1. society
2. unrest and war

United Nations Security Council:
1956
United States Secuirity Council
Letter from the Chair
ILMUNC China IV
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Shanghai, China
October 9 - 12, 2014
Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
An Ivy League Experience
Dear Delegates,
Hello, my name is Mike Keramidas, and I am extremely excited to be your Chair for UNSC After
months of hard work and preparation, I promise you that we will bring forward to you the best committee
in which you have ever competed.
First, a little bit about myself. I am a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences here at Penn majoring
in Economics and Political Science. I am originally from a small town in PA and could not be more excited
to be attending school here in Philadelphia. I’m an avid fan of FC Barcelona, the Pittsburgh Pirates and
Pittsburgh Penguins. Some of my other interests include tracking American & Spanish politics, following
financial markets and watching Game of Thrones.
One of my biggest passions is Model United Nations. I have competed in over a dozen conferences
throughout my years at Penn where I have also served on our board of intercollegiate competitive team. I
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Letter from the Chair
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love the thrill of competing against others, while discussing some of the most interesting, diverse topics.
Meeting new people from all across the globe is perhaps my favorite part of MUN and something I hope
you do this weekend.
This is my first ILMUNC China, and I could not be more excited. Never having been to the country
the globe. I promise to translate this excitement to our committee, where you will be tested as much as the
actual UNSC. I assure you that you will learn a lot while having an enjoyable time.
If you have any questions about this committee, please do not hesitate in contacting one of the
best Crisis Directors Penn has to offer, Marc Anthony Serrano. I look forward to meeting you in Octoberr for
what will be the greatest ILMUNC China you’ve ever experienced!
Mike
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
before, I am eager to learn about a different culture and continue to meet incredible people from around
Welcome to the UNSC 1956 committee! My name is Marc-Anthony Serrano and I will your CD at
ILMUNC China. The UNSC is going to be an extremely fun and competitive committee. We have so much in
store for you and can’t wait to have you!
I’m a Senior at Penn studying Political Science and Economic Policy. I’m originally from the New
York City, though I currently reside in the bucolic suburb of Warwick. Apart from my work with the International Affairs Association, I spend my time chairing an organization that advises student publications at
Penn. When I have some downtime, I read up on current Chinese politics, study Mandarin, and spend as
much time as possible watching a combination of baseball (my favorite sport) and Netflix. My first experience in the MUN world came as a freshman at Penn. It was initially a daunting leap to make, but I can’t be
happier with my decision. For me, MUN is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and has quickly developed
into a passion.
As far as committee goes, be prepared to see a highly volatile situation in this historical committee. In 1956 we find ourselves in the midst of the Cold War. The post-war world is led by the United States
and the USSR, with nearly every nation aligned with either side. The political situation is best described as
a “tinderbox”, where any single spark could set off a much larger—and potentially much more deadly—
world crisis. During these times, you will have to decide how to best lead the world through the most
dangerous times it has ever faced. The crisis updates will be steady but powerful. That is, any single update
could change the situation significantly and without much anticipation. We hope to find delegates that are
willing to step up to the challenge and be bold in the face of grave danger. Your Chair and I have created a
committee that will be sure to keep committee as divided as possible, so be sure to keep on your feet!
If you have any questions about committee, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Be sure
to prepare well. See you in October!
Marc
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ILMUNC China IV
Dear Delegates,
United States Secuirity Council
Letter from the Chair
United Nations Security Council, 1956
The United Nations Security Council was created by Chapter V of the United Nations Charter and
first met on January 17, 1946 at Church House in Westminster, London. The organization was created
in the wake of two long and bloody world wars with the purpose of facilitating peaceful international
cooperation. Subsequent meetings have taken place at the headquarters of the United Nations in New
York, where representatives of member nations are permanently situated to allow for immediate action
on matters of international security. The Security Council is composed of five permanent members, and
six rotating members. Reflecting the five preeminent world powers following the end of the Second
World War, the permanent seats are held by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Republic of China, and the Soviet Union. These five countries are the only ones who possess veto power on
the council. The rotating members are elected by the General Assembly for a non-renewable term of
United States Security Council
History and Structure of the United Nations Security Council
two years. These seats are divided regionally: the Latin American states are allotted two seats, while the
Commonwealth of Nations, the Middle East, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe are each given one
seat.
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(For the purposes of this simulation, several additional members have been added to the historical 1956
The Security Council has a subordinate body, the Military Staff Committee (MSC), whose mem-
bers are the chiefs of staff from the militaries of the five permanent Security Council members. Article
47 of the United Nations Charter tasks this body with the strategic direction of any armed forces placed
under the command of the Security Council. Article 45 mandates the provision of air force contingents
by member states for the immediate use by the Security Council to respond to crisis situations. To date,
however, no state has made such a contingent available. The MSC has yet to be actively used due to
Cold War tensions and the reluctance of states to surrender any part of their military sovereignty. From
its beginning, the organization was confronted with a number of challenges, marked by the beginILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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Security Council.)
ning of the Cold War between the Eastern Communist bloc led by the USSR and the Western Capitalist
bloc led by the USA. Because members from both sides of the conflict hold veto power on the Security
Council, tensions and conflicts between the two powers have led to a gridlock in the Security Council
tested by North Korea’s 1950 invasion of neighboring South Korea. The Security Council was effectively neutralized by the Soviet vetoes of any action against its Communist ally, the North Koreans. In
response, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 377 A (V), commonly known as
“Uniting for Peace.” This resolution allowed the General Assembly to take on the responsibilities of the
Security Council regarding international security in such cases where the Security Council itself was unable to act, due to, among other reasons, non-unanimity among its permanent members. The passage
of “Uniting for Peace” was in part backlash from the boycott of Security Council meetings by the Soviet
Union, which were to protest the failure to transfer the Republic of China’s seat to the People’s Republic
of China following the communists’ victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Though ostensibly violating the terms of the United Nations Charter, which provided sole responsibility concerning security and
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during international crises. The new international structure of the United Nations was first seriously
military matters to the Security Council and compelled the General Assembly to follow its recommendations, this resolution served as the basis for United Nations forces to intervene in the Korean conflict.
Historically, an emergency session of the General Assembly has never been called under the Uniting for
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Peace doctrine to resolve particular crisis situations, but this does remain a standing possibility.
Due to the obstacles posed by the ongoing Cold War, most serious conflicts involving the ideo-
communication among the various parties involved. In the face of such limitations, one area in which
the Security Council has been able to make significant progress is the area of peacekeeping. The first
ever United Nations peacekeeping mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), was sent to
Jerusalem in 1948 to enforce the peace between a nascent Israel and its neighboring Arab states. A second mission was sent to Kashmir in 1949 following the partition of India and Pakistan. In areas separate
from the main theaters of East-West rivalry, peacekeeping appears to be a viable tool for the Security
Council.
