Table of Contents
- 1. Model Diplomat
- Key Features and Delegate Applications
- Practical Use for 2026 Flashpoints
- Access and Limitations
- 2. Council on Foreign Relations – Global Conflict Tracker
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 3. International Crisis Group – CrisisWatch
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 4. ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 5. UCDP (Uppsala Conflict Data Program)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 6. SIPRI Databases (Arms, Military Expenditure, Peace Operations)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 7. IISS – Armed Conflict Survey (ACS)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 8. The GDELT Project
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 9. ReliefWeb (OCHA)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 10. United Nations Digital Library (Dag Hammarskjöld Library)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 11. World Bank Open Data and DataBank
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- 12. Janes Defence and Intelligence (Digital)
- How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Top 12 MUN Databases for 2026 Geopolitical Flashpoints
- Synthesizing Your Intelligence for Committee Dominance
- Crafting a Multi-Layered Research Strategy
- Managing and Applying Your Data
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The gavel drops. The debate on the South China Sea heats up. A delegate from a rival bloc cites a specific UN Security Council vote from last year, and another quotes recent naval deployment statistics. Are you ready to counter with your own hard data? In Model UN, winning isn't just about rhetoric; it's about the precision of your research.
As we look at the complex landscape of 2026, understanding simmering conflicts, resource scarcity, and shifting alliances is non-negotiable. Generic search engines won't cut it. You need specialized, credible, and actionable intelligence. This guide isn't just a list; it is a curated arsenal of the 12 most powerful MUN delegate research databasesGeopolitical flashpoints 2026.
We move beyond the obvious, showing you not just what to use, but exactly how to deploy each resource to dissect geopolitical flashpoints, draft evidence-based resolutions, and build arguments that win awards. Each entry includes direct links, a credibility breakdown, and specific examples to get you started immediately. While these tools focus on conflict and diplomacy, supplementing your research with broader analytical frameworks, like those found in market trend analysis tools for 2026, can provide valuable economic and social context for any international issue.
Prepare to transform your research from a frantic scramble into a strategic advantage. Let's begin.
1. Model Diplomat
Model Diplomat stands out as a purpose-built AI research and preparation platform, functioning as a dedicated, 24/7 co-delegate. It is specifically engineered to address the core challenges of MUN preparation by delivering instant, sourced answers on country positions and complex global issues. The platform's real strength lies in its ability to draw exclusively from verified references, including UN documents, IAEA reports, and national ministry publications, ensuring a high degree of accuracy for its user base of over 80,000 delegates.
This focus on MUN-specific data makes it a premier tool in any list of MUN delegate research databases for tackling geopolitical flashpoints in 2026. Rather than sifting through general search engines, delegates can directly query the system for precise policy details, cutting down research time significantly.
Key Features and Delegate Applications
Model Diplomat provides a complete toolkit that moves delegates from initial research to final debate.
- AI-Powered Q&A: Delegates can ask specific questions like, "What is Brazil's official policy on Arctic Circle resource claims?" or "Detail China's recent voting record on cybersecurity resolutions in the General Assembly." The AI provides sourced, contextual answers, bypassing the noise of conventional web searches.
- Automated Document Generation: The platform can auto-generate drafts of position papers and speeches. These outputs include scoring indicators and templates, giving delegates a solid foundation to refine and personalize. Users report finishing position paper drafts in minutes.
- Debate Simulation: A unique feature allows delegates to enter simulated committee sessions with AI counterparts. This provides a space to rehearse speeches, practice responding to points of information (POIs), and refine overall debate strategy before the actual conference.
- Organizer and Chair Tools: For those running a conference, the platform includes delegate management, feedback systems, and even data-driven recommendations for awards, which helps streamline committee operations.
Practical Use for 2026 Flashpoints
Consider a 2026 Security Council simulation on the contested status of Taiwan. A delegate representing France could use Model Diplomat to instantly pull up France's most recent statements on the One-China policy, analyze its trade dependencies with both China and Taiwan, and find historical voting records on related sovereignty issues. This speed allows the delegate to focus on building alliances and crafting nuanced resolutions instead of spending hours on foundational research. For more insights on current and future topics, you can explore a guide on selecting MUN global issues.
