At a Model UN conference, participants are usually assigned different countries as they discuss issues of global relevance. For example, at the Harvard World MUN 2014, I was part of the Disarmament and Security Committee where I represented the Syrian Arab Republic as we discussed the pressing issue of drone attacks. Every delegate is required to put forward his or her country’s stance. Indian delegates, therefore, will not agree on giving up Kashmir to Pakistan. Likewise, American delegates will not admit to their country’s duplicitous foreign policy over the years. What they will do, however, is provide a real-life taste of what the Indian or American delegates would say in such debates.
A delegate’s debating skills are tested by the contribution that he or she makes to the debate. More important, though, is the skill of diplomacy and such conferences provide you with the best opportunity of learning how to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. In a committee of 400 delegates at the Harvard World MUN, there were delegates from around 80 different countries.
So while I debated with some wonderful people from India, Venezuela, England, the US and Turkey — to name a few — I also had the opportunity to interact with them during the social events, promoting an image of Pakistan that was quite different from what they had been seeing in the news media. These social events are primarily designed to promote interaction and cultural exchanges between students from different parts of the world. Personally speaking, this is the best part of MUN conferences since it allows you to break all stereotypes and gives you a chance to know people beyond boundaries and borders.
Following the same line of thinking, the Model UN conference at the International Islamic University in Islamabad organised a social event where students had to set up stalls representing the countries that they were representing. Just to give you some context, at international conferences with people from different countries taking part, you usually set up stalls representing your country of origin.
This should give you an idea of how this particular event — a global village — is really meant to act as a cultural event that allows you to get familiarised with different countries. With little or no international participation, delegates were asked to set up stalls representing their assigned countries by the organisers of this particular conference.
This, of course, did not go down well with people who wish to stifle academic debate in Pakistan. Like it or not, Israel happens to be an important world player. This importance means that Israel cannot be left out of debates, especially if it is a political debate. How do you expect an all-encompassing debate on the Middle Eastern crisis without Israel? How can you ever have a meaningful debate on the Palestinian issue without anyone representing Israel?
There will be detractors who will point out that these conferences are an excuse for high school students to skip school and party, and to those detractors, my answer is simple: there are always two sides to a coin. So, while you give that argument, remember that students at LUMS and IBA have used MUN conferences to promote Pakistan internationally. I, and countless other LUMS Model UN members, have participated in various international MUN conferences such as the Harvard World MUN and the Model UN Turkey.
The LUMS team has won the best delegation award five times — competing with most of the world’s top universities. At the Turkey conference, the LUMS team has won seven times in a row. Every time this happens, the world gets to know about a Pakistan that is tolerant and willing to engage in meaningful debate. To its credit, LUMUN (LUMS Model UN society) has also organised Pakistan’s premier MUN conference 10 years in a row, apart from co-hosting a conference in Passau, Germany.
The solution to solving a conflict often lies in your ability to listen to others, for it is only then that you end up understanding where the other party is coming from. Model UN conferences are an excellent platform for such grooming and we must not add controversy to an entirely harmless — in fact beneficial — activity.
MUN participants take pride in breaking barriers and building bridges. So, let a conference be a conference. Let a simulation of debate be just that and nothing more. Let people understand perspectives.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2014.
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COMMENTS (23)
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There is a bit of paradox that I see. I agreed initially when reading this article, but towards the end my opinion changed slightly. Designing a Model UN as replica of the real UN makes sense and based on the same agree to the contention being made. However going on to use the same rationale to prove that the Evil Occupier of Palestine (aka Israel) is to be recognized as a dominant word player is not entirely correct IMO. You may design a Model UN because that is how it is in the real UN, but doing it because you want to start recognizing something as barbaric as the concept of Israel is going to the other extreme. I do not align with the comments that say we need to listen to something that is Israel. Non-recognition and boycott is a very able form of diplomacy and negotiation and makes an impact if done properly. Agree with what Fatima has pointed in the comments, but going beyond that is taking it a bit far and it is this fear that is also a contributing factor to the backlash reaction that comes about. Is the backlash right - no i do not think so. But I also feel the extent of the opinions being given against the backlash are also not correct. Having said so, while not familiar with what goes around in the Model UN, but maybe Pakistan and other countries who do not recognize the concept of Israel can actually make it happen in the Model UN and that could be the first step towards making it happen in reality. Yes I am biased and very clearly anti-Israel, and hence I feel any such effort of the of the Model UN should be just that, and not end up unknowingly serving another agenda, which is why one should be careful and think a little beyond as well. If one goes through how most of the comments to this article progress, one may appreciate what I am trying to highlight. Somethings are just always unacceptable.
Pakistan is included in the list of countries which do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, which is a form of boycott - for reasons which are well-known and need not be repeated here - and the list includes some non-Muslim states as well. In these circumstances, setting up Israeli stall here, and that too at the International Islamic University, was sure to invite the reaction that it did.
