Table of Contents
- 1. Climate Change and Global Warming
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 2. Poverty and Economic Inequality
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 3. Water Scarcity and Contamination
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 4. Hunger and Food Insecurity
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 5. Healthcare Access and Pandemics
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 6. Education Inequality and Learning Crisis
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 7. Gender Inequality and Violence
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 8. Refugee Crises and Forced Displacement
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 9. Armed Conflict and Violence
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 10. Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Loss
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 11. Corruption and Weak Governance
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 12. Migration and Labor Exploitation
- MUN Strategic Insights
- Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- 12 Global Issues Comparison
- From Knowledge to Action: Your Next Steps in Global Diplomacy
- Synthesize, Strategize, and Succeed
- Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Conference
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Welcome to your essential briefing on the planet's most pressing challenges. In Model United Nations, a deep understanding of complex global issues examples is your greatest asset, transforming you from a participant into a powerhouse delegate. This guide moves beyond simple descriptions, offering the strategic insight needed to excel in committee. We will dissect 12 critical global issues, analyzing their core components and providing actionable frameworks for debate and resolution-building.
This article is designed to be a practical tool for your preparation. For each issue, you'll find a concise breakdown of the problem, key statistics, and its real-world impact. More importantly, we provide specific tactical advice on how to leverage this knowledge in a MUN setting. You will learn how to frame arguments, identify potential allies and adversaries, and develop innovative solutions that reflect sophisticated diplomatic thinking.
Whether you're a first-time delegate grappling with committee topics or a seasoned veteran looking for a competitive edge, this curated list is your roadmap. It provides the substance required to master the topics that define modern international relations. Let's explore the challenges shaping our world and equip you with the tools to navigate them with confidence and authority.
1. Climate Change and Global Warming
Climate change refers to the long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns. It's primarily driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. This process causes rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and severe ecosystem disruption, making it one of the most critical global issues examples facing humanity today. Its pervasive impact affects every nation, from small island states threatened by rising waters to agricultural economies disrupted by drought.
MUN Strategic Insights
For MUN delegates, climate change is a versatile and complex topic. Successful resolutions often link it to other issues like economic development, food security, and human rights. For instance, a delegate representing a developing nation might emphasize the principle of "Common But Differentiated Responsibilities" (CBDR), arguing that historically industrialized nations should bear a greater financial burden for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose specific, measurable actions. Instead of a vague call to "reduce emissions," suggest funding for renewable energy infrastructure or establishing a carbon pricing mechanism.
- Form Alliances: Build coalitions with nations that have similar vulnerabilities or goals, such as the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), to amplify your negotiating power.
- Leverage Technology: Frame solutions around innovation. Explore how technology can monitor emissions and improve climate resilience; discover how AI is influencing modern diplomacy and its potential applications in environmental policy.
2. Poverty and Economic Inequality
Poverty and economic inequality represent a persistent global crisis where a significant portion of the world's population lacks the resources for a minimum standard of living. Extreme poverty affects hundreds of millions, while widening wealth gaps mean the richest individuals hold a disproportionate share of global assets. This disparity creates systemic barriers to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, locking families into generational cycles of hardship and fueling social instability, making it one of the most fundamental global issues examples to address.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, debates on poverty are rarely just about aid; they intersect with trade, finance, and sustainable development. Delegates from developing nations can effectively leverage their positions by highlighting how historical economic structures and unfair trade practices perpetuate inequality. A powerful strategy is to frame poverty reduction not as charity but as a necessary investment in global security and economic stability, arguing that inequality breeds conflict and hinders market growth for everyone.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete mechanisms like conditional cash transfer programs (e.g., Brazil's Bolsa Família) or support for microfinance initiatives that empower local entrepreneurs.
- Form Alliances: Create blocs between developing countries (like the G77) and socially-conscious developed nations to push for resolutions on fair trade, debt relief, or progressive taxation.
- Leverage Data: Use reports from organizations like the World Bank or Oxfam to quantify the scale of inequality and add weight to your arguments for systemic change.
3. Water Scarcity and Contamination
Water scarcity and contamination represent a dual crisis where billions lack access to sufficient, safe water. Nearly 2 billion people face high water stress, and contaminated sources cause approximately 829,000 deaths annually from preventable diarrheal diseases. This critical challenge, driven by pollution, climate change, and inadequate infrastructure, stands as one of the most pressing global issues examples affecting health, economic stability, and peace. Its impacts are most severe in developing regions, hindering progress and exacerbating inequality.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, water issues serve as a powerful link between environmental, developmental, and security committees. A delegate can frame the topic through various lenses: as a human rights issue (the right to clean water), an economic imperative (water's role in agriculture and industry), or a security threat (transboundary water disputes). Citing successful models like Israel's advanced wastewater recycling or Singapore's integrated water management can add significant weight to a delegate’s arguments, demonstrating that practical solutions exist.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete infrastructural projects. Instead of a general call for "better water management," draft clauses that establish funds for wastewater treatment plants or promote smart irrigation technology.