Access and Limitations
Model Diplomat offers a free starter tier that does not require a credit card, making it accessible for initial exploration. Advanced features, including unlimited queries and debate simulations, are part of a Pro subscription. However, the platform does not publicly list its pricing, so the total cost of full access is not immediately clear.
As with any AI tool, delegates should verify the generated outputs against primary sources and adapt them to their specific committee's rules. Over-reliance can lead to generic arguments or potential academic integrity issues if not properly cited and personalized.
2. Council on Foreign Relations – Global Conflict Tracker
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Global Conflict Tracker is an essential tool for delegates who need a rapid, high-level briefing on major global disputes. It presents an interactive world map pinpointing approximately 30 significant conflicts, each with a concise dossier that details its history, key players, and current status. This platform excels at providing a clear, US-centric perspective on why these situations are critical, making it an invaluable starting point for delegates representing the United States or its allies.
What sets this tracker apart from general news sites is its structured analytical framework. Each conflict is categorized by its severity and trajectory (worsening, static, or improving), giving delegates an immediate sense of urgency. The inclusion of CFR's annual Preventive Priorities Survey helps you anticipate which issues will dominate security discussions in 2026, aligning your research with real-world foreign policy priorities. This focus on structured risk assessment can help you find suitable international relations research topics for position papers and opening speeches.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Quick Briefing: Select a conflict on the map, such as the tensions in the South China Sea or the crisis in Sudan. The "Backgrounder" provides the essential history you need for your opening remarks.
- Identify Key Documents: The "Primary Sources" tab for each conflict often links directly to UN resolutions, official statements, and peace agreements. This is a goldmine for building a binder of evidence.
- Frame Your Policy: Use the tracker’s analysis of "U.S. Interests" to understand how a permanent Security Council member might frame the debate, giving you a strategic advantage in committee.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | No paywalls or subscriptions required for full access. |
Focus | US foreign policy interests | Excellent for P5 delegations; requires supplementary research for other perspectives. |
Update Frequency | Regularly updated with status changes | Provides current, timely information for last-minute prep before a conference. |
3. International Crisis Group – CrisisWatch
The International Crisis Group's (ICG) CrisisWatch is a critical early-warning tool for delegates tracking rapidly evolving situations. It offers a monthly interactive map and database that summarizes changes in over 70 conflicts and crises worldwide. Unlike static reports, CrisisWatch uses simple trend arrows (improving, deteriorating, or static) to give you an immediate, at-a-glance understanding of a situation's trajectory, which is perfect for last-minute prep before a conference. Its value lies in its field-based analysis, providing on-the-ground context that often precedes mainstream news coverage.
What makes CrisisWatch stand out among other MUN delegate research databases is its direct link between timely alerts and in-depth, actionable policy reports. While the monthly summary tells you what changed, the linked ICG reports explain why and propose specific, non-governmental policy solutions. This is especially useful for delegates in committees like DISEC or SPECPOL who need to draft resolution clauses that are both realistic and well-informed by expert analysis. This resource helps you identify geopolitical flashpoints for 2026 that may be escalating but are not yet front-page news.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Anticipate Escalations: Use the "Deteriorated Situations" filter to quickly identify conflicts that are likely to be on the Security Council's agenda. For example, you can track escalating tensions in the Sahel or political instability in Latin American nations.
- Find Policy Nuances: Click on a country and read the brief monthly summary. Then, follow the links to full ICG reports to find detailed policy recommendations that can form the basis of your operative clauses.
- Build a Timeline: Access the archive for a specific conflict to build a chronological understanding of its key turning points over the past months or years, adding crucial depth to your position paper.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | All monthly updates and detailed reports are fully accessible without a subscription. |
Focus | Field-based early warning and conflict prevention | Excellent for all delegations needing non-state, expert perspectives on crises. |
Update Frequency | Monthly, with a clear summary of changes | Provides a regular, reliable cadence for tracking conflict dynamics over time. |
4. ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data)
For delegates needing granular, evidence-based data on political violence, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) is an indispensable resource. This platform moves beyond high-level summaries to provide near-real-time, disaggregated event data, detailing actors, specific locations, event types, and fatality counts for conflicts and protests globally. It is the go-to source for building quantitative evidence to support your arguments in a position paper or speech.
