What is a Crisis Committee?

A Model UN crisis committee is a dynamic and high-intensity simulation that focuses on responding to unexpected events and managing ongoing crises. Unlike traditional Model UN committees that follow a structured agenda and discuss pre-set topics, crisis committees require delegates to think on their feet and adapt quickly to evolving scenarios.

Structure and Roles

1. Crisis Staff: A group of moderators and directors who design and control the crisis. They introduce new developments, manage background information, and facilitate the flow of the committee.

2. Delegates: Participants representing various characters, countries, or entities relevant to the crisis. These can range from political leaders and military officials to business executives and other influential figures.

3. Crisis Director: The main coordinator of the crisis, responsible for the overarching narrative and ensuring the committee runs smoothly.

4. Committee Dais: A team of staff, usually consisting of a Committee Chair and Assistant Committee Chair, who oversees debate in the main delegate room. They are responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules of procedure and judging the in-room performance of delegates.

5. Backroom Staff: A team working behind the scenes to create and update crisis updates, respond to directives and crisis notes, and maintain the flow of information.

Process

1. Initial Setup: Delegates receive background guides detailing the initial scenario, key players, and relevant historical or fictional context. Each delegate’s position paper or initial directives are prepared based on this information.

2. Crisis Updates: The crisis staff regularly inject new information, events, or developments into the committee, such as natural disasters, political coups, economic collapses, or military conflicts. These updates demand immediate attention and response.

3. Debate and Collaboration: Delegates must engage in constant debate, negotiation, and alliance-building. Unlike traditional committees, the pace is faster, and alliances may shift rapidly.

4. Directives and Actions: Delegates can submit directives (proposals for action) to address specific aspects of the crisis. These can be individual or joint actions, such as military maneuvers, diplomatic efforts, or economic sanctions.

5. Crisis Notes & Personal Arcs: Delegates may have personal objectives and secret information that influence their actions, adding complexity to their roles. They will act upon these by writing crisis notes addressed to real or invented characters who are not in the committee room, receiving responses from crisis staffers who assume the persona of the note recipient.

Key Features

1. Real-Time Decision Making: Delegates must respond to evolving situations in real-time, often without the opportunity for thorough research or prolonged discussion.

2. Flexibility and Adaptability: The ability to quickly adapt to new information and changing circumstances is crucial.

3. Complex Scenarios: Crisis committees often deal with multi-faceted issues that require a deep understanding of geopolitics, economics, and other relevant fields.

4. Interactive and Engaging: The interactive nature keeps participants highly engaged and encourages creative problem-solving.

Examples of Crisis Committees

1. Historical Crises: Recreating significant historical events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, where delegates must navigate historical context and geopolitical tensions.

2. Fictional Crises: Constructing scenarios based on fictional universes or hypothetical situations, such as a global pandemic or a futuristic space conflict.

3. Current Events: Simulating ongoing real-world crises, such as regional conflicts, climate disasters, or international economic disputes.

Goals and Learning Outcomes

1. Crisis Management Skills: Develop skills in handling unexpected challenges and making quick, informed decisions.

2. Negotiation and Diplomacy: Enhances abilities in negotiation, coalition-building, and diplomatic strategy.

3. Critical Thinking: Promotes critical thinking and the ability to analyze complex situations from multiple perspectives.

4. Public Speaking: Improves public speaking and persuasion skills under pressure.

5. Teamwork and Leadership: Encourages teamwork and leadership as delegates must often lead groups or work collaboratively to resolve issues.