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logical and political interests of both the Eastern and Western bloc leaders will require significant direct
Functions of the Security Council
Articles 23 and 24 of the United Nations Charter task the Security Council with the “maintenance
behalf of the larger General Assembly on such matters. In practical terms, the Security Council seeks to
resolve disputes among states before they escalate to military confrontation. Article 26 of the Charter
provides the Security Council with the specific task of the regulation of armaments.
Under Chapter VI of the Charter, the Security Council has the power to request that members of
the General Assembly enact penalties such as economic sanctions on unresponsive nations. Any state,
whether it is a member of the United Nations or not, may present a dispute to the Security Council. The
Council can then make recommendations to the involved parties to resolve the dispute, or recommendations to the General Assembly for enforcement measures.
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of international peace and security.” A smaller, more responsive body, the Security Council acts on
If peaceful measures fail to address the situation at hand, the Council may also request the aid
of the military forces of member states, under conditions outlined in Chapter VII of the Charter. Though
in theory their ratification of the United Nations Charter obligates member states to offer their military
6
forces to support Security Council decisions, in practice it falls to individual states to decide whether or
not to provide such support.
The New World Order after the Second World War
The Second World War changed the global distribution of economic and military power. In
Europe, national borders were redrawn and new states were created after the fall of Nazi Germany and
Fascist Italy. The system of world politics shifted dramatically as European states lost power in the world
stage, while the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as military superpowers.
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Historical Background
The destruction in Europe during World War II led, in part, to
the end of European imperial-
States used victory in World War
II to push forward its agenda of
self-determination for all states.
As this idea spread around the
world, colonies began to take the
initiative and staged their own
revolutions, as they were not
Figure 1: Map indicating national boundaries in post-WWII Euimmediately liberated from their rope in 1945 – Source: comniatlas.com.
foreign rulers. Some states, such
as Great Britain and France, could no longer funnel money abroad when entire parts of their respec-
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ism. Additionally, the United
tive states had to be rebuilt, both physically and economically. As a result, European colonial networks
began to crumble because they could no longer afford to control overseas colonies, nor keep colonial
populations pacified.
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Imperial Japan also collapsed immediately at the end of the war. Its defeat in WWII crippled
the Japanese military and economy. The unconditional surrender of Japan resulted in the liberation of
Japanese military developments, except for those intended for self-defense purposes, prevented Japan
from reclaiming lost territories.
As imperialist countries loosened their grip, many colonies in Africa began to seek liberation
from their foreign rulers, with peoples in northeastern Africa becoming the first to declare independence after the Second World War. Eritrea became independent from Italy after the United Kingdom
ousted Italian forces in the country in 1941. In 1951, Libya declared independence from the United
Kingdom. Sudan also declared independence from the United Kingdom on December 19, 1955. In the
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territories formerly under the influence or occupation of the Empire. Furthermore, the prohibition of
Maghreb, French colonial rule remains strong in Algeria, but the nation’s influence is rapidly deteriorating in Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Throughout the rest of Africa, colonies are either on the verge of declaring independence or
they are at the other end of the spectrum, far from decolonization with no desire to separate themselves from the Western powers. In West Africa, pan-Africanism has sparked anti-colonialism and inspired colonies like Ghana, Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to petition for independence. In East
Africa, the decolonization movement has been less organized, lacking the regional pan-Africanism
witnessed in the west. The UK and Italy failed in an attempt to merge Eritrea and Somalia with Ethiopia
in the hopes that the stable and already independent government of Ethiopia would be able to prevent
the colonies from becoming power vacuums. Eritrea resisted assimilation and established its own system of government, and the deep political and social divisions within Somalia prevented unity. Prior to
decolonization, Somalia was controlled by France in the north, by the UK in the central region, and by
Italy in the south. This division of territory has prevented political unity from taking root and eliminated
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any sense of common identity among the inhabitants in these three regions. In Kenya, the Mau Mau
rebellion of 1952 has initiated a fierce national independence movement. In the other colonies in the
region, internal strife has escalated rapidly as a result of existing tensions within the royal and colonial
leadership.
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Peasant rebellions rocked West-Central Africa, where colonial rule was in the hands of private
workers and farmers, inspired by colonial uprisings in the north, have begun staging large, violent demonstrations. The private firms ruling these colonies are struggling to maintain control and are desperately seeking help from their home governments in Europe.
Decolonization was slowest in the colonies in southern Africa, where colonial rule was character-
ized by racist policies and strict oversight because of the heavy financial investment made by European
settlers. The institution of apartheid in South Africa provides the archetype for many of the colonial
policies in the region. Discontent is evident among those excluded from government, but there is no
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European companies. In colonies like Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Zaire, dissatisfied
indication of violent revolutions in the works, at least for the present. Many living under colonial rule in
the south are too financially dependent upon the colonial leadership to instigate any sort of revolution.
Asian countries also witnessed large independence movements in the immediate aftermath of
the Second World War. Only days after the Japanese surrender in 1945, Indonesia and the Democratic
Republic of Vietnam (D.R.V.), also known as North Vietnam, declared independence. In 1946, Jordan
declared independence and the US relinquished sovereignty over the islands of the Philippines. A year
later, in 1947, the partition of India created Pakistan and resulted in both Pakistani and Indian declarations of independence from the UK The following year, Israel and Burma declared independence, while
Sri Lanka acquired the status of Dominion within the British Empire. In 1953, Laos declared independence from France, and Cambodia followed suit in 1954, when the Geneva Accords officially recognized
the independence of the two nations.
Several Asian states were partitioned prior to independence for a variety of reasons. Some states
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were partitioned because they were deemed too politically unstable or too economically weak to recover fully without external aid. Following the end of Japanese colonization, Korea was partitioned into
North Korea under Soviet control and South Korea under US control. In 1947, war broke out between
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Pakistan and India over the disputed partitioned territories of Kashmir and Punjab. At the Geneva
Conference in 1954, plans were also made to partition Vietnam into a northern region and a southern
At the same time, regionalism was on the rise, manifesting itself in the form of various transna-
tional geopolitical entities. Arab nations began to move toward the doctrine of pan-Arabism and the
development of an Arab union. Southeast Asian states started to develop a regional identity in the
wake of liberation from European and Japanese imperialism.
The Cold War Era
The Outbreak
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region.