What distinguishes ACLED is its focus on specific events rather than broad conflict narratives. This allows delegates to track trends, map hotspots, and precisely quantify the human cost of a crisis. Its well-documented methodology and coding decisions make the data highly credible for academic and policy settings like MUN. For analyzing 2026 geopolitical flashpoints, ACLED’s Conflict Index and weekly updates give you the hard numbers needed to demonstrate the severity or escalation of a situation, from political violence in the Sahel to civil unrest in Southeast Asia.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Generate Specific Evidence: Use the ACLED Data Export Tool to download data for your committee's region. Filter by country and event type (e.g., "Battles" or "Protests") to find statistics for your opening speech, such as "In the last six months, there have been over 200 reported attacks on civilians in..."
- Visualize the Conflict: The ACLED Explorer tool lets you create custom maps and charts. You can generate a map showing the geographic spread of a specific non-state actor's activities to present as visual evidence during unmoderated caucuses.
- Assess Conflict Severity: Refer to the annual Conflict Index to compare the intensity and danger levels of different crises, helping you prioritize your research and understand which issues are most pressing on the international stage.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free for registered users (non-commercial use) | Full data access requires a simple, free registration. |
Focus | Disaggregated political violence and protest event data | Perfect for data-driven arguments, creating charts, and pinpointing specific incidents. |
Update Frequency | Weekly data releases | Ensures your statistics are current and reflect the latest developments on the ground. |
5. UCDP (Uppsala Conflict Data Program)
The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) is the academic gold standard for MUN delegates seeking to ground their arguments in rigorously defined, long-term conflict data. Maintained by Uppsala University, UCDP offers a comprehensive database on organized violence, distinguishing between state-based conflicts, non-state conflicts, and one-sided violence. This level of definitional clarity is crucial for constructing precise, credible arguments in position papers and draft resolutions.
What makes UCDP indispensable is its focus on historical trends and academic consistency, a stark contrast to real-time news aggregators. By analyzing fatality trends or the number of active conflicts over decades, you can frame a current crisis not as an isolated event but as part of a larger pattern. This historical depth allows you to add a layer of expert analysis to your speeches, making it one of the best MUN delegate research databases for preparing for discussions on geopolitical flashpoints in 2026.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Add Academic Weight: When discussing a conflict like the war in Yemen, use the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia to cite specific fatality statistics or the exact start date of state-based violence to lend your statements academic authority.
- Analyze Conflict Trends: Use the downloadable datasets to identify long-term trends. You could argue that while a specific conflict is de-escalating, the region has seen a rise in non-state actor violence over the past decade.
- Define Your Terms: In a debate about intervention, use UCDP’s strict definitions of "war" versus "minor armed conflict" to clarify the scope of a resolution and demonstrate a superior grasp of international security concepts.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | All datasets, charts, and the encyclopedia are fully accessible without a subscription. |
Focus | Academic, data-driven analysis of organized violence | Perfect for building evidence-based arguments and adding quantitative support to papers. |
Update Frequency | Core datasets are updated annually | Best for long-term trend analysis, not for tracking breaking events day-to-day. |
6. SIPRI Databases (Arms, Military Expenditure, Peace Operations)
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) provides the gold standard for quantitative data on global military affairs. Its databases on arms transfers, military spending, and peacekeeping operations are indispensable for delegates needing hard evidence to support their claims in committees like DISEC or the Security Council. SIPRI offers unparalleled, citable datasets that allow you to move beyond rhetoric and ground your arguments in verifiable facts about state capabilities and international security commitments.
What makes SIPRI a critical resource among MUN delegate research databases is its meticulous, transparent methodology. While news outlets report on arms deals, SIPRI tracks the actual delivery of major conventional weapons, providing a more accurate picture of a nation's military power. For geopolitical flashpoints in 2026, this data helps you analyze regional arms races, assess the credibility of disarmament proposals, and draft operative clauses with specific, measurable targets for demilitarization or peacekeeping force contributions.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Quantify Military Buildups: Use the Arms Transfers Database to investigate which countries are supplying weapons to conflict zones like the Horn of Africa. This data is perfect for drafting resolutions that call for arms embargoes.
- Challenge Policy Claims: A country might claim it prioritizes development, but the Military Expenditure Database can reveal if its defense budget is disproportionately high. Use this to question other delegates' stated priorities.