And these are not just Pakistanis or Muslims who are boycotting Israel. I am reproducing below some extracts from the BDS movement's website:
"Israel’s reflexive defenders have reverted to their customary blunt cudgel: the charge that critics of Israeli policies are anti-Semitic. Their recent target was the 5,000-member American Studies Association, which voted in December to boycott Israeli academic institutions.
The ASA vote mirrors an international movement promoting comprehensive boycotts, sanctions and divestment against Israel to compel its respect for Palestinian equal rights. The nonviolent movement was initiated in 2005 by more than 170 Palestinian civil society organizations one year after the International Court of Justice’s judgment that Israel’s separation barrier violates international law and should be dismantled. The movement is rapidly gaining momentum".
Muslim countries including Pakistan have offered full recognition and normal relations to Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on part of the whole territory which belonged to Palestinians on which they have lived for generations, but a greater part of which is presently under illegal Israeli occupation and inhabited by Jews from all over the world, most of whom are complete strangers to the land.
Israel created the problem and the solution also lies with it: all it has to do is to reduce its greed for land a bit, and agree to live in peace alongside a viable Palestinian state with contiguous territory and East Jerusalem as its capital.
Karachi
Why do we put so much emphasis on UN any way. This organization is more or less a club by the mighty, US pays most of the bills and they could arrange any agenda they wish to, any one remembers WMD in Iraq. It was the so called security counsel which gave Bush the green light to attack Iraq even knowing fully well that there were no WMD in Iraq. This organization has failed Bosnia, Rwanda, Syria, Palestine and above all Kashmiri people, so those of you who are so eager to stage mock UN should know better, the organization is bloated with bureaucrats from all over the world and all they do is talk and more talk. The world is at the mercy of few countries in the permanent security counsel and if it is in their interests then the conflicts will be settled other wise it will go on for ever. The UN has negated itself long time ago, it is a political tool in the hands of few specially the country which is hosting it and pays most of the bills. .
Nicely written and nicely argued.......but do you think that the people responsible for this stupid episode would even want to listen to reason.......their modus operandi is bully tactics and use of force possibly violence as well. But the educational institute decided to take the easy way out and lay down in submission.......they should have taken a more honourable stand after all an educational institute is expected to set examples by doing the RIGHT thing.
Universities worldwide are known as venues where different ideas and theories some acceptable and some not-so-acceptable are discussed and debated. To ban discussion and debate and ostracize anyone who advocates such a course is simply running away from reality and living an ostrich's life. The reality is Israel is here to stay and denying it and therefore banning a debate on the subject is running away from reality.
for some people debate means their point of view exclusively.Nice image of Pakistan this projects!!
This sort of interaction will produce better leaders from among the youth. I hope MUN continues without controversy
Nice article. The students who tore down the booth should be expelled - the people who where terminated should be reinstated - the people who dismissed them should be punished. If you can't debate issues then what's the point in having a mock UN?
this sham was brought to IIUI by the leading potical party of the University namely JI,,,
we cant remove a corrupt ruler and we talk of some country that most of the people in our country cant find it out on a map. GO NAWAZ GO.
@Ahmed Mohsin: Hats Off .... well said...like the writer said , '' Like it or not, Israel happens to be an important world player. This importance means that Israel cannot be left out of debates, especially if it is a political debate.
Model UN is a fairly common practice in American schools. This trains them to understand all sides and come up with an amicable solution to complex problems (now, that's another matter that most of this intelligence is lost by the time people become involved in actual high-stake foreign policy making). To make a ruckus out of it, does not reflect well on our academic culture. Secondly, a lesson for management here is that in initiatives where you are choosing to depart from the mainstream, the details should be circulated beforehand for a complete buy-in to prevent such surprises at a last minute.
insanity at its worst...,
Is'nt this the same JI who was questioning India's democracy when bunch of college students thrashed some Kashmiri students for saying pro-Pakistan slogan......what goes around, comes around.......
i see no reason for controversy. Pervez Musharaf (Dilli babu) met silvan shalom -isreali foreign minister in stockhol,
Fanatics are doing best job in pakistan to keep it under dark.
Good article. Israel is a reality and sooner we accept the better. Its important to build bridges.
Problem is a mindset,can they remove ISRAEL from UNO? I am sure all muslims participants meet Israeli during the real UN's debates in the United States.
A great article and i am proud of you being so upright on this issue. When Arabs are talking to Israel, why cant we.
We need to be a pluralistic society that is willing to listen to other's view point - that is the only way we can become a country which is at peace within.
We won't allow Pakistani delegation in our mock UN assembly.
Why even have a venue who's people believe in gagging all people they do not agree with?