The Cold War is the product of the escalation of
economic and military contention between the US and
the USSR As World War II was coming to a close, the Al-
Although the Yalta Conference ended with commitments from both the Western powers and the Soviet
Union on democratic elections in Europe and a variety
of other topics, almost all of these commitments were
broken. As a result, the fragile alliance that developed
between the two states during WWII fell apart when
the war ended in 1945. The two superpowers have be Figure 2: A map of national boundaries in Eugun competing for economic and political influence
rope during the Cold War - Source: the British
National Archives.
in an attempt to fill the postwar power vacuum in
Western Europe and the Pacific theatre. The presence
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lies met in Yalta to discuss plans for a post-war Europe.
of the massive Red Army in Eastern Europe poses a threat to US interests in Western Europe.
In 1946, attention shifted from European reconstruction to Greece when civil war between the
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National Republican Greek League (EDES) and Democratic Army of Greece (DA) broke out after the
former was accused of fixing elections. The United Kingdom had supported the EDES in an effort to
keep Greece from turning to Communism. However, the United Kingdom was no longer able to assist
States to step in on its behalf.
The Greek Civil War became the first proxy war between the US and the USSR At the start of
the conflict, the DA enjoyed strong military support from the USSR and Yugoslavia. On the other hand,
British support for the E.D.E.S. was waning, and the possibility that the nationalist government might
fall heightened US concerns about the spread of Communism and the growing influence of the USSR
In 1947, the Truman Doctrine was introduced, declaring that the US intended to support democratic
interests—especially Greece and Turkey—and thwart the spread of Communism in Western Europe.
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the EDES due to the tremendous costs undertaken during the Second World War and asked the United
The following year, the US implemented the Marshall Plan to provide economic assistance to noncommunist
governments in vulnerable Western European states. The nationalist government in Greece benefited tremendously from aid provided by the US and succeeded in defeating the DA in 1949 after Yugoslavia broke
Cold War Alliances
The Creation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Warsaw Pact
On April 4, 1949, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, the UK, and the US signed the North Atlantic Treaty to create a new alliance known as the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O.). Greece and Turkey joined three years later. The alliance was
designed to prevent aggressive Soviet expansion, prohibit the revival of European militarism, and increase
US influence in European affairs amidst post-war reconstruction. According to the treaty, an attack on any
member state would be perceived as an attack on all member states and in response to this attack, a combined force consisting of contributions from all member states would be deployed.
The USSR saw N.A.T.O. as a threat to the spread of Soviet power and Communist influence. After
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away from the USSR and withdrew from Greece.
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West Germany was formally recognized as a state and given N.A.T.O. membership, the USSR formed its own
alliance through the Warsaw Pact in 1955. The Warsaw Pact currently consists of Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary,
The Creation of the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization
In 1954, the Philippines and Thailand created the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization (S.E.A.T.O.) in
Bangkok to establish a transnational anti-Communism movement in Asia. The organization planned socioeconomic discussion forums and joint-military exercises for member nations. It received immediate support
from the U.S., the UK, France, Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand. The group provided member states an
opportunity to unite against Communist influence from both China and the USSR
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East Germany, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, and the USSR
The Baghdad Pact and the Prospect of Regional Cooperation in the Middle East
The Baghdad Pact stemmed from US aspirations to create a Middle Eastern alliance against Soviet
that was also signed by the U.S., Pakistan, Great Britain and Iran with the purpose of fostering peace in the
Middle East. The US fostered this alliance out of the desire to create an anti-communist movement in the
Middle East. Because of ongoing tensions in the Arab-Israeli conflict, the US shifted its focus to these countries, which comprise the “Northern Tier.” The Northern Tier refers to countries on the border of the USSR and
the Middle East. Member states adhering to the Baghdad Pact have announced their intentions to develop
their alliance into a transnational entity that resembles N.A.T.O. Some supporters of the Baghdad Pact have
expressed a strong desire to establish a Middle Eastern organization that would mirror the structure and
functions of N.A.T.O. and S.E.A.T.O.
The Bandung Conference and the Rise of the Non-Alignment Movement
In 1954, the 29 states from Asia and Africa met in Bandung, Indonesia to discuss non-aggression,
non-alignment, decolonization and equality. The conference provided a transnational forum for many
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encroachment. In 1955, Iraq and Turkey formalized their alliance against foreign aggression in a treaty
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countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Many of the participating nations bonded over a shared history
of colonization and the common desire to solidify their newly acquired independence. For example, China
attempted to strengthen diplomatic ties with African states by comparing the Chinese struggle against
ence expressed the desire to remain neutral in the Cold War struggle, and form a non-alignment movement
in order to avoid becoming a pawn in US or Soviet agendas. The United States was hesitant to support the
conference for this reason. In addition, American support would have jeopardized US relations with former
major colonial powers like the UK, as many of the states at the conference had been under colonial rule.
The Rise of the People’s Republic of China
The Chinese Communist Party allied with the USSR in the beginning of the twentieth century. Initial-
ly, while the communists were trying to consolidate power in China, the CCP looked to the USSR for guidILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ance and took whatever advice was given
to them. However, the party was initially unsuccessful and nearly
ILMUNC China IV
European occupation with the African struggle against European colonization. Many states at the confer-
disassembled following Chiang Kai-shek’s 1927 campaign. After this disaster, members of the CCP, such as
Mao Zedong, began to diverge from the USSR’s model
urban proletariat in favor of leading a peasant based
rebellion, which ultimately led to a communist victory
in the 1949 Chinese civil war.
Following the establishment of the People’s Republic
Figure 3: Chiang Kai-shek – Source: http:// of China, Chairman Mao went to visit Joseph Stalin in
www.clancobra.com.br/2012/10/qual-ditadorMoscow and formalized the Sino-Soviet Alliance. This
matou-mais-em-todos-os-tempos/
alliance had three foundations: mutual security, both
domestically for China and for the international Communist cause; ideological recognition, in which
China acknowledged the USSR as the head of the international communist movement; and economic
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of communist revolution based on an uprising of the
agreements, in which China received low interest loans and financial and economic planners from Moscow, and the USSR received access to the Manchurian Railroad and certain nutrient rich territories.
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Over the course of this alliance, however, cracks have started to appear. The Soviets were
alarmed by the PRC’s aggression during the Taiwan Strait crisis and feared how close to nuclear war the
Chinese brought the world. Additionally, in a speech Khrushchev recently gave denouncing Stalin’s “cult
the PRC’s government. Economically, the Chinese are beginning to resent the USSR’s loans, which they
believe should solely be grants, and already have had issues paying them back. Finally, the concept of
“Communist bloc solidarity” has begun to erode as China is starting to act independently of the Soviets
and emerge as a separate source of Communist influence in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
Chinese-US diplomatic relations were strained from the beginning of the Cold War because the
US refused to recognize any government other than the Nationalists in Taiwan as the official Chinese
government.