- Draft Specific Clauses: When debating a peacekeeping mission, consult the Multilateral Peace Operations Database to find data on current personnel contributions and funding, allowing you to propose realistic and targeted increases.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | All datasets are fully accessible without a subscription, ideal for student researchers. |
Focus | Empirical data on arms, military spending, and peace operations | Provides factual evidence for resolutions, especially for operative clauses and sub-clauses. |
Update Frequency | Annually (major datasets) | Best for historical context and trend analysis; supplement with news for breaking events. |
7. IISS – Armed Conflict Survey (ACS)
For delegates needing a deeply analytical, book-length synthesis of the world's conflicts, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Armed Conflict Survey is a definitive resource. Published annually, this expert-edited survey delivers a cohesive narrative of active armed conflicts, blending political, military, and humanitarian analysis. It’s ideal for understanding the medium-term risks and drivers shaping geopolitical flashpoints for 2026, moving beyond daily headlines to examine underlying trends.
What distinguishes the ACS is its structured, region-by-region assessment and its unique "Global Relevance Indicator," which helps delegates prioritize research. Each chapter breaks down conflict drivers, key actors, and potential future scenarios, providing the perfect foundation for constructing long-term policy solutions in your position paper. Unlike real-time news trackers, the ACS provides a stable, year-in-review perspective that is crucial for building a comprehensive understanding of a conflict's trajectory.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Develop Strategic Depth: Use the forward-looking outlooks in a relevant regional chapter (e.g., Sub-Saharan Africa or Asia) to anticipate shifts in conflict dynamics for your 2026 committee.
- Frame Committee Background: The survey’s cohesive synthesis can serve as a primary reference, almost like a pre-written background guide, for understanding the complexities of your assigned topic.
- Identify Core Actors and Drivers: Analyze the detailed profiles of state and non-state actors to understand their motivations, which is critical for predicting their behavior in committee simulations.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Paid publication; often available via university or institutional library subscriptions. | Plan ahead to secure access through your school's library databases or a research institution. |
Focus | In-depth political, military, and humanitarian analysis of ongoing global conflicts. | Provides the substantive, multi-faceted arguments needed for high-level committee discussions. |
Update Frequency | Annual | Best for foundational research; must be supplemented with current news for up-to-the-minute data. |
8. The GDELT Project
The GDELT Project is a massive open database that monitors global news media, translating the world's events, narratives, and emotions into quantifiable data. For delegates analyzing geopolitical flashpoints in 2026, it offers a unique, data-driven way to understand how a crisis is being perceived and framed globally. Instead of just reading about an event, you can measure the media attention it's receiving, track the dominant emotional tone of the coverage, and identify which themes are being associated with it across different countries.
What makes GDELT different from traditional news archives is its scale and analytical power. It processes hundreds of thousands of sources in over 100 languages daily, allowing you to spot which geopolitical flashpoints are gaining international traction and which are fading from view. This capability helps you gauge the "soft power" dimension of a conflict by seeing whose narrative is winning in the court of public opinion. While its technical interface can be demanding, mastering its basic visualization tools can provide powerful, evidence-based arguments for your position paper on why a particular issue demands UN attention.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Track Media Attention: Use the GDELT Summary tool to search for a topic, like "Arctic shipping routes," and visualize the volume of news coverage over time. A spike in coverage can justify placing the item on the committee's agenda.
- Analyze Narrative Framing: Explore the GDELT Television Explorer to see how specific state-backed broadcasters are framing an issue, giving you direct insight into a country's public diplomacy strategy.
- Identify Emerging Crises: Use the Global Knowledge Graph to find connections between events and actors that are not yet mainstream news, helping you anticipate future geopolitical flashpoints for 2026. This data-first approach can strengthen your understanding of international relations basics for teens and beyond.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free (Google BigQuery may incur costs) | No barrier to entry for visualization tools; advanced data analysis requires technical skill. |
Focus | Quantitative media monitoring | Excellent for tracking narrative shifts and global attention but must be paired with primary source validation. |
Update Frequency | Daily (often near real-time) | Provides an up-to-the-minute view of how global media is portraying your committee's topics. |
9. ReliefWeb (OCHA)
Operated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), ReliefWeb is the definitive information portal for delegates focused on the human cost of geopolitical flashpoints. It aggregates real-time situation reports, needs assessments, and operational data from thousands of humanitarian organizations. When a political crisis evolves into a humanitarian emergency, this is the primary source for on-the-ground facts, making it a critical asset for committees like UNHCR, WFP, or SOCHUM.
