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Frozen Conflicts and Emerging States: Special Political and Decolonization Committee
A General Assembly
Background Guide Coming Soon!
SPECPOL is a committee both close to my heart and close to the heart of what the United Nations stands for: security, equity and connection. SPECPOL’s goal is decolonization through facilitating peaceful political relations and peacekeeping. In a world continuously threatened by conflict and instability, this committee grows increasingly relevant as identity and democracy are transformed into mechanisms of warfare, economic leverage and coercive control. I take special interest in geopolitics and the relationship between humans and cultural landscapes that influences international policy. With this in mind, this committee challenges you to debate, negotiate and understand the power dynamics, sociocultural and political-economic factors involved in statecraft and legitimacy. Topic A, “Statecraft and Democracy in Volatile Regions,” debates how the UN can best facilitate and promote statecraft and democracy in regions that are prone to conflict, instability and democratic backsliding. Delegates must examine how war, terrorism, geopolitical and trade disturbances, ethnic cleavages and resource availability undermine peaceful statecraft and cause economic, political and humanitarian consequences. Topic B, “Donetsk, Luhansk and the Legitimacy of Secessionist Movements,” explores whether the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics can be considered legitimate secessionist movements under international law and the broader implications of secessionist movements as a whole. Delegates must analyze how factors like Russian involvement, local support and contested sovereignty shape their claims and what standards of statehood and law apply.
SPECPOL will operate under standard UN General Assembly parliamentary procedure. Performance will be evaluated holistically, based on speech quality, leadership and diplomacy during unmoderated caucuses, and quantity and quality of written work, among other relevant criteria. I look particularly favorably upon delegates who display consistency throughout committee sessions and strong presence in both moderated and unmoderated caucuses, with heavy weight placed on author’s panel
Beyond competition and awards, Model UN serves as a platform for personal growth, learning about the world and making connections that last a lifetime. So, delegates, have fun and debate away!
If you have any questions, or concerns, feel free to email me at ktorresfigueroa@ufl.edu with the subject line SPECPOL Committee. I am so excited to meet all of you!
About the Committee
About the Director
Karina Torres Figueroa (she/her/hers) is a 2nd year Geography and Russian major as well as an International Studies in Agriculture and Life Sciences minor. She is currently serving as University of Florida Model UN’s Director of General Assembly Member Development and as a Director for both of UF’s conferences, GatorMUN and SunMUN. Karina has competed in Model UN for 5 years as a GA delegate and has previously co-chaired and staffed many conferences including GatorMUN, SunMUN and FlagMUN. Aside from Model UN, Karina is an intern at UF’s Center for European Studies and is a National Security Language Initiative for Youth and Critical Language Scholarship recipient, having studied Russian abroad in Daugavpils, Latvia and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In her free time, Karina loves to travel, listen to music (ask her about Car Seat Headrest, Ziferblat, or any rock music), reading, rollerskating and side questing with her friends. She is so excited to direct this SPECPOL and cannot wait to meet all of you!