Instructor: Dr.

Craig Arceneaux
Office: Bldg 47- Rm 11A
Office hours: M/W: 1-2, T: 8:30-10, and by appointment
Phone: 756-2842
Email: carcenea@calpoly.edu

POLS285: Model United Nations

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo- Fall 2016
Bldg 186, Rm C102, M/W, 810-1000
Today as never before in the history of modern world politics, nonstate actors jockey for space on the global
arena. Whether in the form of MNCs, international financial and trade institutions, transnational social movements,
terrorist groups and international criminal rings, or a wide variety of international organizations, there is no doubt
that the state no longer wields monopoly status as a global actor. In the midst of this change, the United Nations
stands as the most encompassing of all actors, in terms of both activity and membership. It is within the United
Nations that states seek to coordinate, regulate, or otherwise address the behavior of all actors on the world stage.
Because of this, the study of the United Nations provides an ideal setting for studying a host of global issues, such as
technology, finance, cyberspace, conflict, human rights, population growth, the rights of children, sustainable
development, access to medical care, land use, the use of space, and more. All find their way into the sessions of the
United Nations, and make for lively discussions in Model United Nations simulations.
The goal of this course is to prepare students for participation in a Model United Nations conference by
providing background information on the United Nations, and practice sessions for the conference committee
simulations. Students will learn about the basic functions of the United Nations, study a specific country and issue,
develop skills related to resolution writing, public speaking, caucus building, conflict resolution, and debate, and be
trained in the rules of procedure used at the conferences we plan to attend. The class will be divided into two parts
each week- Monday classes will be devoted to simulation exercises and club activities; Wednesday classes will be
held in a standard lecture-discussion format and will provide background on the organization and functions of the
United Nations. Students enrolled in this course will be eligible to attend collegiate conferences. Nonetheless,
enrollment alone is not a guarantee of conference participation. Students must maintain their academic standing, and
in some cases, budgetary constraints may limit the number of students able to attend a conference. On the other hand,
please note that conference attendance and subsequent enrollment in POLS385 is not required of students enrolled in
POLS285. At this point, our plan is to attend the Berkeley MUN from March 2-5 in Winter 2017, and the National
MUN in New York City from April 9-13 in Spring 2017. Unfortunately, the New York conference runs completely
through Week 2, so you will need to plan accordingly (consult with your professors). Those planning to attend the
Berkeley conference must commit by November 30, 2016, and those planning to attend the New York conference
must commit by January 20, 2017.
This class aligns with PLOs 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9, and DLOs 1 and 3.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
* Thomas Weiss, David Forsythe, and Roger Coate. 2016. The United Nations and Changing World Politics.
Westview Press, 8th ed. (be sure to get the 8th edition!!!)
* Ronald Walker. 2011. Manual for UN Delegates. New York: United Nations.
* Jonathan Katz. 2014. The Big Truck That Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a
Disaster. St. Martins Griffin.
* Also see required reading on web sites noted below

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS (These texts will be more relevant to those planning to participate in the conferencesorder/examine on your own if you so desire):
* A Global Agenda: Issues before the United Nations, 2011-12. 2011. New York: UNU.
This text contains information on specific issues, and excellent discussions of previous UN actions on those issues.

It is highly recommended for those planning to attend the conferences. They used to publish a new edition each
year- unfortunately, one has not come out in some time.