What makes ReliefWeb superior to general news outlets for humanitarian research is its operational focus. Instead of political commentary, you get maps detailing displacement patterns, infographics showing funding shortfalls, and situation reports from NGOs documenting specific needs. This repository of over a million documents provides the concrete evidence needed to draft effective clauses related to aid delivery, refugee support, and international response coordination. It is one of the most practical MUN delegate research databases for anyone tackling a crisis with a humanitarian angle.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Find Operational Data: Search for a country like Yemen or Ethiopia and filter by "Situation Report." This will give you the latest updates from agencies on the ground, perfect for adding factual weight to your speeches.
- Visualize the Crisis: Use the "Maps" and "Infographics" filters to find compelling visual data on refugee flows, food insecurity, or damaged infrastructure. These can be powerful tools for persuasion in committee.
- Track Funding and Response: Look for "Flash Appeals" or "Humanitarian Response Plans" to understand the scale of the crisis and see which countries are contributing, informing your delegation's policy on aid.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | All reports, maps, and data are fully accessible without a subscription. |
Focus | Humanitarian operational updates | Essential for humanitarian committees; less useful for purely political or security debates. |
Update Frequency | Continuously updated, often multiple times a day | Provides the most current information available on active humanitarian crises. |
10. United Nations Digital Library (Dag Hammarskjöld Library)
The United Nations Digital Library is the definitive archive for anyone needing to ground their arguments in official UN documentation. This platform provides direct access to resolutions, meeting records, voting data, and speeches, making it the primary source for constructing legally and historically accurate clauses. For delegates tackling complex 2026 geopolitical flashpoints, this is where you find the exact language of past mandates and the recorded positions of member states.
What makes the Digital Library superior to a simple search engine is its interconnected data. You can trace a resolution from its draft stages, view the associated meeting records where it was debated, and analyze the final voting record to see which countries supported or opposed it. This ability to follow the complete lifecycle of a UN document is crucial for understanding the political dynamics behind any issue. While the interface can be dense for newcomers, mastering its advanced search filters is a skill that separates good delegates from great ones.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Find Precedent: Search for past Security Council resolutions on a topic like "cybersecurity" or "non-proliferation" to find established language and previously agreed-upon international norms.
- Analyze Voting Blocs: Use the voting records search to see how your assigned country and its allies have voted on similar issues. This is essential for predicting support for your draft resolutions.
- Quote with Authority: Locate the official "Statement" or "General Debate" speeches from your country's representatives to quote their exact policy positions in your opening speech.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | Complete access to all digitized public documents without any subscription fees. |
Focus | Official UN documents | The most authoritative source for primary documents, vital for drafting resolutions. |
Update Frequency | Updated daily | New documents, resolutions, and meeting records are added as they become available. |
11. World Bank Open Data and DataBank
For delegates looking to quantify the economic and social dimensions of a conflict, the World Bank Open Data platform is indispensable. It moves beyond political narratives to provide the hard numbers needed to build a compelling case. This massive repository contains thousands of country-level indicators, from GDP growth and inflation to access to electricity and infant mortality rates, allowing you to anchor your policy arguments in verifiable, respected data.
What makes this tool particularly powerful for MUN is its DataBank feature. Instead of just viewing static charts, delegates can create custom tables and visualizations comparing multiple countries over several decades. This allows you to build a data-driven narrative, showing, for example, how food insecurity has correlated with instability in the Sahel region or how water stress impacts economic output in Central Asia. Understanding the geopolitics of scarcity in 2026 through this data can give your arguments significant weight in committee. It’s one of the best MUN delegate research databases for economic and social development evidence.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Quantify the Problem: Use the search bar to find indicators like "GDP per capita," "access to clean water," or "refugee population by country of origin" for the nations involved in your committee's topic.
- Build Comparative Evidence: Use the DataBank tool to select your country, your chosen indicator(s), and a relevant time series. Export the resulting chart or table directly into your research binder to support your position paper.