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of personality,” Chairman Mao felt indirectly threatened since some saw this as an indirect criticism of
The Dirty War
From the late nineteenth century through the Second World War, France exercised significant
as a protectorate for a variety of reasons. The declaration of independence proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh
and the establishment of North Vietnam challenged French influence in the region. In 1949, France
established the State of Vietnam and installed Bao Dai as leader.
Armed conflict between North Vietnam and the State of Vietnam ensued. Under the leadership
of Ho Chi Minh, the Viet Minh championed the ideals of communism and recruited many Vietnamese
under the platform of nationalism. Outnumbered and belabored by guerrilla tactics, French forces
relied on their technological superiority. After 1949, however, the Chinese and Soviets began to supply
the Viet Minh with weapons sophisticated enough to match those used by the French. French forces
held out for a few more years before retreating. On July 21, 1954, the Geneva Accords were signed. The
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political and economic control over Vietnam. After the war, France was no longer able to rule Vietnam
agreement not only guaranteed the withdrawal of French forces but also partitioned Vietnam into a
northern zone under Communist control and a southern zone controlled by the remnants of the government of Bao Dai.
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The Malayan Emergency
In 1948, the Malayan National Liberation Army (M.N.L.A.) of the Malayan Communist Party
(M.C.P.) started to sabotage economic, financial, and governance infrastructure. The M.C.P., which allegedly grew out of an anti-Japanese guerrilla movement, rebelled in response to socioeconomic problems. The M.N.L.A. enjoyed great success by using guerrilla tactics against British and Commonwealth
forces, which were unprepared for combat in the jungles. Malayan Chinese support for the M.N.L.A. has
further complicated the situation. To dissuade Malayan Chinese from supporting the guerilla fighters,
the government relocated nearly 500,000 Malayan Chinese citizens living in or near the jungle and gave
them humanitarian aid. Despite the relocation campaign, the fighting rages on across Malaysia.
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The Korean War
At the conclusion of WWII, Korea was partitioned into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Parallel while the US controlled the territory south of he parallel. Tensions mounted in the peninsula
as the Soviets exerted communist influence in the north while the US tried to establish a democratic
government in South Korea.
In 1950, North Korean forces invaded the south, starting the Korean War. The U.N. condemned
the Communists as the aggressor and member states deployed military assets to respond to the invasion. US forces intervened, and, under the leadership of General MacArthur, not only regained all of the
south Korean territory that had been captured by the north, but started advancing into territory above
the 38th parallel. The People’s
Republic of China then became
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(D.P.R.K.) and the Republic of Korea, or South Korea. The USSR controlled the territory north of the 38th
nervous because it feared that
once US forces had defeated all of
North Korea, they would keep go-
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ing and invade Communist China.
The Chinese issued a warning to
the US military not to approach
tinued to advance, the Chinese
intervened, which led to a stalemate. In 1953, an armistice was
signed to bring about a tempo Figure 4: A map of military movements in the Korean War -
Source: Maps.com.
rary ceasefire.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone
was established as soon as the Korean Armistice Agreement was in effect. The zone stretches across the
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the Yalu River. When the US con-
width of the peninsula at the 38th parallel. Thousands of US and South Korean infantry units are stationed on the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone, while thousands of North Korean infantry units
are stationed on the northern side. US units stationed in Japan have been instructed to monitor the
Turmoil in the Soviet Bloc: Yugoslavia and Hungary
In 1948, Yugoslavia split from the Soviet Union. Under the leadership of Marshal Josip Broz Tito,
Yugoslavia developed independent of the USSR and developed a different form of Communism.
In Hungary, dissatisfaction with the Communist regime installed by the USSR has increased since
the end of the WWII. Hungarian political opposition to Soviet influence began with the failed economic
reforms of the 1940s and the ousting of the popularly elected Smallholders’ Party was ousted in 1947.
The Yugoslavian secession from the Soviet Bloc prompted the persecution of suspected Titoists, reli-
United States Security Council
situation in the peninsula and be ready to reinforce the assets stationed in South Korea.
gious organizations, and members of the Smallholders’ Party in the early 1950s. The harsh treatment of
persecuted Hungarians aggravated Hungarian frustration with Soviet intervention in the country.
The death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 ushered in a new era of Soviet politics. In the absence of
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retaliation from Stalin and his supporters, reform movements took flight. Reformist Imre Nagy replaced
Matyas Rakosi as Hungarian Prime Minister and implemented a set of political and economic reforms
reforms as too radical and lobbied for the removal of Nagy from his office. In 1955, Nagy was replaced
by Andras Hegedus as Prime Minister while the USSR attempted to reestablish Soviet influence in Hungary by making Hungary a founding member of the Warsaw Pact, as well as implementing censorship
of the Writer’s Association.
The ousting of Nagy, censorship, and attempts to tighten Soviet control over Hungary only ex-
acerbated Soviet-Hungarian tensions. In June of 1956, Hungarians began to call for the return of Nagy
to the office of Prime Minister and stage strikes in response to the condemnation of the Petofi Circle
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that included “amnesty for political prisoners and abolition of internment camps.” Some perceived the
and the suppression of the reform movement in Poland. Many Hungarian reformers believed that the
denouncement of Stalin and the rise of reform movements in Poland set the stage for revolutionary
The Continuation of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
In the late nineteenth century, the concept of Zionism, or return to the Jewish homeland,
emerged and European Jews began to immigrate to Palestine. Since the intentions of these new Jewish migrants to “reclaim” the land were made clear, tension immediately built up between them and the
Palestinian Arabs that had inhabited the area for centuries. During the First World War, the United Kingdom made conflicting promises to proponents of the Zionist movement and the Arab nations in the
region as they sought military and political assistance. In 1915, British officials offered to support Arab
self-determination in exchange for military assistance against the Ottoman Empire. In 1917, the British
government issued the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for a Jewish home in Palestine
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reform in Hungary and other nations in the Soviet Bloc.
and protected the rights of non-Jews in Palestine and the rights of Jews outside of Palestine. This was
done in order to try and mobilize Russian and American Jews within their respective countries to urge
their government to support the ally’s war effort. After the war, the UK failed to deliver on both prom-
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ises, and instead established Palestine as a British Mandate.
In 1947, against the imperialist aspirations of the British Empire, the United Nations planned to
determination, arguing that a country has a right to elect its own government, not have its government
determined by an international body. The Zionists supported the partition because they believed that it
presented a solution to the problem of world Jewry, and therefore Jews everywhere should have a say.
The Zionists had influence in crucial states, namely the US and Great Britain. Ultimately, the UN voted
for partition, with many key states, including the USSR and the US voting for it. In 1948, the War of Independence was fought and won by the Palestinian Jews, establishing the state of Israel. The Israelis successfully fought off Arab forces from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Iraq, and Transjordan virtually alone. While
Israeli forces defended their claim in the disputed territory, U.N. intervention resulted in two armistices.
