FUTURISTIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FUTURISTIC GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FGA

(Rolling crisis)
STUDY GUIDE
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Introduction to the Committee:

The UN Futuristic General Assembly is a body that deals with immediate and long-term crises.
It may vary from present day, to futuristic, and from fiction to nonfiction. It shifts in its purpose
but always remains unique whether you are allotted countries or made to step into the shoes of
specific ministries; every person in the committee will have to show unique creativity and
adaptability to excel in the Futuristic General Assembly. This year at MCMUN, UNFGA will be
a rolling crisis committee throughout the 2 days of debate.

Introduction to the topic:

The NPT is a landmark international treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons,
promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and achieving nuclear
disarmament. It was opened for signature in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. As of today,
191 states have joined the treaty, making it the most widely adhered to treaty in the field of
arms control. However, it has also been criticized for not doing enough to achieve nuclear
disarmament. There have been concerns about violations of the treaty by some states, as well as
the increasing number of states that possess nuclear weapons or the capability to develop them.

Case Study A : Iran-Pakistan Escalation

January 2024: Tensions rise between Iran and Pakistan, fueled by accusations of harboring and
supporting militant groups on each other's soil.
January 15th: Iran launches a series of missile and drone strikes within Pakistan, targeting
suspected Baluch separatists. Civilian casualties spark outrage in Pakistan.
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January 18th: In a swift and unprecedented retaliation, Pakistan launches counter-strikes using
missiles and fighter jets against Iranian territory, aiming at alleged hideouts of the Jaish al-Adl
group. Global powers scramble to de-escalate, fearing the worst.

Both sides accuse each other of aggression and violation of sovereignty. Misinformation and
propaganda fuel public paranoia and fear of another full-blown war. Cyberattacks deem critical
infrastructure vulnerable and sow further discord. Diplomatic efforts seem insufficient to calm
the growing tension. Trust levels plummet, replaced by suspicion and hostility.

Your role, as diplomats, is to consider the following;

What specific actions can your nation take to de-escalate the situation?
How can you bridge the communication gap between Iran and Pakistan?
Should the UN consider sanctions or other forms of pressure to enforce de-escalation?

Case Study B: Cuban Missile Crisis

In 1959, Fidel Castro's ( former Cuban president ) revolutionaries overthrew Cuban dictator
Fulgencio Batista, establishing a communist government. The CIA-backed attempt to overthrow
Castro failed, further souring relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Seeking to protect Cuba and
counterbalance U.S. influence, the Soviet Union began deploying military assets, including
ballistic missiles, in Cuba.
In October 1962, U.S. observatory flights discovered Soviet missile sites in Cuba capable of
striking much of the United States. Hence, President John F. Kennedy announced a naval
blockade of Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments of military equipment and demanded the
removal of the missiles already in place. Over the following days, the world watched nervously
as Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev engaged in intense negotiations via letters
and backchannels. As tensions escalated, both superpowers prepared for a potential nuclear
confrontation.
You, as representative of your respective country, must act upon the procedures
aforementioned.
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Rules and Procedures of UNFGA ;

An MUN can normally be separated into different parts of the discussions; structurally you
have:
1. The Opening of the Debate
– Roll Call
– Setting the Agenda

2. The Debate
– The General Speakers List
– Moderated and Unmoderated Caucuses
– Draft Resolutions

3. Closing the Debate

– Voting Procedure

Opening the Debate: Roll Call

Within Model United Nations, the Roll Call is normally used to check who is attending, and
how many people are attending. Through this, the Chairs are able to calculate the majority
which is required within procedural and substantial voting. When you hear your Countries
name, you can simply reply with “Present.”

Opening the Debate: Setting the Agenda

If you have been given multiple possible topics to discuss , it will depend on you and the other
delegates which one will be chosen. You should be careful with these things – depending on
your country and their positions, you might have a certain preference for one topic, therefore
you should really try to get the discussion topic which fits you best off the ground. Setting such
an agenda, requires a motion.

You raise your placard, and wait until the Chair acknowledges you. You ONLY speak, if the
Chair acknowledges you. This is a universal rule, which is present in all sections of the MUN
debate (except for the unmoderated caucus). Once you have been acknowledged, you say your
country’s name and move to place your preferred topic first on the agenda. Remember to
always speak as an ambassador of your Country. No “I’s” allowed! It’s “we”, your country’s
name, or “as the representative of Country Name.”
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Once a motion has been raised, the Chairs will call for a procedural voting process, meaning
that delegates are unable to abstain and MUST vote. Only a simple majority is needed.

