Learn the essential format of position paper in MUN to craft compelling submissions. Discover expert tips to excel in your Model United Nations position paper.

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A solid MUN position paper almost always follows a trusted, three-part structure. Think of it as a logical roadmap designed for maximum clarity and impact: you'll introduce the topic, detail your country's policy, and then propose concrete solutions.

This isn't just a formatting hoop to jump through. It's a framework that lets the conference chairs see, at a glance, that your delegation is prepared and serious.

Understanding the Strategic MUN Position Paper Format

Before you even start writing, you need to see your position paper for what it really is: your opening move. This paper is more than a simple conference requirement—it's your first chance to establish your delegation as a credible and authoritative voice in the room.

Mastering this format isn't about checking boxes. It’s about building a persuasive argument that sets the stage for everything you’ll do in committee. A well-organized paper instantly signals leadership.

Here's a quick look at the essential parts of a standard MUN position paper and what each one accomplishes.

Key Sections of a MUN Position Paper

Section	Strategic Purpose	Typical Focus
Topic Background	To establish a shared understanding of the issue.	A brief summary of past international actions and key UN resolutions.
Country Policy	To clearly define your nation's official position.	Outlining your country's stance, its justifications, and relevant domestic policies.
Proposed Solutions	To demonstrate proactive leadership and offer a path forward.	Concrete, actionable ideas that align with your policy and invite collaboration.

This logical flow makes it easy for chairs to assess your preparation and get a feel for your strategic direction right from the start.

Of course, a great position paper isn't just about structure; it’s about strong writing. It's always a good idea to brush up on expert tips to improve your writing skills to make your arguments even more compelling. And as you gather your research, consider how using an AI chatbot for MUN prep can help you organize your thoughts and evidence more efficiently.

A professional header is the first thing the chair sees, so it needs to be clean and clear. The image below shows a classic example of how to lay out the key information.

Notice how simple things like font size and placement create a visual hierarchy. This small detail ensures that your most important identifiers—your committee, country, and topic—are immediately visible. It’s a small touch that screams professionalism.

Your Header and Opening Statement

Getting the Header Right

Think of the header as your paper's business card. It’s the first thing your chair lays eyes on, and it needs to be professional, clear, and accurate. This isn't the place for flair—just the facts. A clean header shows you're a serious delegate who pays attention to detail.

Make sure these four pieces of information are right at the top:

Committee: Spell out the full name of your committee.

Topic: State the specific topic your paper covers.

Country: Use the official name of the country you're representing.

Delegate(s): Your full name (or names, if you're a double-del).

Hook Them with a Strong Opening

With the formalities out of the way, your opening paragraph is your chance to grab the reader's attention. This isn't just a dry summary of the issue; it’s your first move to frame the entire debate from your country's unique point of view. You're establishing why this problem matters and dropping clues about your national interests.

Your tone should be diplomatic but firm. For instance, imagine you're the Maldives writing about climate change. A generic opening won't cut it. Instead, you could start by immediately connecting rising sea levels to your nation's very existence. That move instantly tells everyone you have a serious, non-negotiable stake in the outcome.

Your opening paragraph sets the stage for everything that follows. It needs to clearly communicate why the topic is critical to your nation and hint at the direction you'll take in committee. It's essentially the written version of your opening speech.

This first statement is a powerful tool. It’s your chance to influence how others see the problem right from the start. For more tips on making a powerful first impression, check out our guide on how to prepare an opening statement for a debate. The core principles—clarity, confidence, and strategic framing—are exactly what you need here.

Nail the opening, and you position yourself as a delegate with a vision, making everyone else in the room want to listen to what you have to say next.

Building Context with Past International Action

Once you've hooked the chair with a strong opening, it's time to show you’ve done your homework. This next part of your position paper is all about demonstrating a rock-solid grasp of the topic's history. Think of it less like a history report and more like building a compelling narrative that explains exactly why this issue is still being debated today.

This is where your research really shines. You’re telling the chair that you’re not just here to talk—you’re ready for a serious, informed debate. Your main objective is to analyze what the international community has already tried, setting the perfect stage for the solutions your country will bring to the table.

