Model UN at the 2016 Academic Festival
As the most
powerful body of the United Nations, the Security Council is dedicated to
maintaining peace and security on a global level. At this year’s Academic
Festival, to help bridge the gap between theory and application, Daemen
students participated in the History and Political Science Department’s annual Model
United Nations simulation. This year’s resolution focused on the ongoing peace
talks to end the 5 year old Syrian Civil War. The simulation was sponsored by Dr.
Aakriti Tandon, Assistant Professor of Political
Science at Daemen College. Students from PSC 121: International
Relations class represented countries including China, France, Germany, Iraq,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Students from PSC 231: Global Governance class represented relevant non-state
actors including NGOs, the Free Syrian Army as well as UN Under Secretary
Generals (USGs) and debate moderators.
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| Under Secretary Generals and Moderators: Nigel Haynes, Christine Kozlowski, Shane Clark, Christina Auguste, Jessica Maulucci and Brianna Zichetella (blog author) |
As Syria enters
its fifth year of civil war, all sides in the conflict must consider the benefits
of peace negotiations. This protracted conflict has destabilized the region and
resulted in displacement and death for the people of Syria. With both sides accused
of committing war crimes and the inability of humanitarian aid workers to reach
those in need, it is in most parties’ best interests to end the violence and
suffering in and around Syria. However, this is an extremely complicated
matter, and any effective solution should involve the cooperation of all
nations in an effort to promote global peace and stability. Problems of this
magnitude are generally addressed at the highest level of diplomacy: the United
Nations Security Council.
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| Delegates from the U.K. and France: Jonathan Miranda, Michael Reilly, Casey Young, Amanda Best, and Andriy Lukomsky |
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| Delegates from Iraq: Kelsey Gibson, Isabella Orgento-Romero, and Luis Ortiz |
To prepare for the
simulation, students conducted extensive research on their assigned countries.
As representatives, students were expected to give introductory speeches and
argue the positions of their states in the debate segment of the simulation.
This includes researching the historical and contemporary situation of their
country’s stance on the issue and reading relevant UN Security Council
resolutions. Due to the nature of the debate, participating students must be
able to accurately predict the kinds of responses that representatives of their
states would give to debate questions and how their state would rebut other
country’s responses.
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| Moderators: Christina Auguste, Jessica Maulucci and Brianna Zichettella |
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| Delegates from Germany, and Turkey: Kyle Munro, Natalie Ennis, Idania Ramirez, Jasmine Favors |
During the
simulation, students debated several topics including humanitarian relief, the
continuing presidency of Bashar Al-Assad, housing refugees, the state’s visions
for peace in the event the conflict is resolved, and potential consequences for
both sides’ human rights violations. A particularly contentious question asked
representatives how they felt about bringing the Kurds to the discussion table: The Islamic State is a
threat to all sides in this conflict. Thus far, only the Kurds have had any
success in stopping the terrorist group’s progress. Would you consider
including the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in this discussion in
exchange for help against this threat?
Responses
to this question were extremely varied. One of the potential demands that the
Kurds may make in exchange for their help is the official transfer to Kurdish
ownership of the land they currently occupy. The area with prominent Kurdish
presence – known as Kurdistan – covers areas of Iraq Iran, Turkey, and Syria.
In the debate, countries like Turkey that would lose territory were strongly
opposed to this option. However, countries farther removed for the area, such
as the United States, seemed to believe it would be a fair trade-off for help.
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| Delegates from Oxfam (NGO): Ramel Haines, Torrence Dyck, Fati Haruna |
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| The Syrian Delegation: Hannah Gerber, Jenil Bell, and Carlos McKnight |
After extensive
and occasionally heated debate, the country representatives passed the USG’s
proposed resolution with a vote of eight affirmations to three abstentions. The
resulting resolution invites Syrian Kurds to future peace talks, excludes
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from future peace talks, reaffirms the need
for monitoring of human rights violations, and proposed the creation of an Intergovernmental
Organization tasked with ensuring the permanence of post-war state building in
Syria and wherever war is resolved. The resolution also met the Council’s
primary goal of securing safe travel for Non-Governmental Organizations and
other humanitarian aid workers within the region.
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| Delegates from Saudia Arabia: Jossette Allwood and Ebony Fripp |
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| Free Syrian Army: Breanna Coolidge and Gabriela Andrade |
Overall the
simulation allowed students from all majors to experience real-world
application of political science to current events. It was an interesting and
engaging experience, and the participating students look forward to next year’s
simulation.
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| The Russian Delegation: Imani Evans, Paige Casey and Natalie Chiodo |
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| United States: Mathew Molnar, Zahra Nayyeri and Rachel Lewandowski |
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