- Identify Economic Vulnerabilities: Explore the International Debt Statistics portal to see if a country involved in a flashpoint is facing economic distress, which can be a powerful point of leverage in debate.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Free | All data, tools, and visualizations are publicly accessible without a subscription. |
Focus | Socioeconomic and development indicators | Best for adding quantitative, evidence-based context to political and security issues. |
Update Frequency | Annually for most major indicators; more frequently for specific datasets | Reliable for establishing long-term trends essential for understanding root causes. |
12. Janes Defence and Intelligence (Digital)
When a Security Council debate hinges on military capabilities, Janes provides the ground truth. This is a specialized intelligence platform focused on defense technology, military inventories, and country-level security risk. For delegates in committees like DISEC or the Security Council, Janes offers the technical specificity needed to move beyond political rhetoric and discuss tangible military assets and force postures for any of the geopolitical flashpoints 2026 might produce.
What makes Janes a powerhouse compared to other MUN delegate research databases is its structured, encyclopedic data on military hardware. While news outlets report on conflict, Janes explains the tools of conflict. Its detailed system profiles can confirm whether a nation genuinely possesses a certain missile system or fighter jet, adding undeniable credibility to your statements about military balance or arms control violations. Its analysis is a core component of the best resources for Model United Nations when preparing for security-focused topics.
How to Use It for MUN Prep
- Validate Claims: If a delegate claims their nation has a powerful new anti-aircraft system, use Janes to search for that system. You can verify its operational status, range, and known deployments.
- Assess Military Balance: Researching a border dispute? Use Janes to compare the "order of battle" for both nations involved. This allows you to create fact-based arguments about regional stability.
- Inform Disarmament Clauses: When writing a resolution on arms control, reference Janes's equipment profiles to specify the exact classes of weapons (e.g., "all fourth-generation multirole fighters") that should be included.
Feature | Details | MUN Application |
Access | Subscription-based; often requires institutional login (university/library). | High barrier to entry for individuals, but invaluable if access is available. Check your school's database list. |
Focus | Military hardware, defense industry, and technical capabilities. | Provides the specific, technical evidence needed to add authority to speeches in security committees. |
Update Frequency | Regularly updated with new analysis and system profiles. | Information on defense acquisitions and upgrades is current, reflecting shifts in military power. |
Top 12 MUN Databases for 2026 Geopolitical Flashpoints
Tool | Core features | Best for | Value proposition | Unique selling point | Price / Access |
Model Diplomat | MUN-specific AI Q&A; auto-generated position papers & speeches; debate simulations; verified 193+ country DB | Delegates (new & veteran), chairs, institutions | Fast, accurate end-to-end MUN prep; reduces research time; boosts confidence/awards | 24/7 AI co-delegate built by experienced MUNers; organizer/chair tools | Free starter tier; Pro subscription (pricing not public) |
Council on Foreign Relations – Global Conflict Tracker | Interactive map; conflict dossiers; timelines; status indicators | Delegates needing US-focused conflict framing | Concise, regularly updated context tailored to US policy interests | Interactive map + Preventive Priorities Survey | Free public access |
International Crisis Group – CrisisWatch | Monthly risk alerts; trend arrows; "Conflict in Focus" briefs; links to reports | Delegates needing early-warning, field-informed insights | Timely situational awareness from field researchers | Field-based qualitative analysis & monthly priority briefs | Free public access |
ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) | Near-real-time event data; actor/location/date/event-type/fatalities; explorer tools | Delegates needing event-level evidence, maps and timelines | Rich, disaggregated data ideal for evidence and visuals | Event-level dataset with analytical tools (Explorer, Exposure Calculator) | Free (registration for full downloads); commercial licensing for some uses |
UCDP (Uppsala Conflict Data Program) | Long time-series datasets; Conflict Encyclopedia; standardized definitions | Delegates needing trend analysis and academic citations | Academic-standard, reproducible datasets for robust trend claims | Long-term, standardized conflict time series (since 1980s) | Free public datasets |
SIPRI Databases | Arms transfers; military expenditure; peace operations data; embargo trackers | Delegates drafting operative clauses on capabilities & peacekeeping | Gold-standard, citable statistics on hardware and spending | Historical arms transfer records and transparent methodology | Free public access |
IISS – Armed Conflict Survey (ACS) | Annual expert-edited survey; region chapters; outlooks; Global Relevance Indicator | Delegates needing synthesized expert analysis and scenario framing | High-quality editorial synthesis for medium-term risk framing | Expert-edited, narrative synthesis with forward-looking scenarios | Paid publication / institutional access |