Picking Precedents That Matter

You can’t—and shouldn’t—try to cram every single UN resolution or treaty into this section. The key is to be selective and strategic. Zero in on the most significant actions that have directly shaped the problem as it exists today.

To make your analysis sharp, focus on milestones like:

Landmark UN Resolutions that set the original framework for how the world deals with the issue.

Major Treaties or Conventions that define the current international law on the topic.

Significant Actions by NGOs or powerful regional groups that shifted the conversation.

Let’s say your topic is nuclear disarmament. Instead of just listing every meeting ever held, you’d spotlight the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a cornerstone document. From there, you'd break down its successes and, more importantly, its shortcomings. This kind of focused analysis provides crucial context and shows you understand why certain actions matter, not just that they happened.

This part of your paper is all about building a logical foundation. By clearly explaining what has worked and what has failed in the past, you’re strategically paving the way for the new, innovative solutions your delegation is about to propose.

How to Structure Your Historical Analysis

After picking your key precedents, the next step is to weave them into a clear and coherent story. Don't just drop in a name or a date. Explain the context surrounding each action. What was happening in the world that led to that resolution being passed? What specific problem was that treaty trying to fix? This is what separates a good paper from a great one.

Top-tier conferences like the Berkeley Model United Nations (BMUN) suggest this section should make up about 20% of your paper. That’s a significant chunk of real estate, and it’s best used to draw a direct line from past efforts to the current gridlock. You're essentially explaining why the committee’s work is so critical right now.

By thoughtfully laying out this historical background, you build instant credibility. You prove that your policy ideas aren't just coming out of nowhere—they're grounded in a real-world understanding of what the international community has already attempted. This gives you the perfect launchpad to introduce your country's specific stance in the next section.

Articulating Your Country's National Policy

Alright, you've set the global stage. Now it's time to zoom in and put your country under the microscope. This is the part of your paper where you shift from the general history of the topic to your nation’s specific skin in the game. You're here to state your national policy, loud and clear, and back it up with hard evidence.

Essentially, you need to answer the big question for everyone in the room: Why does my country actually care about this? This is the heart of your argument, and it can't just be based on vague feelings. It needs proof.

Uncovering the "Why" Behind Your Stance

Every country's policy is a product of its unique circumstances. Your job is to become a detective and figure out what drives your nation's position. Just saying "Brazil supports deforestation efforts" is flat and unconvincing. You have to show the why.

To build a compelling case, you need to connect your policy to concrete national interests. Think about it from these angles:

Economic Factors: Does this issue affect your GDP, major industries, or trade deals? A great example is Japan's position on maritime law—it’s non-negotiable because their entire economy depends on open shipping lanes.

Security Concerns: Is the problem tied to border security, regional stability, or even national defense? For a country like Israel, policies are almost always viewed through the lens of its immediate security situation.

Historical & Cultural Values: Is there a major historical event or a deep-seated cultural belief shaping your country's view? Germany's post-WWII history, for instance, has a massive influence on its modern stance on any kind of military intervention.

This section is all about laying down the evidence that will justify the solutions you propose later. When you can clearly articulate your national policy, you’ve already won half the battle. To really nail this, you need to frame the issue powerfully; check out these effective tips for writing a strong problem statement to help you define the problem from your country's specific viewpoint.

Using Evidence to Build Credibility

To make your policy claims stick, you have to back them up with solid sources. This is what separates a well-researched delegate from one who's just winging it. It turns your opinion into an official stance. Your research binder should be bursting with quotes and facts you can pull from.

Look for irrefutable proof points like:

Official statements from your Head of State or Foreign Minister.

Voting records on past UN resolutions dealing with the same topic.

Domestic laws or even constitutional articles that shape national policy.

Think about it this way: if you're representing South Africa on a topic like racial discrimination, quoting Nelson Mandela or citing its post-apartheid constitution is incredibly powerful. It's undeniable. You've just transformed a simple claim into a foundational truth about your country.

When you ground your country’s policy in verifiable evidence, you're not just being persuasive; you're establishing your delegation's authority. This builds the logical foundation for the solutions you'll introduce next, making them feel like the only logical next step.

