Position Papers

ã by Mike Keenan

As part of the research process prior to an MUN competition, delegates are often asked to submit a position paper. This is a brief overview, which clearly outlines the delegate's strategy vis-a-vis the committee issues and the country that is being represented. It indicates to both conference organizers and faculty advisors whether or not the student is on track. It is a valuable early warning sign if something is amiss. More importantly, whether the position paper is demanded or not, its use will serve as an important organizer from which the delegate may maintain consistent direction.

Long essay type position papers in which the student rewrites the history of the nation are counter-productive. A simple organizer that is succinct is needed. After all, it is basically employed as a road map.

I have enjoyed an opportunity to participate in a workshop led by Harvard's Roger Fisher, co-author of Getting To Yes. As a consequence, this conference position paper outline is adapted from co-author, William Ury and his work, Getting Past No.

Students are first encouraged to read the following material and to research their country carefully before writing a position paper.

 

Key Concepts

1) Interests

In multi-country negotiations on specific issues, joint problem solving centers upon the interests that lie behind each side's position. Your position will normally state the concrete things that you say that you want - the specific terms and conditions. Your interests, however, are the motives behind that position: your fears, desires, needs, concerns, aspirations. To achieve agreements that begin to satisfy all sides, you need to begin by trying to determine the nature of each side's interests. An obvious interest for all states is security. This applies to the state in its geographical position amidst allies and foes and also the state’s domestic political security involving an interaction with its citizens.

a) Your interests may be determined by asking why? Why does Syria want the Golan Heights? Why does the U.S. want to be on friendly terms with the Saudis? Why do you want that? What problem are you trying to solve? Is it geographical security or economic prosperity? Rank your interests such that you may be able to trade off lesser interests.

b) Their interests - place yourself in their shoes; forget your perception of the facts. What is their perception of the facts? Why do they act as they do? Why would someone deliberately bomb civilians?

2) Options

Once you know each side's interests, you can try to develop creative options. These are possible agreements or parts of agreements. Effective diplomats must learn how to expand the pie rather than slice a diminished area. Common mistakes at this point are single solutions or counterproductive criticism and evaluation versus suspended judgment, which will enable multiple ideas. Try to keep your options open. Another mistake is to try to accomplish too much, to solve all the problems of the world. Be realistic. Often, a major achievement is simply to get two adversarial sides together to talk.

3) Standards

A contest of wills degenerates into a conflict of egos. Effective negotiators search for fair and mutually satisfying solutions. Fair standards are useful measuring sticks that will help lead to fair solutions. These include the law, precedent, equal treatment, market value, UN resolutions and such. The key is that all sides may more easily defer to that which is seen to be fair.

4) Alternatives

The purpose of negotiation is not always to reach an agreement. The purpose of negotiation is to explore whether you can satisfy your interests better through an agreement versus pursuit of your own best alternative to a negotiated agreement. (BATNA) This is a significant issue.

The better your BATNA, the more leverage and power you will enjoy. For example, in the Security Council, a permanent member's BATNA might be a veto. If your BATNA's are weak, they may be developed and strengthened. In addition, several weaker countries might ultimately form a stronger alliance. Often, there are ready-made country blocs to help facilitate this. You must lobby and caucus with your fellow delegates. This is a significant portion of the MUN process. The use of a veto might cause lack of cooperation on other issues. You must assess the pro’s & con’s of each alternative, both short term & long term.

5) Proposals

Try to select an option that satisfies your interest particularly one better than your BATNA.

a) Aspirations: countries that begin with realistically high aspirations often enjoy better agreements. Realistic aspirations are bound however, by standards of fairness and the other's BATNA.

b) Content with: what agreement, far from perfect, would satisfy my basic interests to make me reasonably content?

c) Live with: What agreement would satisfy my interests marginally better than my BATNA?

 

Sample Position Paper 

 

Your committee: Security Council

Your Country: USA

Your name(s): Ryan Sills

Your School: A.N. Myer

a) a topic or issue from the study guide: Conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Authority

b) a country in your committee, deemed to be adversarial on the topic: Syria

Your interests:

1.      Demonstrate power & security to homeland & world.

2.      Maintain Israel as a client state

3.      Stability of supply & price of oil

4.      Prosecute the war on terrorism

 Their interests:

1.      A secure border with Israel.

2.      Fear of Turkish-Israel alliance

3.      Halt aggressive actions of Israel in Lebanon

4.      End Israeli occupation of Palestian land & Golan Heights.

Your Options:

1.      Denounce terrorist acts & encourage resumption of peace talks.

2.      Seek a multilateral solution through coalition building, which results in pressure from all sides on the parties to negotiate a settlement.

3.      Provide economic & perhaps military support for nations who prosecute terrorists.

Standards:

1.      Negotiated peace.

2.      Rule of law.

3.      Mediated settlement.

4.      Cessation of hostilities to allow dialogue.

Your BATNA (Best alternative to a negotiated settlement): Veto any resolution which targets Israel solely as the belligerent.

Their perceived BATNA: Continue to condemn Israeli actions and peace initiatives that do not include the Golan.

 Proposals

1) Aspirations: A permanent solution which provides for Israel’s security & creates an autonomous Palestinian state.

2) Content with: Resumption of peace talks.

3) Live with: An end to hostilities.