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partition Palestine into an Arab state and a Jewish state. The Palestinians protested on the basis of self-
Tension, however, remains high between Israel and the Arab world. Most Arab states have refused to
acknowledge the statehood of Israel, and continue to pose a threat to the Jewish citizens in the region.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced out of their homes into surrounding
to go.
The Suez Canal
In 1858, France supervised the construction of the Suez Canal in Egypt. Fearing that French
economic influence was increasing in Egypt, the UK boycotted investment in the Suez Canal in order
to allowing Egypt (under British control) to become the main shareholder. Thereafter, British investors
bought the shares from Egypt and became the new majority shareholder, thereby gaining control of
the strategic waterway.
From the First World War through the Second World War, the British protected the canal. The
Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 allowed British forces to remain in Egypt and guard the canal. After the
WWII, however, strong nationalist sentiments in Egypt fostered opposition to the presence of British
forces in the country.
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Arab countries, mostly concentrated in Jordan, and are now refugees with no official homeland or place
18
18
In 1952, British forces responded to attacks on their garrisons in Egypt by disarming the Egyp-
tian paramilitary police division that perpetrated the at-
ILMUNC China IV
tacks. The attacks, however, escalated and the UK forced the
Egyptian monarch, King Farouk, to remove nationalist Wafd
party leader, Nahas Pasha, from office.
The decision prompted a military coup that year
and General Mohammed Neguib became the new leader
of Egypt. His successor, Colonel Gamel Abdul Nasser, vigorously pursued nationalist agendas, and found British influ-
Figure
5: Gamal Abdel Nasser –
Source: http://ricochet.com/mainfeed/Background-to-the-Egyptian-
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ence in the country intolerable. Colonel Nasser declared his intention to end British occupation and
raise a military capable of destroying Israel. The Suez Canal Base Agreement of 1954 sought to appease
Colonel Nasser by promising the withdrawal of British forces by 1956, and the designation of British and
unhappy with the current situation as it reflects their waning imperial influence around the world; this
loss in particular will result in a huge loss of income for the British.
Egyptian relations with the US have also deteriorated since Colonel Nasser came into power. The
US cut developmental aid for Egypt upon discovering an arms trade agreement between Czechoslovakia and Egypt.
Current Situation
The Year 1956
It is July 19, 1956, and the prospect of war is mounting in the Middle East. The United States and
the United Kingdom have withdrawn financial support for the construction of the Aswan Dam because
the President of Egypt, Gamal Abdel Nasser, is seen by many as a threat to peace and specifically to
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Egyptian technicians to continue the operations of the canal. Despite formal agreements, the British are
19
Western interests. In response, Nasser has threatened to nationalize the Suez Canal, which would result
in significant financial losses for British and French investors in the Suez Canal Company. In addition,
Saudi Arabia to their own countries or importers.
The aggressive nationalist and pan-Arab agenda pushed forward by President Nasser also poses
a threat to Israel. Egypt has been one of the most vocal Arab nations in the anti-Zionism movement.
Skirmishes between Egyptian and Israeli forces have continued despite the Armistice Agreement of
1949. One of the most controversial political incidents, which occurred in 1954, is known as the Lavon
Affair. The Israeli government, in an attempt to sour Egyptian and British relations and open the way for
military conflict in the Sinai Peninsula, attempted to bomb American and British embassy complexes
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
the U.S., the UK, and France would no longer be able to use the strategic waterway to ship oil from
and blame it on the Muslim Brotherhood. Before the plan could be executed, the spies were caught and
arrested, with some sentenced to execution. . Incidents such as this have only increased the already
tense relationship between Israel and Egypt. President Nasser has also exacerbated tensions between
to mobilize the Israeli Defense Force into defense positions along its border with Egypt.
Asia has become a Cold War theater ripe for proxy wars. The Korean Armistice Agreement has
done little to calm the hostilities between the states of North and South Korea. Meanwhile, US troops in
Japan are ready to be deployed in the event that war breaks out on the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese intervention in the Korean War has proven to US officials that the P.R.C. is a legitimate
Communist threat to US interests in Asia, particularly in the North Vietnam. Skirmishes have reportedly
taken place between North Vietnamese troops and US -backed South Vietnam troops. In light of the
threat posed by China and other sources of Communism in Southeast Asia, the US is eager to defend
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Egypt and Israel by threatening to build up the Egyptian military and annihilate Israel. Israel has begun
budding democracies like Burma, among others.
China also remains a threat to the US backed nationalist government in Taiwan. Negotiations
over Quemoy and Matsu have stalled as of the spring of 1956, and the Nationalists have refused to re-
20
move their forces from the offshore islands. The P.R.C. has expressed frustration with the lack of progress
in their diplomatic initiatives. Reports from the Nationalist forces in Quemoy and Matsu indicate that
sponse, the US has issued a warning to the communist Chinese government, and begun to increase US
naval presence near the northern coast of Taiwan.
In Europe, Hungary is on the verge of revolution. Anti-Communist sentiments in Hungary have
intensified after the Soviets imposed martial law in Poland to suppress the Polish anti-Communist
movement. Protestors have increased their presence by partaking in large street demonstrations
against alleged Soviet political oppression. Many Hungarian political dissidents have reportedly expressed their desire for greater independence in Hungary and their hopes for the election of a reformist
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
the People’s Liberation Army has dramatically increased its presence in Fuzhou and Xiamen. In re-
in the Polish Communist Party.
In Africa, independence movements are emerging throughout the continent. In Algeria, French
appears imminent and preparations for the liberation of the Libyan government are in place. In Morocco, Spanish influence has continued to wane and independence seems inevitable. In other African
colonies, internal factions are fast developing in the light of the erosion of colonial rule.
Key Issues to Consider
The Suez Situation
Egypt is on the brink of war with several powerful nations. War over control of the Suez Canal
has tremendous economic and political ramifications. The outbreak of armed conflict in Egypt could
further restrict access to the canal or even destroy the strategic waterway for other Western nations,
and those in the region. Without the canal, oil prices would skyrocket because many petroleum companies depend on the canal to transport oil from the Middle East to the rest of the world. Current oil prices
average $1.93 per barrel and the outbreak of a war over the canal is expected to increase oil prices by at
United States Security Council
forces are losing ground against nationalist forces as well as local terrorist groups. Italian defeat in Libya
21
least 50 percent. .
War over the canal could also worsen the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel would likely participate in
an armed conflict over the canal because the country is allied with the United States and maintains
close relations with the UK and France. In addition, Israel views Egypt as a major security threat due to
geographical proximity, the skirmishes that have been taking place between Israeli and Egyptian forces
since the armistice, and the anti-Zionist threats made by President Nasser.
