Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Dear Delegates,

Younghoon Moon

I am incredibly excited to welcome you to the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of Harvard National Model United Nations 2012! To the veterans of Model UN, I am eager to provide you with one of the most enriching debates in which you will have engaged on the circuit, and to newcomers, I am thrilled to be a part of your maiden voyage. As your director, I will be there through thick and thin to make HNMUN the best experience it can possibly be.

I am sophomore at Harvard, who plans to major in Social Studies, an interdisciplinary concentration in the social sciences. I have had the benefit of traveling to foreign countries, thanks to my father, a career diplomat representing the Republic of Korea. In high school, I became active in Model United Nations, competing in several national tournaments and leading club activities around current events. In college, my interest in international relations brought me back to Model UN. HNMUN has been a wonderful experience so far, and I am honored to serve as your director.

As the conference approaches, I hope you are excited about participating in one of the most important committees under the General Assembly. You will have the opportunity to interact with students from around the world, who share a passion for solving the world’s most pressing issues. One of the first actions that you will take in committee is deciding which of the two topics to discuss first. Topic A concerns the effects of atomic radiation and nuclear safety, an issue that garnered much attention in the wake of the nuclear accident in Japan. Proponents tout nuclear technology as the solution to the energy crisis, but the absence of a strong, enforceable nuclear safety regime remains an obstacle in this area. No less an important topic is international migration and its bearing on global security. By focusing on the security dimension of the debate, SPECPOL will strive to resolve problems that other UN committees have neglected. Whether it’s homegrown terrorism or ethnic conflict, the actual and perceived threats posed by migration require a nuanced understanding of this critical issue.

As you begin your research, I encourage you to consult a wide variety of sources, in addition to the Study Guide, which was meant to be just that, a guide. I have found case studies useful in grounding principles in concrete examples. I also suggest familiarizing yourself with the technical terms of the debate on either topic.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me. I look forward to meeting all of you next year in Boston!

Sincerely,

Younghoon Moon
Director, Special Political and Decolonization Committee
Harvard National Model United Nations 2012

Topic Area A: The Effects of Atomic Radiation and Nuclear Safety

No other issue grabs the fascination of the public more than the question of nuclear technology. At one extreme, the use of nuclear weapons can pose a significant threat to human welfare. At the other extreme, the peaceful application of nuclear energy can revolutionize the way in which society produces goods and supplies resources. Interspersed in this narrative are nuclear disasters that have shocked the world. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Severesk are historical accidents that illustrate the destructive potential of nuclear technology gone wrong. The explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan is a recent disaster that adds to the list of almost one hundred accidents that have occurred during the past few decades. In light of these events, nuclear safety at the global level is a critical issue that involves a sophisticated set of policy options, enforceable through the international system.

Recognizing the importance of the issue, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee has devoted its attention to the effects of atomic radiation on the environment and human health in recent years, as illustrated by its recent approval of a draft resolution addressing concerns in this area. However, a comprehensive nuclear safety regime at the global level will require further discussion taking the Committee back to issues left unresolved from the Cold War era. The evolution of safety standards since and lessons from previous disasters will inform the Committee’s deliberation. Whether the international community can adequately respond to the next accident will depend largely on the legal and regulatory framework established by the Committee.

Topic Area B: International Migration and Global Security

A critical driver of history has been the dynamic between population control and the imperative of migration. This tension has grown more pronounced over the past few decades, as the world has become interconnected in face of globalization. Immigration is a controversial issue in many countries, where the cost and benefit of admitting immigrants are constantly weighed against one another, if only to yield to ideological forces. Refugee crises and forced deportation bring additional complication to the debate. The story of international migration is a mixed tale that reveals the greatest aspiration and worst nightmare of humankind. The issues are complex, morals unclear, but the United Nations has taken an active role in promoting the rights of the world’s 214 million migrants. It is time to evaluate the record of the UN during the past decade and mitigate the tensions underlying international migration flows.

Charged with the responsibility of resolving the world’s political issues, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee will discuss the current state of international migration and its implications for global stability. The operative word in the debate is international security. While other organs of the GA have looked at the issue from humanitarian, legal, and social standpoints, the Committee will focus on the security dimension of the debate, which tends to involve the most polarizing aspects of the issue. While the UN has put much emphasis on socioeconomic factors, a comprehensive understanding of the topic warrants a security framework that looks at perceived and actual threats posed by migrants, domestic political processes, and ethno-religious conflicts. The question of national sovereignty deserves special consideration, but an opportunity to build long-term stability into the international system is equally possible.