When I hear the term Model UNs, I often travel back in memory lane to my first MUN. As a delegate participating for the first time, I remember how nervous I was and most importantly, I also had the same question that everyone has in their mind- Where should I start?
The most common mistake that every beginner makes is believing that MUNs are about who speaks the most. But let’s be honest—Model UNs aren’t about who speaks the loudest. They’re about who speaks the smartest. And that starts long before you ever walk into the committee room. This is something every beginner fails to understand.
So, where does one start, and how does one use the research in committee effectively?
Well, first things first, research for a Model UN is not a checklist that can be completed overnight. It is a process, and as important as research, it is even more critical to understand how to use that research effectively.
When we talk about research, it is such a broad term that can extend from learning about the topic to the depths and internal conflicts of a country or a portfolio. However, as delegates, we often do not have time to research and be aware of every minor thing about our portfolios. Hence, it is pertinent to know how to prioritise and which facts to research in this vast sea of information available.
As a beginner, how do you start your research?
Well, the answer is very simple. When we get an agenda and a country or portfolio, the first part of your research that every delegate must do is to study the agenda. You cannot effectively debate in committee without having sufficient knowledge of the agenda in general. When it comes to researching the agenda, there are many facets to it. The first step is to read the study guide or background guide provided to the delegates. This will give you a brief introduction to the committee and the agenda. However, one common mistake that every delegate makes is to stop their research on the agenda there. A study guide only gives a common introduction to the agenda. It does not give an in-depth analysis of the committee and agenda. Once you are done reading the study guide, the next step is to read the mandate of your committee. If it is a UN committee, then search it up and read the about page of the committee. This will help you understand the role and function of the committee, which is very important when you draft resolutions or provide solutions in the committee. As a delegate, you cannot propose solutions that are not under the function or responsibility of the committee. For example, as a delegate in UNW, you cannot propose a solution such as a ceasefire or negotiation talks between two countries, as this is not within the mandate or responsibility of UNW. The third step is to search the agenda online and understand the definitions, causes, effects and problems faced. You need to have a detailed analysis and understanding of the entire agenda in order to give effective solutions and a practical resolution in the committee.
“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
The fourth step is to understand the history of the agenda. Without understanding the past or history, one cannot comprehend the importance or relevance of the agenda at present. For instance, let’s take a simple agenda such as climate change. Now, when we discuss climate change, it’s essential to look back at history in relation to the Paris Agreement, the Rio Summit, and other relevant events. Studying the past helps us realise why many agreements did not reach their intended impact and what issues countries faced in implementing them. It also helps in analysing how the situation came to what it is at present. The next step is to research the current scenario of the agenda. You need to understand what is happening at present pertaining to the agenda. Unlike all the other steps, this one step does not stop with one Google search, but lasts till the conference finishes. You need to follow the news and be up-to-date about current affairs regularly. A simple example would be an agenda such as the Russia-Ukraine war, which has developments on a daily basis. The last and final step to researching your agenda would be to go through the past UN resolutions, treaties, summits and actions taken. Delegates often overlook the opportunity to review previous UN resolutions and treaties. This often serves counterproductively in the committee, as delegates end up proposing solutions that have already been implemented or were part of a previous resolution. Studying past UN resolutions will help you have an edge in the committee, as many delegates don’t do this and most importantly, come up with solutions that are not already implemented as a resolution.
Following this simple six-step process will help you have a more streamlined research process and acquire an ample amount of knowledge on the agenda. However, do not forget to take notes, as it is also important to record all key details and not just skim through the agenda, only to forget them two days later. Now that you are clear on the committee and the agenda, the second part of your research is your portfolio.
In Indian committees, you often represent a person; however, in international committees, you represent a country. In both cases, it is essential to first understand the basic facts about your portfolio. For a person, learn their occupation, city of residence, political party affiliation, past experience, and current position. In the case of a country, learn about its type of government, capital, population, demographics, neighbouring countries, allies, and rival countries, as well as the important political figures in the country.
Pro Tip: Refer to this site for basic details about every country:
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook
The second step is to research the role of your portfolio in the agenda. This process seems tricky. However, it is much easier than you may think because you already have knowledge on the agenda. All you have to do is search the portfolio using the keywords from the agenda, which you will be able to identify through your research on the agenda. You need to understand the stance or point of view of your portfolio regarding the agenda, which you can determine by researching the portfolio within the context of the agenda. It is instrumental to understand the stance of your portfolio. If it is a country, then you need to research whether your country supports, is against, or is neutral regarding the agenda. If it is a person, you need to understand if the person you are representing is for, against or neutral on the agenda. The third step, once you are clear with the stance of your portfolio, is to research the current affairs of your agenda. Now, here you must not restrict it only to the agenda, but also to research in general about the portfolio. For instance, if you are representing Russia in a committee such as the UNW, it is essential to be aware of the Russia-Ukraine war and the current affairs related to it, even though it is not directly related to the agenda at hand. This helps you become better prepared to answer any questions posed to you in the committee. Of course, this process is yet another continuous one and does not end with a single Google search. Step four is to research the bloc your portfolio is part of. In the case of countries, it is essential to understand whether the country has better relations with Russia and China or with the US and the UK, as this will also help you better understand your stance. In the case of European countries, you also need to research the stance of the EU and EU policies related to the agenda. Similarly, when dealing with politicians or individuals, it is essential to determine the party they belong to and understand the party’s policies. The reason this is an important step is that, in Model UNs, a key aspect of every delegation is its foreign policy/party policy. Understanding this will help you decide which bloc you want to be part of on the days, and also in not deviating from your foreign and party policy. Now, the final step in this section is to devise unique solutions. After following these steps, you will be in a position to come up with unique, practical and implementable solutions for the agenda which align with your portfolio’s policy and the committee’s mandate.
Pro Tip: The more unique the solutions are, the more brownie points you get from the Presiding Officer!
The last and final part of your research is my personal favourite part, and something many delegates miss out on- Antiprep. There are two parts to antiprep: one that prepares against your own portfolio and the other that prepares against other portfolios in the committee. Coming to the first part, preparing against your portfolio will help you anticipate possible questions in the committee and also help you prepare answers for them beforehand. This will help you answer all questions posed to you in the committee without any hesitation or issue. The second part is preparing against other portfolios. You need to research other important portfolios in the committee and come up with questions based on facts and statistics against them. This will help you ask questions seamlessly in committee and also understand how the committee will work on a larger level.
These are the basic steps to follow to comprehensively research for a Model UN. And now, how do you put this to use? That depends on each individual. At the end of the day, your research isn’t just a folder full of notes—it’s your power in the room. It’s what turns hesitation into confidence, silence into strategy, and ideas into action. MUN isn’t about how many times you raise your placard. It’s about whether you raise it with purpose. Whether your words carry weight. Whether you’re remembered not just for speaking, but for saying something that mattered. So prep smart, stay sharp, and trust what you’ve built. Because in committee, the loudest voice doesn’t win. The most informed one does.