Egypt has formally cut off diplomatic communication with the French, the Americans, and the
British. Diplomats from N.A.T.O. member countries have reportedly been ordered to leave Egyptian
soil within the next week. President Nasser has threatened to nationalize the canal in the coming days
should the US and the UK refuse to renew their financial support for the Aswan Dam. In addition, PresiILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
dent Nasser has condemned Israel as “a puppet of the West and an enemy of the Arab world.” According
to the Egypt State Information Service, Egypt has been reassured by neighboring Arab nations that an
Israeli attack on Egypt would be perceived as an attack on the Arab world and that they would pledge
Mounting Social Unrest in Hungary
The situation in Hungary is unpredictable. The public demonstrations in the streets of Budapest
are becoming more violent. The political upheaval in Poland appears to have a strong influence on the
developments in Hungary, and the extent of the Hungarian political opposition in the recent months is
escalating to an unprecedented level. Protestors demand revolution rather than reform in the Hungarian Communist regime.
Opposition to Soviet influence also exceeds the anti-Soviet sentiments witnessed in Poland.
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military support to defending Egypt.
Many Hungarians blame the USSR for the ousting of the Smallholders’ Party in 1947 and the failed economic reforms in 1948. Nationalization did not stimulate needed economic growth, thus “the workers
did not believe in anything that the communists promised them… The communists nationalized all
the factories and similar enterprises, proclaiming the slogan, ‘The factory is yours—you work for your-
22
self.’ Exactly the opposite of this was true.” Hungarian political reformers also believe that the USSR was
The USSR is carefully monitoring the situation in Hungary. A successful Hungarian revolt could
inspire neighboring members of the Soviet Bloc to rebel as well, with Yugoslavia and Poland most likely
to join Hungary in rebellion. In anticipation, the Soviet Army has relocated all infantry units along the
southern border of Hungary to major cities in the north. An estimated 85,000 Soviet infantrymen are
ready for deployment to Hungary. Sightings of tanks and artillery units suggest that there are at least
a dozen tanks patrolling Budapest and 30 artillery units stationed throughout the capital. Hungarian
protestors also report an increase in the presence of secret police from the Committee for State Security
in Budapest, Salgótarján and Miskolc. Many Hungarians fear that the strong military presence indicates
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
responsible for removing Nagy from power.
that the USSR is preparing for a strong military crackdown on the dissidents.
Members of N.A.T.O. have expressed great concern about the politically volatile situation in Hun-
of violence into their own country. Preoccupied with the crises in East Asia, the American government
has not indicated any intention to lead N.A.T.O. in a military intervention in Hungary in the event that
violence breaks out between Hungary and the Soviets.
Tensions Renew in the Taiwan Strait
A second crisis in the Taiwan Strait may eliminate the prospect of peaceful reunification. The For-
mosan Resolution of 1955 bolstered US-Taiwan relations. Like Japan, Taiwan is a geopolitical foothold
through which American political interests in East Asia can be secured. In fact, Taiwan could be instrumental to containing or eradicating the Communist influence from the China. Chiang Kai-Shek and his
government have embraced military and financial support from the United States. Confident that the
US would back them in an armed confrontation with the P.R.C., officials from Taiwan have rebuffed negotiations with the Communists, and Nationalist forces have decided to remain in Matsu and Quemoy.
United States Security Council
gary. Member nations bordering Hungary are especially concerned about the possibility of a spillover
23
The P.R.C. is becoming increasingly concerned about the growing influence of the US in East
Asia. American naval forces sailing near the northern coast of Taiwan are a constant reminder of US
the Taiwan Strait, Chairman Mao has declared that he is in favor of using diplomatic measures to resolve
the dispute with the Nationalist forces. China hopes to avoid confrontation with U.S.-backed Nationalist
force because the P.L.A. suffered a substantial number of casualties in the Korean War.
Technological Competition
Arms Race
The development of nuclear weapons is the focus of the arms race. The nuclear attacks on
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
military superiority and influence in the region. In order to avoid provoking further US military action in
Hiroshima and Nagasaki demonstrated the power of nuclear weapons and convinced both superpowers that nuclear technology was (and still is) the future of warfare. Even though the United States was
the first nation to successfully mass-produce, transport, and deploy nuclear weapons for use in war, the
is the second largest in the world. As of 1956, the USSR had an estimated total of 126 strategic nuclear
warheads and 426 stockpiled nuclear warheads, while the US had some 3,000 strategic nuclear warheads and 4,618 stockpiled nuclear warheads.
Nuclear warfare has the potential to wreak global havoc. A nuclear war between the US and the
Soviets would lead to the destruction of many states throughout the world because the two superpowers have territorial holdings worldwide. As witnessed in Japan, nuclear bombs are powerful enough to
eradicate entire cities instantly and therefore could cause a massive amount of destruction in a short
period of time. In addition, the toxic radiation from the production and use of nuclear weapons would
contaminate the environment worldwide. Environmental researchers and nuclear physicists have
United States Security Council
USSR has made significant progress in nuclear arms research and currently wields a nuclear arsenal that
warned high-level officials in the US Department
of Defense that a nuclear war could have an irreversible toll on the global climate.
24
The storage of nuclear weapons also poses a
security concern for both the US and the USSR.
Figure
6: Blast residue from the atomic bomb –
Source: http://homepage.eircom.net/~finnegam/
war/atomic_blast_in_hiroshima.htm
weapons storage facilities classified, lest the
other side or a hostile third-party like a terrorist
group acquire the weapons and use them for
their own interest. Both sides have also begun to closely guard nuclear technology secrets for the same
reasons.
The American and Soviet governments have also spent vast sums of money to advance techno-
logical research for the development of deadlier and more efficient weapons. Research in biochemical
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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Both sides have kept the location of their nuclear
warfare, missile technology, and aeronautics has accelerated. The fierce competition between the two
superpowers prompted commercial and technological espionage. The two sides have been engaged in
a perpetual “spy” war as they try to acquire technological secrets from each other to further their own
Space Race
The two superpowers are also competing to be the first one to launch a satellite into orbit, as a
successful satellite launch would signify a major scientific achievement and imply technological superiority. Having the capability to launch a satellite into space could furthermore provide new opportunities in communication and weapons technology. Government researchers in both the US and the Soviet
Union are reportedly researching the possibility of using satellites to relay radio signals, capture satellite
photos for space reconnaissance and neutralize intercontinental ballistic missiles midflight.
Decolonization
African colonies are not declaring independence simultaneously. While colonies in North Africa
are ready for decolonization or are independent, many colonies in the southern part of the continent
United States Security Council
development.
