUN, and WorldMUN become global events drawing thousands of delegates.
ReModelUN
UNU Macau and LPI pilot a new format that integrates AI-supported research, agentic simulation, and evidence-based policy output.
Key MUN Terminology
How a Committee Session Works
Roll Call
The Chair calls each country’s name. You respond “Present” (you may abstain on votes later) or “Present and Voting” (you commit to voting yes or no on all substantive matters—no abstentions).
Setting the Agenda
If the committee has multiple topics, delegates vote on the order to discuss them. In the ReModelUN pilot, there is one focused topic, so this step is brief.
General Speakers List
Formal debate begins. Delegates add their names to the speakers list and give timed speeches (typically 60–90 seconds) presenting their country’s position on the topic. This is your chance to set the tone and signal your priorities to the room.
Moderated Caucus
A delegate proposes a moderated caucus on a specific sub-topic (e.g., “5-minute moderated caucus on interoperability standards, 30-second speaking time”). The Chair calls on speakers one by one. This is focused, rapid debate on narrow issues.
Unmoderated Caucus
Delegates leave their seats and negotiate freely. This is where you form alliances, compare notes, draft working papers, and build the coalitions that will shape the final document. It’s often the most important phase.
Working Papers & Draft Resolutions
Groups of delegates produce working papers that evolve into formal draft resolutions (or in ReModelUN, a policy brief). These documents go through sponsors, signatories, and review before being introduced for debate.
Amendments & Voting
Once a draft is on the floor, delegates propose amendments (additions, deletions, modifications). After debate on amendments, the committee votes on the final document. A simple majority passes it; the committee may also adopt by consensus.
Debate & Speech Tips
Crafting Your Speech
- 1.Open with authority: “The delegation of [Country] believes that…” State your core position immediately.
- 2.Provide evidence: Reference specific treaties, reports, data, or precedents to ground your claims.
- 3.Propose solutions: Don’t just describe problems. Offer concrete, actionable policy proposals.
- 4.Call for action: End by urging the committee toward specific next steps or collaboration.
Common Procedural Motions
- Motion for a Moderated Caucus
- “The delegate of [Country] motions for a [time] moderated caucus on [topic], with a speaking time of [seconds].”
- Motion for an Unmoderated Caucus
- “The delegate of [Country] motions for a [time] unmoderated caucus for the purpose of [drafting/negotiating].”
- Point of Order
- Raised when you believe the rules of procedure are being violated. This is not about content; it’s about process.
- Right of Reply
- Requested when a delegate feels their country has been directly and egregiously insulted. Granted at the Chair’s discretion.
How to Prepare for the Conference
Research Your Country
- •Study your country’s domestic AI policies and regulations
- •Understand voting patterns in past UN technology resolutions
- •Identify key national interests: economic, security, human rights
- •Find natural allies and likely opponents in the committee
- •Review your country’s statements at previous ITU or UNGA sessions
Study the Topic
- •Read the Background Guide thoroughly (multiple times)
- •Understand the three sub-issues: interoperability, accountability, harness guidelines
- •Explore the Resources page for technical and policy materials
- •Understand what an “agentic harness” is at a technical level
- •Formulate specific policy proposals, not just broad principles
Writing a Position Paper
A position paper is a 1–2 page document submitted before the conference. It demonstrates your understanding of the topic and outlines your country’s stance. A strong position paper has three sections:
Background
Demonstrate you understand the topic. Summarize the key issues, relevant international frameworks, and why this topic matters now. Reference specific treaties, resolutions, or standards.
Country’s Position
Explain what your country has done on this issue. Cite domestic policies, international votes, bilateral agreements, or public statements. Show where your country stands and why.
Proposed Solutions
Offer concrete, specific proposals. What should the committee recommend? Be actionable: name standards, mechanisms, timelines, or institutions that should be involved.
Understanding Resolutions & Policy Briefs
Traditional MUN Resolution
In standard MUN, the committee produces a resolution in formal UN format:
- ·Preambulatory clauses (“Recalling,” “Noting with concern”): Set context and reference existing frameworks
- ·Operative clauses (“Calls upon,” “Recommends,” “Decides”): The actionable proposals numbered sequentially
- ·Sponsors & Signatories: Countries that co-author (sponsors) or support discussion of (signatories) the resolution
ReModelUN: Policy Brief
In ReModelUN, the output is a UNU-style policy brief—a more practical, evidence-driven format:
- ·Problem definition: A precise statement of the governance gap or challenge
- ·Evidence & analysis: Data, case studies, and technical details that support your framing
- ·Governance trade-offs: Honest assessment of what different policy approaches cost and enable
- ·Recommendations: Specific, implementable proposals an engineer, regulator, or institution could act on
The ReModelUN Difference
While we follow standard MUN procedures, ReModelUN introduces innovations that make the experience more rigorous, more evidence-based, and more connected to real-world policy.
AI-Supported Inquiry
Instead of just web searches, delegates use grounded AI tools—LLMs, frontier agents, and retrieval-based research systems—to find UN treaties, technical standards, and academic research in real-time.
Policy Brief, Not Resolution
The final output is a concise UNU-style policy brief with concrete, evidence-based recommendations—not a ceremonial resolution. This document may be shared with real experts at the ITU summit.
Research Documentation
Delegates document their entire research process: search strategies, AI prompts, source evaluations, and reasoning chains. This makes the learning process itself transparent and analyzable.
Real-World Validation
After deliberating in Paris, delegates test their assumptions against the live AI governance ecosystem at the ITU AI for Good Summit in Geneva. Theory meets practice.