The GDELT Project | Daily event & media tone data; Global Knowledge Graph; visualization & BigQuery access | Delegates tracking media attention, narratives, and coverage spikes | Scalable media-trend detection to show attention shifts | Massive, daily-updated media/event database and visual tools | Free; BigQuery or cloud costs may apply for large queries |
ReliefWeb (OCHA) | Aggregated situation reports, maps, assessments, timelines | Delegates covering humanitarian impacts and response needs | Rapid operational updates and citable operational facts | UN humanitarian repository with curated maps & situation reports | Free public access |
United Nations Digital Library (Dag Hammarskjöld Library) | Full-text resolutions, meeting records, voting records, speeches; advanced filters | Delegates needing primary UN documents, precedent and voting history | Authoritative primary sources for clauses, precedent and citations | Direct UN documents with linked records and voting datasets | Free public access |
World Bank Open Data & DataBank | Thousands of country indicators; DataBank queries, charts and exports | Delegates needing socioeconomic context and comparative stats | Trusted, comparable statistics for evidence-based arguments | Custom query tool and easy CSV/Excel export for charts/tables | Free public access |
Janes Defence and Intelligence (Digital) | Expert analysis on defense tech; structured system profiles; capability reporting | Delegates validating military inventories and technical capability claims | Detailed equipment & capability intelligence to support technical claims | Comprehensive defence system profiles and industry analysis | Paid subscription; institutional access common |
Synthesizing Your Intelligence for Committee Dominance
The tools and databases detailed in this guide represent the foundational arsenal for any delegate serious about mastering MUN. Merely accessing the Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker or the SIPRI databases is the first step. The true mark of a distinguished delegate, however, is the ability to weave disparate threads of information into a cohesive, unassailable argument.
This process of synthesis is what separates a participant from a powerhouse. A winning strategy for addressing the geopolitical flashpoints of 2026 is not about finding a single "perfect" source. Instead, it involves a multi-layered intelligence gathering approach that builds a comprehensive picture of the crisis at hand.
Crafting a Multi-Layered Research Strategy
A delegate armed with this list can construct a formidable research workflow.
- Start with real-time awareness: Use the International Crisis Group’s CrisisWatch or ReliefWeb for an immediate, on-the-ground understanding of a developing situation. This provides the crucial "what is happening now" context.
- Drill down into conflict specifics: Pivot to ACLED or UCDP to quantify the conflict. You can track fatalities, pinpoint event locations, and identify key actors, transforming vague statements into data-driven assertions.
- Validate military and security claims: When debate turns to military intervention or arms embargoes, data from Janes and the IISS Armed Conflict Survey provides the technical specificity needed to challenge or support resolutions with authority.
- Ground your position in precedent: Use the United Nations Digital Library to find past resolutions, Security Council meeting transcripts, and reports from the Secretary-General. This allows you to frame your country's policy within established international law and diplomatic history.
- Incorporate socioeconomic and humanitarian context: Finally, enrich your arguments with data from the World Bank. Understanding a region's economic vulnerabilities or development indicators adds a critical layer of depth to your analysis of a conflict's root causes and potential solutions.
Managing and Applying Your Data
Many of these databases, especially GDELT, ACLED, and the World Bank DataBank, allow for bulk data exports, often in CSV format. As you begin to cross-reference information for various geopolitical flashpoints in 2026, these files can become massive and difficult to handle in standard spreadsheet software. For delegates who want to build custom dashboards or perform deeper analysis, learning how to efficiently manage and import large CSV datasets is a practical skill that prevents technical headaches from disrupting your research flow.
The ultimate goal is to move beyond simply reciting your country's stated policy. You want to become the delegate who shapes the narrative with undeniable facts, anticipates counterarguments, and proposes solutions grounded in a 360-degree view of the problem. This guide has provided the map and the compass; the journey of synthesis is yours to command. Go forth, research with precision, and lead the debate.
Ready to put this research into practice and accelerate your preparation? Model Diplomat is designed to streamline this exact workflow, helping you organize findings from these diverse MUN delegate research databases and connect them directly to committee topics. Start building your winning strategy today at Model Diplomat.
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