The 25th Edition

Examining Modern Diplomatic Traditions and Practices

The main motivation for the founding of the United Nations in 1945 was aptly summarised in the Preamble of the United Nations Charter, “To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Since the devastation of the World Wars in the 20th century, the United Nations as an institution has been challenged repeatedly throughout the Cold War and its associated regional conflicts, ranging from ideological clashes to the protectionist interests of particular nations. This cluster encourages delegates to reconsider the roots of diplomatic practices, the formation of particular agendas that we discuss today, and more importantly ask the question: what could have been done differently?

Committees: HSC / UNFCCC

Reducing Instability within International Spheres

In the 21st century, the definition of “security” has also taken a new meaning that goes beyond the traditional paradigms of state sovereignty, with an increasing focus on human security, i.e. the integrity of the individual in the face of ever hybrid threats amid changing alliances and environments. This cluster encourages delegates to reflect on the mechanisms of multilateralism in our diplomatic institutions, which requires a close consideration of the benefits and disadvantages associated with its arbitration procedures. It is by considering the structural factors behind international security that we are able to bring nations back to the bargaining table while enhancing the notions of global cosmopolitanism.

Committees: CRISIS / UNSC / NATO / COPUOS / DISEC

Strengthening the Global Justice Infrastructure

A key development in the formation of the modern diplomatic system lies in the creation of a set of rules, norms and standards that form a “logic of appropriateness”, governing interactions between states. The creation of the United Nations also spawned a series of institutions (e.g. the International Court of Justice) and treaties (e.g. the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties) which aim to not only create a robust international legal order but to codify it, making customs enforceable and binding in order to strengthen collective security. The formation of what we call “international law” nowadays is the result of a series of multilateral processes where states willingly compromise a part of their sovereignty to benefit from the cosmopolitan system, further spearheaded by the processes of globalisation and increasing connectivity between states. However, recent events have presented challenges to the global justice infrastructure by testing its enforceability, with states withdrawing from well-established treaties in the pursuit of unilateral interests. This cluster encourages delegates to devise innovative solutions when balancing international law with state sovereignty to create a sustainable institutional environment to uphold the robust international legal order.

Committees: ICJ / INTERPOL / ILC / LEGAL

Bridging Regional with Global Governance

The Cold War has also seen the formation of alternative regional alliances and coalitions which seek to address the discontent against existing collaborative platforms. In the 21st century, regional governance has become increasingly important, serving as the catalysts for encouraging states to come back and engage fruitfully with global platforms of collaboration. Regional unity, therefore, cannot be undermined as it offers key mechanisms for promoting discourse on issues that otherwise would not have been prioritised, or implemented by international bodies. This cluster encourages delegates to adopt the perspective of particular regions and to contextualise how globally important decisions might be framed differently, and to consider whether it is possible to promote synergy between regional and global governance.

Committees: AL / OAS / EC / ASEAN / AU

Multilateralising Equitable International Development

The end of the Second World War saw various cycles of worldwide economic expansions and recessions, establishing the conditions for a large series of global macroeconomic changes facilitated by globalisation and cosmopolitanism, including that of decolonisation and consumerism. Cross-national economic integration was further vested in a series of international institutions (e.g. the World Trade Organisation) which not only aimed to play crucial roles in the various financial crises that marked the 20th and 21st centuries by facilitating trade liberalisation but to also promote international development and economic transitions. However, it is evident that some states benefit more than others as states play different roles in the global supply chain, the weaknesses of such have been on full display in the recent macroeconomic turbulence brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. States have also resorted to unilateral means of using macroeconomic tools to further foreign policies, with an ever increasing number of regional economic coalitions seeking stability within a divided international system. This cluster encourages delegates to consider existing multilateral economic institutions can be further improved to create a more sustainable, equitable environment for all.

Committees: IMF / ECOSOC / ECOFIN / UNDP

Pioneering Human-Centric Global Governance

The dedication for the modern international system to human rights was enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, where states came together to promote a number of human, civil, economic and social rights as a fundamental aspect of “freedom, justice and peace in the world”. While states have made considerable progress in the past decade, states have often centred on the integrity of the state as prior to that of the individual, establishing special circumstances where rights can be restricted (in particular after the evolution of terrorism in the 21st century and the refugee waves resulting from regional conflicts). As a result, not everyone benefits from the same universal rights that are supposedly guaranteed under international agreements, and such discourse is often omitted in the wider international talks and negotiations. The cluster encourages delegates to consider how a human-centric global governance can be established, balancing the needs of international priorities and cultural differences with that of human security, upholding the fundamental principles of human rights and ensuring that these rights are equally applicable to the less privileged.

Committees: UNHCR / SPECPOL / UN WOMEN / UNHRC

Reconceiving Solutions for a Resilient Tomorrow

The processes of urbanisation and citizen well-being in the 20th and 21st centuries have been a focal point for transforming communities around the world, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. Cities now define a state, serving as the engines of prosperity and centres of cultural and social wellbeing. However, structural inequalities exist between urban, peri-urban and rural areas, and even by looking at cities themselves we can note stark differences between countries. These are further exacerbated and exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic which challenged the stress capacity of our welfare systems, such as that of health and education. Post-pandemic recovery presents an invaluable opportunity for delegates to reconsider how urbanisation can be both sustainable and equally enjoyed by everyone. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly sought to create a future global development framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, which aimed to emphasise the interconnectedness of the environment, social and economic aspects of development. Meanwhile, the climate crisis has been morphing into the “climate emergency”, resulting in ever increasing frequencies and magnitudes of extreme weather events and global commitments remain insufficient to tackle such events despite increasing public pressure on tangible action. This cluster implores delegates to devise innovative solutions to address the challenges surrounding urbanisation, promoting high-standard and equitable development across the world.

Committees: UN HABITAT / UNODC / UNESCO / UNDRR / SOCHUM / WHO / UNEP