IRP471 M002 Model United Nations

Cho 1

Yoonha Cho

IRP471 M002 Model United Nations

Professor D’Amico

May 5, 2011

Reflection

When I found out that Iwas selected to be on the 2011 National Model United Nations (NMUN) delegate team, I could not help but feel an array of mixed emotions. Abig part of me was screaming with joy of having been selected as a delegate through a competitive selection process,while another part spurring doubts about whether I would constitute the least qualified delegate with the fewest amount of majors and lowest grade point average on the team. At the same time, I wasalso filledwith a buzz of curiosity and excitement for the upcoming semester, and fear towards the amount of work I would be responsible for. On the first day of class, we were informed that not everyone on the team would get to participate in the Conference, and it would be determined by the individual GPA scores and grades on upcoming quizzes and speeches that would be held over the next couple of weeks.Those weeks were probably the longest time of my spring semester. It later turned out that nobody had to be the alternate becausewe had enough people, but I’m sure that gave enough incentives for everyone to plunge into the world of Kazakhstan and the United Nations during those weeks. That’s what I did, at least. I got to take on the role of the delegate to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Committee. My partner was Michael, a former delegate of 2010 NMUN who is now serving as the head delegate of the team, and hehas been a tremendous help in getting myself organized andpreparedfor an otherwise unforeseeableevent.

Time went by pretty fast, and before I knew it I was packing my suits for the 5-day trip to New York City.At the orientation meeting, I was surprised at the scale of the NMUN Conference. Previously, I haveparticipated in theMock United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in Japan where students from various countries—U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Russia, as well as Japan— had an intense, two-week-long debate over who’s right and who’s wrong. However, the scale of NMUN was completely different from theMock UNFCCC Conference in a multitude of ways: for instance, NMUN is a five-day, full-timeexperience in a real setting while the Mock UNFCCC Conference convened for two hours a day in a classroom.

Our UNEP Committee went into formal session on the second day. Although our committee was very small compared to other assemblies and committees, Icouldn’t help but feel increasingly nervous and stressed. And it wasn’t long beforemy feelings of self-doubt and nervousness became a reality.During the procedural roll call,I screwed up on the most simple and the most basic task, where I blurted out,“Kazakhstan is voting!” (A proper response would be “delegation from Kazakhstan is present,” or “delegation from Kazakhstan is present and voting”). The Most. Simple. Task. On the very first day. While my partner and I were devastatingly embarrassed that it may impede the future success of Kazakhstan’s negotiating process, many delegates seemed indifferent, and some even unaware of my publicized stupidity.In fact, it turned out to be a catalyst that loosened up the unremitting tension between delegates, most of whom initially imbedded in the milieu of competition.First-timers and the more experienced delegates alike laughed it off and started sharing stories about some of the embarrassing episodes they have gone through in the past. Then the conversation smoothly progressed into a discussion centered on the first topic:the mid-term review of the International Decade tor Action, “Water for Life”decade. Once the ice was broken,what was once dry and pedantic turned into a vibrant exchange of informationand opinions where everyone was heard and respected.At the same time, people were more willing to be more sympathetic and flexible. Of course, the fundamental thing wasto embody the position of Kazakhstan and stay consistent with itsdiplomaticobjectives.However, when ideas and values of the countries in the UNEP Committee were not so diametrically opposed, it didn’t take long to identify common ground and develop solutions thatweremutually compatible and desirable.The delegate representing Russia, an Italian student named Angela, and I became particularly close. Although initially instigated by my strategic motive, our relationship quickly grew in a positive direction as we found many commonalities in our priorities on the water issues.

The following morning, I showed up at the conference room, ready to perform at my highest level. That day, my relationship with Russia has grown even deeper. By noon, we were reading each other’s’ position papers and brainstorming plans to co-sponsor a resolution on the next topic. Furthermore,I also developed favorable relationships with delegations ofcountries like France, Mexico, Serbia, Somalia, Malaysia and Costa Rica,over meals. Most of these delegates have offeredto take another look at the resolution that Kazakhstan was sponsoring, and Iwas able to have positive influence on their minds and have them on the signatories list. Though a few ended up agreeing to abstain,we all knew that we would collaborate more closely onthe next topic as we work together from the fresh start. .

One of the critical lessons I learned at the Conference was that, in order to be a successful delegate who can win people over, one must not onlydemonstrate brilliance and accountability on the topic, but also reach beyond the strategic scope and develop personal likability among the othersby having genuine curiosity in what they have to offer. A lack of either one would bring an undesirable outcome. However, it was too late when I realized it. When I got to really know other delegates, the Committee was still stuck at a diplomatic impasse on the first topic, and time was already ticking towards the end of the five-day NMUN Conference.

Knowing in advance where other countries stand on a certain topic and what they really want was definitely a plus in the negotiating process. I attribute this success particularly to the class assignment on filling out the caucusing strategy chart, by whichI researched for potential allies and opposition and calculated diplomatic options in accordance. Likewise, other elements of the workshop—including but not limited to Dr.D’Amico’s comprehensive but easily understandable lectures on UN processes and NMUN procedural skills, discussions about Kazakhstan’s regional and international leadership role, various quizzes and assignments, writing position papers and peer-reviewing, having a guest speaker, and even the most nerve-racking part, the two-minute stand-and-deliver speech—were indeed very helpful, and much appreciated.

My only concern regarding the workshop, if any, would be thatthe in-class simulation might have been a little too early.When we first did the simulation, I was vaguely familiar with the procedural terms. After studying the rules of NMUN and taking the quiz,however,I had a much better grasp of how the Conference is moderated and what I should or should not do. In this sense, it would have been nice if we had more opportunities to simulate the session after taking the quiz. Yet I admit that it was at the Conference when I felt completely prepared to put the diplomatic tools we learned into practice. In fact, in such a flash of time, I learned some of the most enviable lessons that would help my career thrive in today’s international environment (i.e. how to negotiate successfully with international counterparts, maintaining professional demeanor). Also, I realize that even the most comprehensive, well-designed preparatory workshops will not be enough to ease the psychological insecurities and physical discomfort that many first-timers may experience on the first day of the Conference. Nonetheless, without the insights I gained from writing position papers and researching for caucusing strategies, I wouldn’t have known even the most basics of how diplomacy at UN works.

Overall, the Model United Nations experience was such a nice way to end my last year at Syracuse University. Atruly rewarding experience;it left me with an unforgivable memory as well as some of the most invaluable lessons in life. I feel so privileged to have experienced it, and would like to thank Professor D’Amico and the rest of the team who made it such a fantastic, enjoyable learning experience.