MUN Country Policy Paper Guide
Main Idea: The main idea of a policy paper is to submit a paper, regarding on
your country’s background and your position on your debating topic. This paper
will give your following Chairs; insight on what direction is the debate-taking
place, at the same time managing the flow of the debate.
Instructions on How to Write a Policy Paper:
1. The first step in writing any successful policy or position paper is to
outline your particular topic. If your topic is about renewable energy
write concerns about the recent carbon emissions, as well as emphasizing
the controversy of the topic. (Such as cost for LEDC’s, unaffordability)
This paragraph should be brief, and clearly stating your countries
position, and your perception of the current political and social issues on
your country. This first step will effectively bring the image, of the topic
towards your fellow delegates, in proposing such ideas to the delegations.
2. The second particular step in writing a policy paper is to show, how has
your state been affected, or taken any sort of action in particular of the
topic you are debating. You should first identify the nation that you are
representing, and expressing on why does this relate to your nation? This
will bring the attention to the house, and consideration of your opinion in
this issue. It is imperative to state this, as it will be the driving force of
debates, amendments, in passing your resolution.
3. The third particular step in writing a policy paper is to state your
countries policies, and solutions on this topic. Remember to state the
conventions, conferences that your country has participated, to assist the
progress of this issue. The point of MUN is for delegates to represent their
countries, exchange their ideas, and pass the resolution. Your solutions in
the policy paper will effectively bring the houses attention, on many of the
potential solutions that they will be discussing and amending throughout
the conference. At this point of time, show some statistics in proving your
point, and show the benefits that can be brought on a world scale, as this
will help your persuasive argument at this time.
4. The fourth and last step in writing a policy paper, is to form a conclusion
of what you are trying to state, and what you hope to achieve in the
conference you are participating. The policy paper serves as a first
impression towards Chairs, on what you are going to do, and show how
impressive of a delegate you may be. The better the first impression, the
more likely you are going to win awards. Be sure to make this paper
concise, and clear, try not to ramble too much, and put more information
of what you would like to state in your resolution (reference William Xie
guides). Remember this is not your resolution, so don't burn all your
ideas in this paper.
5. Remember that this paper will be submitted months advanced, so
remember to be up to date on all the information you have researched
over the weekends, just to be sure, no one will burn you in the conference,
with unknown information.
6. ALSO REMEMBER TO CITE, DON'T GET CAUGHT BY PLAGIRAISM. Refer
to Purdue Owl on MLA citations when doing this process.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/05/
7. Proposal not RESOLUTION…
TY Everyone who is reading this guide, best of luck in OTHSMUN!!!
Example of Policy Paper:
Sample Position Paper
Topic: Free Trade
Country: Oman
Committee: Economic and Financial (ECOFIN)
(A) The tumultuous conflict surrounding the issue of free trade and its variegated ramifications has
been a moot point ever since the creation of the modern state. While exponents of free trade argue that
comparative advantage and the development of economies of scale outweigh the associated detriments
of a free market economy, their adversaries purport that smaller, national economies that are inundated
with cheaper international goods from free trade begins to flounder and lose elf‐ sustainability. Those
in opposition to free trade, also make reference to the exponentially rising human rights and
environmental violations that are a direct consequence of burgeoning global market.
(B) Oman is perched in the putatively lofty position of an oil‐ exporting nation. However, this
appraisal is a mere simulacrum of our actual situation. (B1) Oman relies on entities such as the World
Trade Organization to help facilitate the purchasing and exchange of good across the global market,
thus enabling essential goods to disseminate across our land. Prior to the admission of the Sultanate of
Oman into the WTO, the country was involved at an economic level with the nations of Organization
of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), although Oman was never a member. In spite of this, Oman
generally adheres to their collective mandate in order to Eix oil prices and protect the special interests
of this conglomerate.
(C) Oman joined the WTO in order to voice its support for the continuing liberalization of world
markets. (C1) Furthermore, Oman believes that this unique amalgamation acts as a vehicle for
increased prosperity by raising the amount of Foreign Direct Investment and domestic stimulation.
Oman, due to its new position in the WTO, has now broadened trade with Western nations, and hopes
for this trend to continue. (C2) However, Oman also recognizes that in order for the economic
infrastructure of not only Oman, but also other developing countries to remain stable, the steps of tariff
reduction, and all encompassing globalization must be gradual, lest there be recurrences of strife, as
initially seen in the Former Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation. The WTO must also take further
steps to impose a universal human rights and environmental standards operating code, which must be
enforced uniformly. With the need for international cooperation has come the desire for regional
association. This chain of motivation for many a nation has manifested itself in the formation of
Regional Trading Associations. (C3) Although this arrangement ostensibly accommodates both desires,
it actually results in alliances whose members are common enough in geographic similarity to have
some consensus, but diverse enough to yield almost unremitting disapprobation from some of the
parties on any given issue. Therefore, these theoretical constructs when applied in reality are far from
seamless and are not the definitive solutions to conflicting national agenda.
(C4) In Oman’s specific scenario, the aforementioned generalization holds true. Consequently, Oman
is not a member of OPEC. In addition, not only do there exist the problems inherent to RTA’s, but also
the members of OPEC lack significant economic diversity in various industrial and resource sectors to
make such a pact mutually pragmatic. Rather, this specific concern is ignored in light of the prodigious
matter of oil, which takes the forefront in any discussions of world trade. (D) Oman believes that the
benefits of comparative advantage, economies of scale, and specialization outweigh the problems
associated with a world abiding by principles of increasing economic globalization and free trade. This
being said, Oman pushes for the continued expansion of such policies while urging organizations such
as the WTO to refine specific clauses so that the exploitation of labour and the environment does not
go unchecked.
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Sources for further Reference: http://vmun.com/writing-position-papermodel-united-nations/#sthash.nZr6hn44.dpuf
http://vmun.com/writing-position-paper-model-united-nations/
http://www.unausa.org/global-classrooms-model-un/how-toparticipate/model-un-preparation/position-papers