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Preparation

It is important to do some solid background research on your country before you write your position paper.  Being well-prepared and knowledgeable is just as important as your debate skills at a model UN conference.  Although you are not expected to show your research to your chair, it may be useful to write some information down and bring it with you for reference during the conference.

Seven Steps to Prepare for BUSUN:

1.  Read the Background Guide for your committee.  Although it may seem like a no-brainer, this is best place to start your research.  The background guide will provide you with a good overview of the topics for your committee and will make sure you are on track with your research.

2.  Research basic statistics for your country.  Although you may be discussing topics not explicitly related to your country, it is important to have good background knowledge.  This might include:
              -population
              -GDP
              -type of government
              -political leaders
              -allies or blocs
              -major religions
              -sources of internal conflict
              -sources of external conflict
              -important industries
              -basic overview of your country’s history:
                            -date of creation
                            -major historical events  (conflicts, wars, revolutions etc.)
                            -previous ruling powers (colonial, territorial)
              -membership in other international organizations
             
Some good places to find this type of information are the:
CIA World Factbook
BBC Country Profiles

3.  Find out your country’s political status and where it fits in the current political atmosphere of the world.  It is important to know what kinds of political leanings your country has.  What kind of political system is used?  What kinds of global political movements is your country involved in?  What conflicts is your country involved in currently?

4.  Figure out how the topics relate to your country.  Although many delegates find this to be the most difficult part of research, it does not have to be.  In some cases, your country is directly involved in the issue.  A delegate for the UK would have little difficulty defining the United Kingdom’s relation to Iraq.  Often the connection is not so obvious.  If your country is not directly involved with the topic, look at how it affects nations in the same bloc.  Also consider how a topic might affect individual aspects of your nation.  For example, a delegate from China in the UN Environmental Programme committee would have to consider that strict factory emissions regulations would have a drastic effect on China’s industrially-oriented economy.  If you have any questions about the topics, feel free to email the chair(s) for you committee. Email addresses are available in the Committees section of the website.

5.  Feel free to contact the Permission Mission to the United Nations for you country. This approach can be especially helpful for small nations.  A list can be found here.  When contacting them, be aware that they are more likely to help you if you are polite and courteous.  Explain to them that you are researching their country for a Model United Nations conference.  It may be helpful to have a list of questions that you want answered.

6.  Make sure you stay up to date on your country.  It is important to check the news every once in a while before the conference to see what your country has been up to.

7. Relax.  Everyone at BUSUN comes to learn something new.  The BUSUN staff are always there to help you out.

The following resources may be helpful in your preparation for BUSUN.

United Nations: Official website of the UN.

Amnesty International: Prominent human rights NGO.

BBC World: Offers global news highlights and headlines 24 hours a day.

CNN World: International edition of the Cable News Network.

Foreign Governments Comprehensive Web Site Listings: Provides lists of national governments by region, ministry, and embassy, and of some local governments.

NGO Global Network: Links to non-governmental organizations associated with the UN.

List of governmental websites: Northwestern University has provided a list of national governments' official homepages, with links to different ministries as well.

List of international governmental organization: Another list from Northwestern University.

As always, Google is your best friend! Just plug in your topic names and you will uncover a wealth of relevant information.