Model United Nations Links 2009

Return to Menu

Model UN Research Strategy

*Additional Information is available online via the United Nations Association's Model UN Preparation Guide

*Model UN 101:  Getting Started from the United Nations Association of the United States of America http://www.unausa.org/Page.aspx?pid=511

 

Be familiar with the the country you are representing:

Sources to use:

• The Europa World Year Book- (Info Desk/Main Level JN1.E852) - current exhaustive country statistical information, UN Organization information and statistics.  
• Country Resources Compiled by the UN
• The CIA World Factbook - statistical information and transnational issues.
• Updated Country Profiles by the Federal Research Division.  Historical political, social, economic data.
• Permanent Missions Listing  - select your country. 
• Ask at the Library Information Desk for additional reference sources pertinent to your country.

 

Gather Background Information on the United Nations Organization

Successful participation at a Model UN session requires a baseline understanding of the United Nations organization itself, including its structure and rules of procedures.

Sources to use:

• The Europa World Year Book- (Info Desk/Main Level JN1.E852) - Located in the front of Volume 1, UN Organization information and statistics.
• The United Nations : an introduction / Sven Bernhard Gareis and Johannes Varwick ; translated by Lindsay P. Cohn (Books/Upper Level JZ4984.5 .G3713 2005). 
• The United Nations Today - use the navigation bar on the left side for the abbreviated electronic version.

 

Gather Background Information on the Issues

At the same time that Model UN participants immerse themselves in the foreign policy stance of their assigned country, they need to acquaint themselves with the international issue areas--and the status of discussions at the UN in these areas--that are on the agenda of their Model UN Session.

Sources to use:

• Global Issues on the UN Agenda - click tabs such as "documents", "speeches" etc. for more information.
• A Global Agenda: Issues before the General Assembly (Reserves/Main Level JX1977.A1 U5244)(Older issues are under the same call number on the upper level) - Published by the United Nations Association, includes a good subject index and references to UN documents related to all issues on the upcoming agenda for the United Nations General Assembly.

• Statistical Yearbook.  United Nations.  (Reference/Main Level HA12.5.U55s v.49) World, regional and individual country statistical data for issues currently being discussed by the UN.

• Magazines:  United Nations Chronicle - (Periodicals/Main Level - 341.137 Un3.1572), Economist - (Current Issues on Popular Periodical Display Main Level).

• Permanent Missions Listing  - select your country and look for the plenary or opening statements, or browse through past/recent statements for pertinent issues. 

• For very current information, search newspapers such as the New York Times, The Times (London), via the Lexis Nexis Academic Database.  (Go to the main library web page at:  http://lib.sdstate.edu and click "Lexis Nexis" under FIND. 

• Up to date information about activities of the UN organizations is available by searching the United Nations Press Release database.

 

Review Speeches at the UN by the Country's Representatives

Speeches and statements in discussions in meetings of the principal organs of the United Nations (General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Security Council, Trusteeship Council)--and their subsidiary standing and ad hoc committees-- are key sources for establishing the international policy position of UN member nations.

Sources to use:

• Statements by Issue - statements by the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
• Permanent Missions Listing  - select your country and look for the plenary or opening statements, or browse through past/recent statements. 

 

Review Policy Statements from the Country's Political Leadership

Sources to use:

• Permanent Missions Listing  - select your country and look for the plenary or opening statements, or browse through past/recent statements. 
• Governments on the World Wide Web
• EmbassyWorld.Com - Links to embassies and consulates of the world, searchable, and alphabetically organized. United Nations Permanent Missions, maps of the world, and an international telephone directory.

 

Sources to use:

• United Nations Documentation Research Guide - full-text of resolutions, statements, etc.
• United Nations Full-Text Document Search - Use the advanced search, try the country in the subject line and the word "resolution" in the title line. 
• UN Human Rights Treaty Body Database

(Portions modified from Stanford University's "Seven Steps to Model UN Research", Chuck Eckman, http://www.stanford.edu/group/Jonsson/mun.html#b)

Additional Resources:

• AMUN - Arrowhead Model United Nations.  Includes conference information, topic suggestions, etc.
• CIAO - Columbia International Affairs Online. 1991+.  A comprehensive resource for theory and research in International Affairs.  Includes conference proceedings, maps and country data, policy briefs, working papers, journals, books, schedule of events and economic indicators.  Includes the online edition of the CIA World Factbook.
• CIA World Factbook - Locate statistics and other information including transnational issues.
• Elections by Country - Wikipedia - information on elections worldwide.  Descriptions and articles on the most recent election where available.
• EmbassyWorld.Com - Links to embassies and consulates of the world, searchable, and alphabetically organized. United Nations Permanent Missions, maps of the world, and an international telephone directory.
• Governments on the World Wide Web
• LEXISNEXIS Academic. This database provides online access to full-text federal, state and international legal materials, as well as full-text and bibliographic information from newspapers, news and business magazines, newsletters, wire services, broadcast transcripts, and biographical sources.  Includes many international news sources.  Under "Legal Research" you can search International Law, etc.  In addition, under "Reference" search the country profiles.
• Political Parties by Country - Wikipedia - A list of political parties around the world, contains a brief description for each party.
• The United Nations.  Contains multiple resources including documents, maps, links to official Member-State Websites, searchable database, publications information, etc.   (Available in multiple languages.)

• Treaties Documentation Guide

• Human Rights Treaty Body Database.  United Nations full-text treaty access (in multiple languages).

• United Nations Documentation Research Guide.  This guide is designed for researchers and information professionals new to United Nations documentation. It provides an overview of the various types of documents and publications issued by the Organization (e.g, reports, resolutions, meeting records, sales publications, press releases) and gives guidance on how to work with them.  An excellent starting point for UN research!

• United Nations Statistics Division - Free access to multiple global datasets with international statistics.

Return to Menu

This guide was created and is updated by Laura M. Wight
Contact Information: Hilton M. Briggs Library, SBL 2115, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1098, Phone: 605-688-5570, Fax: 605-688-6133, Email Us
Updated: 12 February 2009 by lmw