* Political Handbook of the World. 2009. New York: McGraw-Hill

This text contains helpful information on individual countries and specialized UN agencies. It is available in the
library (non-circ): JF37.P6. There is a 2015 edition available through CQ Press, but our library does not carry it (it
runs about $300).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
conference and rules quiz
participation and attendance
country profile worksheet
position paper
resolution
midterm (1 hour)
final exam (2 hours)
final assessment

10%
15%
5%
5%
5%
20%
30%
10%

Wednesday, October 12
Monday, October 10
Monday, October 17
Monday, October 24
Monday, October 31
Wednesday, December 7
by 10am, Wed, Dec. 14

Policies:
* This syllabus is your contract. You are responsible for all the information it contains and any
revisions announced in class (this includes additions).
* Please note that I uphold a strict policy on laptops/tablets in the classroom.
Specifically, the use of laptops and tablets is prohibited. This restriction applies only during
the lecture portion of the class. During the simulations, you will find it helpful to access internet
resources as you debate your topic (which is what you would do at actual conference simulations).
In addition, please do not make use of other electronic devices during lecture.
* At times, I may use PolyLearn to send messages to the class. These messages will be sent to your
university email, so be sure to check it regularly if you do not already do so.
* Do not expect immediate responses to email messages, and never expect responses over the
weekend.
* Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date they are due. Papers turned in after
this time will be reduced ten percentage points, those turned thereafter will incur a ten-point
penalty for each day late. Make a copy of your paper before you turn it in. You are responsible for
having a duplicate copy of your paper in case it is misplaced (if your paper is misplaced and you do
not have a duplicate, you will receive no credit).
* Makeup exams or quizzes will be allowed only in verifiable cases of illness or family emergency.
Written documentation must be provided. All other cases will result in a fifteen-percentage point
reduction. A makeup exam or quiz must be completed within one week of the original date. If it is
not, you will receive no credit for the assignment.
* A grade of I will only be offered in instances of serious circumstances, and when a substantial
portion of the coursework has been completed. The student must contact me before the final
coursework due date to arrange a schedule for coursework completion.
* Follow the assignment directions in regard to expected content, page length, etc. Please do not
embarrass yourself with font or margin manipulations to meet minimum page requirements on
assignments.
* Cheating or plagiarism on any coursework will not be tolerated and will result in an F for the
course and a report to Student Affairs. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with university
regulations on academic dishonesty and matters regarding student rights and responsibilities. You
can find information at the website of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities:
http://www.osrr.calpoly.edu/plagiarism. In addition, all students should be familiar with the
departments Academic Integrity Policy: http://cla.calpoly.edu/pols_academicintegritypolicy.html
* Each student is to do his or her own work independently. Although I do not discourage students
from working together, it is your responsibility to ensure that your work does not closely resemble
the work of another student.
* Work completed in other courses is not eligible for submission in this course. If you submit such
work, you will receive no credit for the assignment.
* There is no extra credit.
* Assignment grades will be multiplied by their respective percentage weight, summed, and

rounded to the nearest whole number. Some assignment grades may be curved, but final grades
will not. Exams are cumulative. (A= 93-100; A-=90-92; B+=87-89; B=83-86; B-=80-82).
* Recording of class is strictly prohibited and is grounds for dismissal from class. Students with
exceptional needs must see me to work out accommodations.
* Students with disabilities will receive a reasonable accommodation as specified in the Americans
with Disabilities Act. If you require, or believe you require an accommodation, first contact the
Disability Resource Center in the Student Services Building, then see me.

TOPICS AND TENTATIVE READING SCHEDULE (note: assigned readings should be completed before class time listed):

WEEK 1 (September 26 and 28):

Monday- Lecture: The United Nations System- History and Background
* Weiss, Introduction
* Browse through:
The UN in Brief http://www.un.org/Overview/uninbrief/
Wednesday- Lecture: The United Nations System- History and Background
* Weiss, chpts 1-2, The Theory and Practice of UN Collective Security; UN Security Efforts During the Cold
War
* Walker, chpts 1-4, How to Use This Manual, Types and Purposes of Conferences, Preparations, and
Decisions before the Conference

WEEK 2 (October 3 and 5)

Monday: Simulations: Model United Nations: What It Is; Introduction to Simulation Topic; Selection of Countries
* Walker, chpts 5-6, Informal Processes, Formal Proceedings
Wednesday- Lecture: Organization and Functions (cont.); The UN Role in International Peace and Security
* Katz, chpts 1-4