The Debate – The General Speakers List

The GSL is essentially your default section within a discussion. Chairs will establish a time
limit that each speaker should adhere to, and Countries can then ask to be added to the list,
taking turn to speak in the order the Chairs have provided.

Within the GSL, a delegate can aim to move the debate into a direction they would like to see,
this is your moment to look for people who would vote for you, if you were to raise the motion
for a moderated Caucus. Others might disagree, and are able to answer you within their time
frame on the GSL. To join the GSL, you wait for the Chair to ask who wants to be added to the
list, at which moment you should raise your placard, until they acknowledge you.

If you finish your speech before your allotted time is over, the Chair may open the remainder
of the time for other Delegates to ask you a question, which you then are able to answer, you
may let your time seize, or you may give your time to another Delegate. What the best choice is
truly depends on your tactical reasoning for it.

Moderated and Unmoderated Caucuses

While the GSL is ultimately a tool to allow general discussions, sometimes one needs to spend
more time on certain specifics, in which case one can call for an unmoderated or moderated
caucus. A moderated caucus requires speakers to only hold speeches based on the topic at hand.

It might be fruitful to raise a motion for a moderated caucus on a certain topic (for a certain
amount of minutes, with a certain amount of speakers time), if, within the GSL, a trend towards
such a topic was already foreseeable. This is an opportunity to really shape the debate, and more
often than not, multiple motions for multiple moderated caucuses exist at the same time, so
voting is necessary.

Now, an unmoderated Caucus is a whole other tactical game. Within it, general rules seize to
exist for a while, and one is able to be within a freeform debate, no turns, no points, no speaking
time, You are allowed to move around within a room , you get to meet the other
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countries in a more personal manner, and you get to negotiate and write your draft resolutions.
This is where you look for cooperation amongst other states and try to create something based
on your shared values. Like the moderated caucus, a motion for this has to be raised. It’s a
procedural vote, so no abstaining is possible. The unmoderated caucus takes time for as long as
the allotted time allows.

Draft Resolutions

A draft resolution is a document which states the proposed solution of the issue at hand and is
supposed to be representing the viewpoints and the agenda of those who have written and
signed it. It must have a minimum number of sponsors who support it and will vote in favor of
it, once debates have ended.

You then get to read the operational clauses, one by one, within a certain time frame.
Afterwards, countries are able to ask for amendments regarding the clauses you have written. If
an amendment is friendly, that means no one has objected to the change within a clause, and it
can be written anew accordingly. If a sponsor however should decide to object, a vote must
follow.

Amended clauses are unable to be re-amended, so make sure you truly do not object to a change
being made within your resolution.

Voting Procedure:

The voting procedure is a substantive vote, meaning, that everyone who said that they are
present at the Roll Call gets to either vote “Yes”, “No”, or gets to abstain. You are furthermore
not allowed to abstain if you are a sponsor for the draft resolution at hand.

Once voting is completed. and a proposal has been passed, it becomes the resolution of the
committee, at which point the council will move on to the next topic that was on the agenda. If
it should however fail, the draft resolution next to the first one will be voted on. Once one has
been approved, or all have been voted on, one moves on to the next topic.
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FGA Specifics:

Private Directives:

Private Directives are used to carry out secret and confidential activities. Private Directives are
usually addressed with “My Confidante” and can be used to influence crisis updates throughout
the session. They can be used for framing, bribery or other activities that delegates want carried
out without the public gaining knowledge of them. (Note: There is no difference between
Private Directives and Crisis Notes in this Committee)

Press Releases :

Press Releases are used by blocs or individuals to inform “the public” in the crisis about certain
facts, or to spread misinformation about the ongoing crisis. Often, delegates may use these to
try to influence public opinion against certain plans to help their own, to encourage the public to
be safe, to stop protesting, or even to get involved with the crisis somehow.

Sample Press Release:

Press Release Signatories: Pakistan, China, Chad

Headline: The Truth has been revealed After an investigation lasting several months, our
intelligence agency has found conclusive proof connecting a foreign agent to the recent attacks
within our country. Voice recordings, letters and the testimony of several eyewitnesses proved
our suspicions and clearly pointed to the agent as the main planner and perpetrator of the recent
bomb attacks. In accordance with the new information that came to light, the agent will be tried
and sentenced accordingly. International law regarding their treatment and custody will be
followed and after the authorities reach a decision, the evidence will be revealed to the public.
We hope this development can serve as a warning to our enemies and all those plotting against
us.