25
are only beginning to move towards decolonization efforts. In some territories, such as South Africa and
Namibia, independence may not take hold in the foreseeable future because of a lack of political will to
Revolution does not guarantee peaceful transition from colonial rule to democracy. In fact, in
territories like Somalia, revolution threatens to create a power vacuum in which socioeconomic and religious differences can tear the nation apart. In Nigeria, deep economic and religious divisions between
the Muslims in the north and the Christians in the south may lead to civil war should colonial rule end.
Tensions among the three main ethnic groups in Nigeria—the Hausa Fulani, the Yoruba, and the Igbo-also pose a security threat. Similar issues resonate in other colonies across Africa.
In territories where colonial rule is too expensive to maintain, colonial government officials are
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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undermine colonial authority.
hastily attempting to set up transitional governments. Colonial rulers want a transitional government
that would continue to support Western interests in the region as it starts to democratize political par-
In Asia, the same issues plague imperial powers as they consider relinquishing control of their
territorial holdings. Colonial powers in East and Southeast Asia are particularly concerned about the
communist influence from China and the Soviets. The Indochina War legitimized the security threat
posed by communism. The US is monitoring decolonization in Asia because of the possibility of a communist takeover in Southeast Asian territories currently under colonial rule. The territories most vulnerable to civil war and communist influence are also the most vulnerable to proxy wars between the US
and the P.R.C. or the USSR. A proxy war between the US and either one of the communist powers could
result in catastrophic destruction in the region.
Rules of Procedure
Committee procedure for the Security Council lies somewhere between that of a General As-
sembly and that of other Crisis committees. Official resolutions will remain the primary method for
resolving the situations facing the Council. However, there will be no fixed agenda for the committee, as
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ticipation, but such a goal is difficult to achieve in territories torn apart by civil war or revolution.
26
events may radically change the challenges facing the world over the course of the conference. Though
the formal goal of the committee is still to pass resolutions addressing all of the primary international
on according to standard parliamentary procedure, requiring a two-thirds supermajority of votes to
pass, with the provision that any of the five permanent members may veto any resolution at any time.
Procedural measures may not be vetoed.
Personal Directives
In addition to resolutions, delegates have the opportunity to use other tools to influence world
events. Delegates may issue directives individually to request a particular course of action from their
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
crises, the committee may elect to change its focus as it sees fit. Substantive resolutions will be voted
home government. However, as delegates are playing the role of representatives of their respective
countries as opposed to heads of state or departmental ministers, these directives will need to take the
form of a recommendation to the appropriate individuals or institutions in their home government. Any
success of directives will depend in part on the domestic political situation, especially for democratic
countries. For example, the United States has a presidential election upcoming in the same year that
the simulation is set. Historically, Anthony Eden, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, lost his position
as a direct result of his failure in the Suez crisis that the committee will be addressing and the entire
French Fourth Republic collapsed as a result of its foreign policy failures. Delegates will need to keep a
multitude of consequences in mind while going about their decisions.
Communiqués and Press Releases
The other two tools available to delegates are communiqués and press releases. These may be
United States Security Council
actions will be subject to approval by the home government (in effect, the crisis staff ). The likelihood of
utilized by either individual delegates, an informal group of delegates, or as a formal action voted on by
the entire committee.
27
Communiqués
Communiqués may be addressed to either specific individuals or entire institutions. In theory,
along the lines of a message from the American ambassador to a Soviet nuclear scientist is likely to
be intercepted by the target government, so always be mindful of the consequences of your actions.
Finally, press releases are the primary method of communicating with the public.
Press Releases
Press releases may be used to announce major decisions or to apply pressure on various govern-
ments, among other uses. Again, the domestic political situation of each nation will affect the usage of
press releases. Dictatorships will have more control over their press and are generally less susceptible to
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
there is no restriction on the types and targets of communiqués – however, be warned that something
public pressure, whereas democratic states may have to contend with multiple public viewpoints and
even infiltration of the press by foreign rivals.
resolutions. However, a skillful delegate will be able to utilize crisis tools to manipulate the international
situation.
Bloc Positions
United States of America
The US has recently updated their containment strategy. The Americans are currently superior
to the USSR with regards to nuclear technology. The US government recognizes that the Middle East is
strategically very important due to its oil. However, the United States is occupied with defense commitments in Europe and Asia, and therefore lacks the resources to
pursue military action in the Middle East. American ties with
Israel must also be considered. The US government is likely to
abide by the 1950 Tripartite Declaration jointly issued by itself,
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In general, the focus of the committee will consistently be in-room debate and the passing of successful
28
Great Britain and France, which has guaranteed territorial status quo along current armistice lines. Its favored plan of action
organization to deter the Soviets from gaining control of the
region. One of the US’ problems is that its two close allies, the
Figure
7: President of the United
United Kingdom and France, are nations that most local nation- States Dwight D. Eisenhower Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
alists resent. Facing the dilemma of supporting its imperialistic
allies or aligning with third world nationalists and supporting its doctrine of self-determination, the
United States reached out and failed to win a strong alliance with Egypt. Due to complications, mostly
with Nasser, Egypt opted to import weapons from the USSR instead of the United States.
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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to create a main goal in the Middle East is to form a NATO-type
France
Shortly after Israeli independence, an alliance between France and Israel arose, as shared
Declaration, which also sought to temper the Arab-Israeli arms race, France remains a major supplier
of weapons to Israel. In 1956, British Prime Minister Antony Eden and French Prime Minister Guy Mollet formed a close relationship, and began discussing strategy for handling the escalating situation in
Egypt. France and the UK - together with Israel - want to pursue drastic military action on Egypt for the
purpose of maintaining Western control of the Suez Canal and establishing more secure borders (Israel).
France is unsupportive of Arab nationalism because it realizes the danger these movements pose to
Western access to Middle Eastern oil.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, currently led by Winston Churchill’s successor and fellow Conservative
Anthony Eden, is a former superpower whose ability to wield global influence is waning. The post-war
government of Clement Atlee had taken on huge financial obligations to support their landmark wel-
United States Security Council
technological and military research forged a bond between the two nations. Despite the Tripartite
29
fare reforms, which in turn relied upon continued American aid and economic support. Despite current
Conservative control of Whitehall, such reforms are wildly popular and thus put Eden’s government in
an awkward position considering its needs to finance both its interests abroad and the welfare state
influence increasing dramatically after the Ottoman Defeat in the Great War. Britain and France had
divvied up the region into protectorate states, exacerbating already growing tensions between ruled
peoples and their colonial masters. Nowhere in the Middle East was British influence stronger than in
Egypt, which had been a protectorate state of the United Kingdom. The UK wishes to take direct military action on Egypt with the goal of maintaining Western control of the Suez Canal. The UK, like France,
is unsupportive of Arab nationalism.