- Form Alliances: Partner with nations sharing a river basin or facing similar drought conditions. These regional blocs can draft resolutions that address shared challenges and advocate for collective water-sharing agreements.
- Leverage Technology: Champion policies that incentivize innovation. Advocate for public-private partnerships to scale up desalination, atmospheric water generation, and pollution monitoring technologies.
4. Hunger and Food Insecurity
Hunger and food insecurity affect approximately 735 million people globally, with billions more lacking regular access to adequate food. This crisis is fueled by a combination of poverty, conflict, climate change, and systemic issues like unequal distribution and supply chain disruptions. The consequences are devastating, leading to malnutrition, stunted development in children, and crippled economic productivity. As a foundational human need, its absence makes it one of the most urgent global issues examples requiring immediate and sustainable solutions.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, food insecurity is a powerful topic that intersects with security, economic development, and environmental sustainability. A delegate representing a nation with a robust agricultural sector might propose technology transfer and trade agreements to help less developed nations. Conversely, a delegate from a conflict-affected state could emphasize how instability severs food supply chains, linking peace and security initiatives directly to hunger reduction. The key is to connect food systems to your country's core foreign policy objectives.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose multi-faceted solutions. Instead of just calling for food aid, suggest resolutions that invest in smallholder farmer training, promote climate-smart agriculture, and aim to reduce food waste through optimized supply chains.
- Form Alliances: Build coalitions beyond traditional regional blocs. Partner with nations that have complementary strengths, such as tech-savvy countries and those with vast agricultural land, to create comprehensive, well-rounded proposals.
- Leverage Data: Use statistics from organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the FAO to add weight to your arguments. Highlight specific regional needs and successful case studies, like Ethiopia's community-based resource management, to make your solutions more credible.
5. Healthcare Access and Pandemics
The disparity in healthcare access is a profound global challenge, with hundreds of millions lacking essential services and facing catastrophic health expenditures. This inequity was starkly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed deep vulnerabilities in global health security and pandemic preparedness. This makes healthcare one of the most urgent global issues examples today, encompassing everything from weak infrastructure in developing nations to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and the need for robust international cooperation.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN committees, healthcare is a powerful topic that intersects with economic stability, human rights, and national security. Delegates can gain leverage by framing healthcare access not just as a humanitarian issue but as a prerequisite for sustainable development. A delegate from a nation like Rwanda could showcase their successful community health worker model to argue for decentralized, people-centric healthcare systems as a cost-effective solution for other developing countries to adopt.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete plans for strengthening primary healthcare. Advocate for specific funding mechanisms for the WHO's pandemic preparedness fund or support for technology transfer to enable local vaccine production.
- Form Alliances: Create blocs with countries facing similar health challenges, such as a coalition demanding equitable access to new medicines or unified standards for disease surveillance to prevent future outbreaks.
- Leverage History: Draw parallels to past crises to emphasize the urgency of preparedness. Understanding the challenges of pandemics often benefits from examining historical examples like the 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic, which profoundly impacted global health.
6. Education Inequality and Learning Crisis
Education inequality refers to the unequal distribution of academic resources, leading to a global learning crisis where millions of children lack basic proficiency in reading and math. Over 250 million children are out of school, perpetuating poverty cycles and limiting economic mobility. This issue is driven by underfunding, teacher shortages, conflict, and systemic barriers, making it one of the most fundamental global issues examples as it directly impacts a nation's future potential and stability. Its effects are felt most acutely in marginalized communities, widening gender and economic gaps.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN committees like UNICEF or UNESCO, education is a cornerstone of many resolutions. A powerful strategy is to connect education to sustainable development, peacebuilding, and economic growth. For instance, a delegate representing a conflict-affected nation could argue that investing in education for displaced children is a direct investment in long-term stability and counter-terrorism efforts. Framing education as a national security imperative rather than just a social issue can attract broader support and funding commitments.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose targeted funding mechanisms like "Education for All" bonds or public-private partnerships to build schools and train teachers. To better understand strategies for fostering equitable learning environments, explore the principles of inclusive education.