WEEK 3 (October 10 and 12)

Monday- Simulation: Debate Formats and Strategies of Debate; Topic Background; Committee Simulation Begins!
* Walker, chpt 7, Speaking
* Katz, chpts 5-6
* Background Report on topic available on PolyLearn
Country profile due
Wednesday- Lecture: UN Peacekeeping and Nation-Building
Conference and Rules Quiz
* Weiss, chpts 3-4: UN Security Operations after the Cold War (1988-1998); Security Operations Since 1999

WEEK 4 (October 17 and 19)

Monday- Simulation: Introduction to Resolution Writing and Rules of Procedure
* Walker, chpt 8, Drafting
* Katz, chpts 7-9
Position paper due
Wednesday- Lecture: UN Peacekeeping and Nation-Building; The UN and Humanitarian Affairs
* Weiss, chpts 5 and 6: Confronting Contemporary Challenges; The United Nations, Human Rights, and
Humanitarian Affairs

WEEK 5 (October 24 and 26)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation

* Walker, chpts 9-10, Fundamentals of Negotiation, Strategies and Tactics of Negotiation
* Katz, chpts 10-epilogue
Sample resolution due
Wednesday- Lecture: The UN and Humanitarian Affairs
* Weiss chpt 7: Applying Human Rights Standards: The Roles of the First and Second UN

WEEK 6 (October 31 and November 2)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation
* Walker, chpts 11-12, Chairing, and Reporting
Midterm Examination
Wednesday- Lecture: The UN and Humanitarian Affairs (cont.)
* Weiss, chpts 8 and 9: The Third UN in Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs: The Role of Independent
Experts; Theories of Change

WEEK 7 (November 7 and 9)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation
Wednesday- Lecture: From Economic Development to Human Development
* Weiss, chpt 10: Theories of Development at the United Nations

WEEK 8 (November 14 and 16)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation
Wednesday- Lecture: The United Nations and Development Goals
* Weiss, chpt 11: Sustainable Development as Process: UN Organizations and Norms
November 21 and 23 - - - Thanksgiving Holiday

WEEK 9 (November 28 and 30)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation
Wednesday- Lecture: The United Nations and Development Goals
* Weiss, chpt 12: Sustainable Development as Process: UN Organization and Norms; Conclusion: Learning from
Change

WEEK 10 (December 5 and 7)

Monday- Simulations: Committee Simulation
Wednesday COMPREHENSIVE EXAM!!!!

ASSIGNMENTS
You will receive handouts and instructions for each of the assignments, and study guides in advance of the
quiz and exams.

FINAL ASSESSMENT: Please email a copy of this assignment to me on Wednesday, December 14,
by 10am. This is the only assignment that you will submit electronically (all others must be hard
copy, and submitted in class). If I do not receive your paper by 10am, there will be a 10-point
deduction. If you send the paper the following day, there will be a 25-point deduction. No papers
will be accepted after Thursday, December 15.
Your final project is a 4 page, single-spaced paper that reflects upon your participation in the
simulation exercise. The paper should address three goals. First (~2 pages), revisit the topic of Haiti. From
the perspective of your country, overview why (or if) the topic is important, how it evolved through the
class, and how your countrys interests and motivations may have changed. In doing so, be sure to reflect
upon relevant UN documents and organizations, and be sure to reference the Katz book as you reflect
upon your position. Second (~1 page), assess your activity in the simulations. What were your countrys
interests and goals? With whom did you caucus? What sort of role did you play in your caucus? What
united and/or divided your caucus? Keep track of how often you spoke, when you spoke, and how you
used the speeches to pursue your goals. Did your tactics change over time? Were you pleased with the
outcome of the debate? Second (~1 page), reflect on the Walker book. Was it helpful? In what ways was it
particularly insightful? Did the descriptions offered by Walker appear in the simulations? Did you discover
any shortcomings in the book?