Laying Out Your Country's Solutions

Alright, you've set the stage by covering the topic's history and your country's official stance. Now you’ve reached the heart of the position paper—the part where you shift from analyst to leader. This is where you lay out the concrete, actionable solutions your delegation is ready to champion.

This isn't just a list of good ideas. It’s the playbook for your entire conference. Your proposals will define your strategy in the committee room and, if you play your cards right, form the backbone of the final resolution. Ambiguity is your enemy here; every proposal needs to be crystal clear and firmly rooted in your nation's interests.

From Vague Ideas to Real Policy

Let's be blunt: generic statements like "we should promote peace" or "we need to combat climate change" are dead on arrival. They get you nowhere. You need to think like a diplomat crafting actual policy, not just a student in a debate.

Your solutions should be specific and practical. They generally fall into one of two camps:

Brand New Initiatives: This is your chance to be creative. Propose a new fund, a specialized task force, or an international framework. Don't just say "fight poverty." Instead, propose "establishing a UN-backed microfinance fund targeting female entrepreneurs in developing nations, administered by the UNDP." See the difference?

Improving Existing Frameworks: Show you've done your homework. Suggest specific amendments or additions to a treaty, resolution, or program you already mentioned in the background section. This approach proves you understand the existing international architecture and have a realistic plan to make it better.

Your solutions are the currency of MUN diplomacy. A well-crafted, specific proposal is something other delegates can actually support and rally behind. It's your single best tool for building alliances and forming a powerful bloc.

Weaving Your Proposals into Alliances

Remember, the endgame is getting your ideas into the final resolution. That can't happen without allies. So, when you're brainstorming solutions, you have to think beyond your own borders. How can you frame your proposal so it appeals to the interests of other countries?

Let’s say you represent a coastal nation proposing a crackdown on marine plastic pollution. Don't just focus on the oceans. You could also propose a new global recycling technology fund and highlight how landlocked countries can benefit from the economic and technological development. By showing there's something in it for them, you turn a narrow national interest into a collaborative global vision.

This kind of strategic thinking is what separates good delegates from great ones. The proposals you draft here will become the building blocks for your draft resolution later on. To get a head start on that process, take a look at our guide on how to write resolutions.

A Few Common Questions on Formatting

Even the most seasoned delegates get tripped up by the small details right before a deadline. Let’s clear up a few of the most common formatting questions so you can submit your paper with total confidence.

How Long Should It Be?

This is easily the #1 question I hear. While you should always, always check your specific conference's rules, the unwritten standard is one page per topic, single-spaced. That's it. This tight constraint forces you to be sharp, concise, and get straight to the point—a critical skill in diplomacy.

Some larger conferences, like BMUN, might give you more room to breathe with a three-page limit. But if the rules don't specify, stick to one page.

What About Citations?

Another frequent point of confusion is how to handle citations. The good news? Most conferences aren't sticklers for a specific style like APA or MLA. The golden rule here is simply consistency.

Whether you opt for footnotes or a straightforward "Works Cited" list at the end, just pick one method and stick with it. The goal isn't to follow a rigid academic format but to show you've done your research and are giving credit where it's due. It’s a sign of professionalism that chairs definitely notice.

Maintaining a Diplomatic Voice

This is less about margins and more about mindset, but it's a crucial part of the format. You absolutely must avoid personal pronouns. Words like "I," "we," or "our" have no place in a position paper.

Why? Because you aren't writing as yourself; you're writing as an entire nation. The paper is an official document representing the views of your assigned country.

Key Takeaway: Always write in the formal third person. This isn't just a stylistic quirk; it's a fundamental part of diplomatic simulation. It signals to your chair that you understand the assignment and are ready to engage in formal debate.

For instance, instead of writing, "I think we should fund this program," you’d write something like, "The Republic of Kenya believes this program warrants immediate funding." It’s a subtle but powerful shift that changes the entire tone from a personal essay to a state-level policy document. Nailing this is a huge step toward a truly impressive paper.

Ready to walk into your next conference fully prepared? Model Diplomat is your AI-powered co-delegate, offering 24/7 research assistance, strategic guidance, and writing support to help you master every aspect of MUN. Visit us at https://modeldiplomat.com to get started.

Master the Format of Position Paper in MUN: Tips & Guide