- Form Alliances: Collaborate with countries facing similar educational challenges to draft joint resolutions. You can also partner with nations known for technological innovation to propose digital learning solutions.
- Leverage Data: Use statistics from credible sources like UNESCO to add weight to your arguments. Properly citing your information is key; learn how to evaluate sources to build a strong, evidence-based position.
7. Gender Inequality and Violence
Gender inequality refers to the systemic discrimination against individuals based on their gender, manifesting in disparities in education, economic opportunity, and political representation. It is deeply intertwined with gender-based violence, as unequal power structures often perpetuate physical and sexual violence, with one in three women experiencing it globally. These interconnected challenges limit human potential, stifle economic growth, and undermine social stability, making gender inequality one of the most fundamental global issues examples affecting societies worldwide. Its resolution is critical for achieving sustainable development and universal human rights.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, gender inequality is a powerful cross-cutting theme that can be integrated into almost any committee, from the Human Rights Council to the Security Council. A delegate can strengthen their position by framing gender equality not just as a women's issue but as a catalyst for peace, security, and economic prosperity. Citing examples like Rwanda's high female parliamentary representation or Iceland's equal pay legislation can substantiate arguments and demonstrate successful policy implementation, making a resolution more credible and impactful.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete mechanisms. Instead of a general call to "empower women," suggest funding for women's health cooperatives or microfinance networks modeled on India's successful self-help groups.
- Form Alliances: Collaborate with nations that have strong records on gender equality or are part of regional blocs committed to the issue. This creates a broader base of support for your clauses.
- Leverage Legal Frameworks: Reference existing international agreements like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) to add legal weight and a sense of urgency to your proposals.
8. Refugee Crises and Forced Displacement
Refugee crises and forced displacement are critical humanitarian challenges where millions are uprooted by conflict, persecution, or natural disasters. As of recent counts, over 117 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, creating immense pressure on host nations and international aid systems. This phenomenon is a stark example of interconnected global issues examples, linking directly to conflict resolution, economic stability, and human rights, as displaced populations face significant barriers to safety, education, and employment.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, refugee crises offer a powerful platform to debate state sovereignty versus international responsibility. Delegates can achieve success by framing the issue not just as a burden but as a shared challenge requiring collective action. A delegate representing a host country like Turkey or Uganda might highlight their nation's contributions while calling for more equitable burden-sharing and financial support. Conversely, a delegate from a donor country could focus on funding sustainable solutions that empower refugees and support host community infrastructure.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Advocate for policies that promote refugee self-reliance. Propose initiatives for recognizing foreign credentials and integrating refugees into local labor markets, drawing on examples like Germany's employment programs.
- Form Alliances: Create blocs between major host countries and donor nations. Frame resolutions around mutual benefits, such as enhancing regional stability and economic growth through refugee integration.
- Leverage Precedent: Cite successful models like Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program to propose innovative, multi-stakeholder solutions that involve civil society and the private sector.
9. Armed Conflict and Violence
Armed conflict and violence represent a devastating global issue, leading to mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and immense human suffering. Modern conflicts, often driven by political instability, resource competition, and historical grievances, increasingly impact civilian populations disproportionately. Over 100 million people have been forcibly displaced by violence, which shatters economies, disrupts social fabrics, and creates long-term trauma, making it one of the most urgent global issues examples requiring international intervention and resolution.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, debates on armed conflict are less about choosing a "winner" and more about crafting comprehensive peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction plans. Delegates can achieve success by focusing on the root causes, such as poor governance or economic inequality, rather than just the symptoms. A delegate representing a nation with a history of successful reconciliation, like Rwanda or Colombia, could leverage this experience to propose frameworks for transitional justice, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose multi-faceted solutions. Instead of just calling for a ceasefire, include clauses on humanitarian aid access, establishing safe zones for civilians, and funding for mediation initiatives.
- Form Alliances: Collaborate with regional blocs (like the African Union or ASEAN) that have a vested interest in stabilizing the conflict zone. These alliances can add significant political weight to your resolution.
- Leverage Precedent: Frame your arguments using historical examples and international law. Referencing past UN Security Council resolutions or peace agreements can strengthen your position; analyzing historical conflicts like the Cuban Missile Crisis can provide valuable diplomatic lessons.
10. Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Loss
Environmental degradation encompasses the deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources like air, water, and soil, alongside the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. With an estimated 1 million species facing extinction, this crisis is driven by human activities such as industrial agriculture, deforestation, and pollution. The loss of biodiversity threatens essential ecosystem services, from pollination to clean water, making it one of the most interconnected global issues examples with profound implications for food security, medicine, and global economic stability.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN simulations, biodiversity loss is a powerful topic that intersects with sovereignty, economic development, and indigenous rights. A delegate could represent a nation like Costa Rica, highlighting its success in reforestation and protecting over 25% of its land to argue for international funding mechanisms for conservation. Framing the issue through an economic lens, by quantifying the value of ecosystem services, can persuade committees focused on finance and development to support conservation initiatives as long-term investments rather than costs.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose resolutions that create tangible mechanisms, such as a global fund for ecosystem restoration or standardized regulations against the illegal wildlife trade.
- Form Alliances: Collaborate with nations rich in biodiversity but lacking resources, forming a bloc to advocate for technology transfer and capacity-building programs from developed countries.
- Leverage Indigenous Knowledge: Argue for the inclusion of indigenous communities in conservation governance, citing their traditional land management practices as effective and sustainable models for preserving biodiversity.
11. Corruption and Weak Governance
Corruption and weak governance refer to the abuse of entrusted power for private gain and the failure of institutions to manage public resources and guarantee rights. This systemic problem costs the global economy trillions annually, diverting funds from essential services like healthcare and education. It erodes public trust, undermines the rule of law, and creates instability, making it one of the most significant global issues examples because it cripples development and fuels conflict. Nations like Denmark and Botswana demonstrate that strong, transparent institutions are crucial for sustainable progress and public welfare.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, corruption is a powerful cross-cutting theme that can be linked to nearly any agenda item, from economic development to security. Delegates can frame it as a root cause of other crises. A delegate representing a country with a strong anti-corruption record, like Singapore, could advocate for international standards based on their national model, proposing capacity-building programs and technical assistance for other nations. This approach positions their country as a leader in good governance.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete mechanisms like establishing independent anti-corruption agencies, whistleblower protection laws, or asset recovery frameworks in your resolutions.
- Form Alliances: Partner with countries that have a high score on the Corruption Perceptions Index or those actively implementing governance reforms to create a strong bloc for transparency.
- Leverage Data: Cite data from sources like Transparency International or the World Bank to strengthen your arguments about the economic and social costs of corruption.
12. Migration and Labor Exploitation
Migration and labor exploitation addresses the severe vulnerabilities faced by millions of international migrants who are subjected to trafficking, wage theft, and hazardous working conditions. With over 164 million migrant workers globally, this issue stems from root causes like poverty, conflict, and a lack of opportunity, forcing individuals to seek work abroad where they often lack legal and social protections. Addressing this topic is crucial as it intersects with human rights, economic stability, and international law, making it one of the most complex global issues examples to tackle.
MUN Strategic Insights
In MUN, this issue allows for nuanced debate, linking human rights with economic policy. A delegate representing a labor-sending country, like the Philippines, could champion policies that protect their overseas workers while emphasizing the economic contributions these migrants make to host nations. Conversely, a delegate from a host country might focus on the challenges of integration and the need for international cooperation to regulate recruitment agencies and combat trafficking networks. Successful resolutions often balance state sovereignty with the universal responsibility to protect vulnerable populations.
Actionable Takeaways for Delegates
- Policy Focus: Propose concrete mechanisms like standardized, ethical recruitment corridors or bilateral agreements that ensure migrant workers have access to legal aid and social protection systems.
- Form Alliances: Collaborate with both labor-sending and receiving countries to create a united front. Aligning with NGOs and international bodies like the ILO and IOM can add credibility to your proposals.
- Leverage Existing Frameworks: Reference and build upon existing international conventions, such as the ILO's conventions on forced labor or the UN's Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.