People’s Republic of China
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
formed at home. The United Kingdom has always been a defining power in the Middle East, with its
The People’s Republic of China is the mainland government based in Beijing. Mao Zedong’s
government is generally against US positions and skeptical of those held by former colonial powers,
the United Kingdom and France, both of which forced China into humiliating “unequal” treaties fol-
Mao’s famous Lean To One Side speech), though is increasingly willing to split from its Soviet partner to
preserve its own interests (including peace for economic development).
USSR
Throughout the 1950s, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser has entertained enthusiastic support
from the USSR, who wants to establish a stronghold in the Middle East. The anti-imperialist and contraWestern policies of Nasser lent themselves naturally to an alliance between the two states. The establishment of ties between Egypt and the Soviet Union has engendered much worry in the West and was
one of the reasons the United States and Britain withdrew their offer to fund the building of the Aswan
United States Security Council
lowing the demise of the Canton System. The nation finds itself generally aligned with the USSR (per
Dam, a major factor in the lead up to the Suez Crisis. In 1954, the Soviet Union began selling weapons
to Egypt. The USSR, while secretly at a lower nuclear capacity than the United States, remains adamant
in its threats to the West that it will intervene in the conflict if necessary and will oppose United States
30
involvement in the matter.
As an independent African nation, Ethiopia supports the anti-colonization movements currently
arising in the continent. One of many African nations in favor of non-alignment, Ethiopia is not interested in siding with either of the superpowers in the Cold War, for fear of being dragged into a proxy war.
Liberia
Originally founded by colonizers from the United States, Liberia maintained close ties with its
American partners. In the mid-20th century, Liberian President William Tubman aligned himself closely
with the United States after a meeting with President Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. Liberia has recently
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
Ethiopia
reached out to strengthen relations with its fellow African nations by participating in the Asian-African
Conference of 1955. Liberia supports the foreign policies of the United States, while also supporting its
Australia
In signing the Australia, New Zealand, and United States Security (ANZUS) treaty in 1951, Austra-
lia agreed to form a defensive coalition with the two countries in the case of naval attack in the Pacific
Ocean. Australia further aligned itself with the United States by signing the Southeast Asia Collective
Defense Treaty in 1956, thereby joining the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which was designed to impede the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. Thus, in all matters relating to the Cold
War, including the Suez Canal Crisis, Australia will likely look to the United States for guidance.
Cuba
Cuba’s position must be considered with respect to the ongoing Cuban revolution. Leading up
to 1956, Batista had already quashed multiple uprisings and clamped down on civil liberties in 1953.
However, Cuba is now on the brink of another wave of uprisings led by
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African neighbors, a difficult balance.
31
Fidel Castro. While primarily concerned with domestic matters, Batista has
India
India is determined to be the master of its fate in an international
system dominated politically by Cold War alliances and economically by
Western capitalism and Soviet communism. As a result, its prestige and
Figure
8: Cuban Presi dent Fulgenico Batista - Source: http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ful-
moral authority are high, and the Indians have facilitated the acquisition
of developmental assistance from both East and West. Although the prestige stems from India’s nonaligned and neutral stance, the nation hopes to prevent Cold War politics from becoming intertwined
with interstate relations in South Asia. Chief among these interstate relations include territorial disILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
ILMUNC China IV
currently aligned Cuba chiefly with the United States.
putes with Pakistan, its neighbor and chief rival, and the People’s Republic of China.
Czechoslovakia continues to demonstrate subservience to the policies of the Communist Party
of the Soviet Union in both domestic and foreign affairs. The extent of the repression leveled during the
early years of the rule by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (the KSČ) was unprecedented. In the
early 1950s, some 900,000 persons were purged from the KSČ, and nearly 100,000 were jailed for such
political crimes as “bourgeois nationalism.” Antonín Novotný became First Secretary of the KSČ in 1953,
and has ruled in Stalin’s rigidly authoritarian style. Tied closely to the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia will
follow the lead of the USSR
Brazil
This period in Brazilian history is known as the Second Republic. After a 1945 military coup, Getulio
Vargas returned to win the presidential elections in 1950. However, an economic crisis, congressional
opposition, and impatience among his supporters hampered his administration. He announced an ambitious industrialization plan and pursued a policy of nationalization of the country’s natural resources.
United
UnitedStates
StatesSecurity
SecurityCouncil
Council
Czechoslovakia
32
Brazil aspires to have an enhanced international status in the Americas and across the globe, and it
seeks to redefine relations between the United States and Latin America. In an attempt to promote
policy.
Turkey
Turkey was a staunch opponent of Soviet expansion as a newly appointed member of NATO in the
early 1950s. The Turkish government had colonial ambitions that never truly materialized due to a slew
of military coups and political instability, which stymied their ability to conquer other nation-states.
Considering these unrealized ambitions, it can be safely understood that Turkey is in support of colonial
power.
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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these relations, Brazil has aligned itself with the United States and will support United States foreign
Iran
The diplomatic relationship between Egypt and Iran is openly contentious under Nasser’s reign. Mo-
larize and Westernize Iran. The Shah receives full Western support from the United States and Great Britain and remains a strong ally to the West. In addition to Iran’s recognition of Israel under the Shah, Iran
signed the Baghdad Pact in 1955 (which later became the Central Eastern Treaty Organization), which
was modeled after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Baghdad Pact was a treaty between Iran,
Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom (and supported by the United States), signed with the
intention of resisting Soviet influence in the Middle East. Iran, therefore, closely follows the lead of the
United Kingdom and the United States in opposing Nasser, Egypt, and the Soviet Union.
Peru
After the institution of a free market economy led to strong export-led economic growth in the 1950s,
Peru began to witness an increase in popular support for a capitalist government. As an ally of the United States since the implementation of the Monroe Doctrine, Peru continues to support the Americans
United States Security Council
hammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavī, the Shah of Iran, is a secular Muslim who has worked to modernize, secu-
33
in the Cold War. Though anti-communist, Peru is against colonialism in Africa and Asia, having formerly
been colonized itself.
As a NATO member state, Portugal is effectively an ally of the United States in the Cold War. Portugal
remains a strong colonial power with a large imperial presence in Africa and is therefore virulently procolonialism.
Belgium
Similar to Portugal, Belgium is also a NATO member state with strong colonial interests in Africa. Belgium has an infamously brutal colonial government in place in the Congo and strongly opposes state
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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Portugal
sovereignty in the region in the hopes of maintaining their imperial power.
Although a communist state, Yugoslavia has successfully remained among the non-aligned countries in
the Cold War. Despite leaning in favor of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia continues to trade with the West,
thus utilizing their non-aligned state to their advantage to play both sides of the Cold War.
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Yugoslavia
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34
ILMUNC China IV: An Ivy League Experience
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