China, Japan, Spain, Italy, Ethiopia …  

It is apparent from this roll call of trouble spots that--now more than ever--the United Nations sits squarely at the center of the most pressing issues in the international arena. Its troubles are windows on the world’s troubles: its debates and actions trace the currents of power, tension, and Cooperation between nations. Now YOU can use your skills, knowledge, and experience to seek creative solutions to historical and modern global conflicts and establish a secure foundation for the future in the Pine Crest Model United Nations and Model League of Nations.

     But how does a Model Untied Nations work? First, a Model United Nations or League of Nations begins with the presentation of a set of issues to be discussed. Next, delegates select a country to represent at the conference. Each delegate then prepares a document presenting the position of the assigned county on the issues, and makes an oral presentation of those issues using the established rules of debate and procedure. The delegates then attempt to come to an agreement about the issue through debate and negotiation. Once an agreement is reached by a majority of the conference, a resolution is passed representing the policy statement of the body as a whole. It’s simple: Role-playing, Research, Rules, and Resolutions.

This simulation will recreate the League of Nations--forerunner to the modern United Nations--during the crisis years of 1934-1937, and will allow students the opportunity to practice their research, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills in an historical setting.  The major purposes of this simulation are:

• to introduce students to the fascinating realities and complexities of international relations through simulations of international organizations

• to demonstrate the potential and limitations of the United Nations in the resolution of global conflicts and problems.

• to allow the students to participate in “living” historical situations and recognize the fact that they, too, are a part of history.

• and, of course, to meet, work with, and socialize with other students in both cooperative and competitive situations

Choose from the chart of member nations of the League of Nations, the forerunner to today’s United Nations.  List your top five choices on the application form.  Make sure you fill in only one application.  Countries will be chosen by lottery.

PREPARATION:

Each Delegation will be responsible for researching and writing a short position paper on the issues involved from the point of view of the assigned country.  Both Participation and Position papers will be graded at the discretion of the teacher.