210148 SE M4 b: International Politics and Development (2011W)

This seminar will focus on decision processes in UN organizations. It will be a preparatory class for the National Model United Nations (Europe) competition in Lille from January 31-February 6, 2012. 2 seminar groups of 6 students each will take part as delegations from Venezuela and Italy. NMUN is a simulation model which aims at a profound understanding of UN mechanisms and the corresponding diplomatic skills necessary to work in such an environment. NMUN addresses ‘real issues’ such as peacekeeping-and peacemaking, human rights, economic and social development, etc. Very similar to ‘real world’ situations, student-delegates will draft and submit proposals for resolutions and learn to operate in challenging competitive situations. Through these experiences during preparation, in committee sessions, and even in hallway caucuses student-delegates learn how to negotiate different viewpoints as well as the frustration of negotiation, the rewards of cooperation and develop a broader view of the human side of international relations and diplomacy.
2 experienced students, who already served as delegates at NMUN New York in April 2010 will be the faculty advisors.
Our delegations have been assigned to act in the in the General Assembly Plenary ( fostering the role of prevention in health care, Africa's economic development, exploitation of natural resources and national sovereignty, fostering the implementation of the World Program of Action for Youth), the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development ( green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, institutional framework for sustainable development, the social dimension of the green economy and the European Union - Latin America and Caribbean Summit (EU LAC) (strengthening bi-regional agreements and dialogue on environment, climate change, sustainable development and energy, developing the structured and comprehensive dialogue on migration from LAC to EU: Implementing bi-regional cooperation activities and initiatives on migration and Implementation of recommendations made from EU-LAC Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs).
Participation in the NMUN model in Lille is not mandatory.