12 Global Issues Comparison
Issue | Implementation complexity | Resource requirements | Expected outcomes | Ideal use cases | Key advantages |
Climate Change and Global Warming | Very high — global, cross‑sectoral coordination | Massive investment in energy, infrastructure, R&D | Emissions reduction, increased resilience, health co‑benefits | National decarbonization, renewable scale‑up, carbon pricing | Long‑term risk reduction, green jobs, tech innovation |
Poverty and Economic Inequality | High — systemic economic and policy reforms | Sustained funding for social programs, education, jobs | Reduced poverty, improved social mobility, stability | Cash transfers, microfinance, education investment | Direct poverty relief, inclusive growth, social cohesion |
Water Scarcity and Contamination | Medium‑high — technical and governance solutions | Capital for treatment, distribution, governance reforms | Better water access, reduced disease, agricultural resilience | Urban water management, drought regions, irrigation systems | Public health gains, agricultural productivity, conflict risk reduction |
Hunger and Food Insecurity | High — supply‑chain and agricultural transformation | Investment in agriculture, logistics, safety nets | Reduced malnutrition, higher yields, food stability | Smallholder support, food assistance, supply‑chain fixes | Improved child development, productivity, food security |
Healthcare Access and Pandemics | High — system strengthening and surveillance | Healthcare infrastructure, vaccines, trained workforce | Lower mortality, better pandemic preparedness, equity | Primary care scale‑up, vaccination drives, telemedicine | Disease prevention, economic resilience, improved health outcomes |
Education Inequality and Learning Crisis | High — policy, teacher capacity, infrastructure | Schools, trained teachers, digital access, curricula | Higher literacy, skills, long‑term economic mobility | Early childhood, remote learning, teacher training programs | Increased equity, human capital, intergenerational benefits |
Gender Inequality and Violence | Medium‑high — legal, cultural and institutional change | Legal reform, education, targeted empowerment funding | Greater equality, increased female participation, less violence | Legal reform, workplace policies, empowerment programs | Economic inclusion, social justice, improved health |
Refugee Crises and Forced Displacement | High — humanitarian, legal and integration efforts | Humanitarian funding, host support, legal pathways | Protection, temporary relief, potential integration | Emergency response, resettlement, host community support | Life‑saving assistance, social stability, long‑term integration benefits |
Armed Conflict and Violence | Very high — geopolitical, security and reconciliation | Peacebuilding funds, mediators, reconstruction resources | Reduced violence, restored governance, recovery | Conflict prevention, peace negotiations, post‑conflict rebuilding | Peace, stability, protection of civilians |
Environmental Degradation and Biodiversity Loss | High — landscape and marine management, enforcement | Conservation funding, enforcement, sustainable practices | Protected ecosystems, preserved services, resilience | Protected areas, sustainable fisheries, restoration projects | Ecosystem services preservation, long‑term resource security |
Corruption and Weak Governance | High — institutional reform and accountability | Legal systems, transparency tech, independent agencies | Improved public services, economic efficiency, trust | E‑governance, anti‑corruption agencies, judicial reform | Better resource allocation, stronger institutions, investor confidence |
Migration and Labor Exploitation | Medium‑high — cross‑border law and enforcement | Labor inspection, legal aid, bilateral agreements | Reduced exploitation, safer migration, better remittances | Labor regulation, migrant protections, recruitment reform | Protects worker rights, improves productivity, economic inclusion |
From Knowledge to Action: Your Next Steps in Global Diplomacy
You've just navigated a dozen of the most complex challenges facing our world. Understanding these global issues examples is the foundational first step, but the true mark of a skilled delegate is the ability to transform this knowledge into persuasive, actionable strategy. The path from passive understanding to active influence requires moving beyond surface-level facts and into the realm of deep, interconnected analysis.
Each issue detailed in this article, from the climate crisis to forced displacement, is not an isolated problem. The most elegant and effective solutions often address multiple challenges simultaneously. As you prepare for your next conference, don't just memorize the statistics; think critically about the intricate links between them.
Synthesize, Strategize, and Succeed
To elevate your performance, focus on building a holistic understanding. Consider these strategic questions as you connect the dots between the global issues we've explored:
- How does gender inequality (Issue #7) directly impact economic development and poverty (Issue #2)?
- In what ways does weak governance and corruption (Issue #11) exacerbate environmental degradation and biodiversity loss (Issue #10)?
- What is the direct causal link between armed conflict (Issue #9) and the subsequent refugee crises and food insecurity (Issues #8 and #4)?
Asking these higher-level questions will fundamentally shift the sophistication of your analysis and the quality of your proposed solutions. A resolution that tackles water scarcity by empowering local women not only addresses infrastructure but also promotes gender equality, making it a more comprehensive and durable policy.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Conference
Mastery of these global issues examples is your key to unlocking diplomatic influence. Remember that effective diplomacy isn't just about knowing the problems; it's about framing the solutions. Your ability to articulate how a single policy can create a positive ripple effect across multiple sectors will set you apart.
The ultimate goal is to move from being a participant who simply lists problems to a leader who crafts integrated, multi-faceted solutions. Use the frameworks provided for each issue to deconstruct committee topics, anticipate arguments, and build alliances based on shared, cross-cutting interests. This approach demonstrates a level of strategic depth that chairs and fellow delegates will recognize and respect, paving the way for both awards and meaningful debate.
Ready to transform your understanding of global issues examples into award-winning performance? Model Diplomat provides the advanced training, strategic frameworks, and expert coaching you need to master MUN. Visit Model Diplomat to access the tools that turn delegates into diplomats.
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