From studies to practice: applying political analysis and public policy through the UN model for Russian Far East

HSE has participated in the conference “Model of United Nations for Far East” that was organized in Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok on 1-5 of December. Our university was represented by first-year student of the "Politics. Economics. Philosophy" master's program in the faculty of social sciences Dinala Sheripher.

The purpose of the United Nations model is the deepening of the understanding of the organization, the education of participants on world problems and world peace contribution through the work of the UN using cooperation and diplomacy.

This year, the committee of the UN Commission on Population and Development had two agendas: the fight against obstacles to achieving the goals of sustainable development related to population and nutrition, and accelerating efforts to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and fair economic growth. Other committees included the UN Security Council with the agenda of the day to non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the open agenda; the UN Assembly on the environment with the agenda of the day: “Effective, inclusive, and stable multilateral actions to achieve SDG 12 and reduce the forced relocation in unstable states due to climate change and natural disasters”. The World Bank was presented by its own programs for the assessment and approval of development projects. Also, as part of the conference, the economic and social commission for Asia and the Pacific Ocean operated under agenda of “active actions to combat climate change in the Asia-Pacific region were developed to reach the 2030 development goals”, and a comprehensive approach to building a sustainable future through innovation and technology was also considered.

To qualify as a delegate to the United Nations in the Far East of Russia, the participants needed to submit two documents (resolution and positional document) and a brief resume before the expiration of the established deadline. This year, more than 100 students from various universities in Russia and other countries took part in the UN Model.

During the five-day conference, Dinala had the opportunity to take on the role of a real diplomat: she was a delegate of the Lebanese Republic in the Commission on the Population and Development. She represented the interests of Lebanon as a state and discussed global problems in search of sustainable solutions. She shared how the UN model gave her valuable information about international diplomacy, negotiations and solving problems. During the conferences, participants were able to represent different countries, discuss global problems and develop resolution projects. In addition, this allowed them to develop the skills of public speeches, negotiations, and critical thinking.

As the delegates of the conference, participants had to work more diligent than ever, since it was necessary to actively represent the interests of their country to guarantee that all relevant decisions would be included in the resolutions. Delegates had to learn cooperation despite them representing different states for sustainable solutions under working agenda. As part of the conference the participants led numerous protocols and made notes. By the end of the meetings the delegates in each committee had to prepare the draft resolutions on the discussed agendas. The participants prepared two resolutions in the committee of CPD, in which Dinala Sheripher participated. To finalize the resolution negotiations and meetings between delegates with similar interests or other member states were held. This is classical diplomacy in its best form.

Being a political analyst and expert on state policy, Dinala, within the framework of the conference was also able to engage in research activities in the field of world politics and diplomacy, learn more about the international decision-making system, practice negotiation skills, learn more about the diplomatic profession, get acquainted with peers from different countries, as well as increase the level of ability in foreign languages.

This year, the “Model of United Nations for Far East” was patronized by various delegates, including Andrei Deryabin, deputy vice-rector for international relations of the Far Eastern Federal University, Andrei Brovaret, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives in Vladivostok, Sai Murali Seviti, the Consul-General of India in Vladivostok, Pao Yanfan, Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Vladivostok, Alexey Stanonis, Advisor to International Youth Cooperation and the Commissioner for Tourism of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Larisa Khasbutdinova, deputy Minister of Professional Education and Employment of the Primorsky Krai, Vladimir Sokhnenko, Acting Director of the Department of Youth Affairs of the Primorsky Krai, Ekaterina Ishchuk, Head of the Department of Youth of Vladivostok, and Ruth Hetherington, Head of the Department of Humanitarian issues of the Moscow Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.