Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the Special, Political, and Decolonization (SPECPOL) Committee at the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference 2011. My name is Carey Shuffman, and it is my pleasure to be your Chair during the conference.

A little bit about me: I am a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in Economics with a minor in Consumer Psychology. This will be my 7th ILMUNC, as I participated as a delegate just like all of you while I was in high school! Aside from my interests in international affairs and Model UN, I am also a part of MUSE (Penn¡¯s Marketing Club) and I am actively involved in various community service programs at Penn. I will be studying abroad in Leuven, Belgium, for the fall semester, so I¡¯m really excited that one of the first things I¡¯ll be doing when I get back to Philly will be ILMUNC!

Our two topics for the committee will be the Conflict in Kashmir and the SPECPOL University for Peace 30-Year Anniversary Evaluation. I am very confident that these two topics will generate a very exciting and stimulating debate, and that each of you will be able to bring thoughtful arguments to the conference and reach comprehensive resolutions regarding these two issues.

The Dais has put in a tremendous effort to prepare for the conference, and we are very excited to see all of the interesting ideas that each of you will put forward throughout the weekend at ILMUNC. Please take time to read the background guide thoroughly, and to do some outside research on the topics as well. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, either about the committee, Model UN, or life at Penn in general- I¡¯d love to hear from you. I¡¯m really looking forward to meeting all of you in January!

Sincerely,

Carey Shuffman

Chair, Special Political and Decolonization

Ivy League Model United Nations Conference XXVII

Dear Delegates,

I am delighted to welcome you to the Special Political and Decolonization committee of ILMUNC XXVII. I am thrilled to be working with your chair, Carey and the entire ILMUNC secretariat. We have all worked hard to make this an amazing conference. Now it¡¯s up to you to show us your talent in debate, compromise, cooperation and creativity.

When I am not occupied with ILMUNC preparations, I am busy as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences. I am studying Philosophy and Political Science. In addition to working on this conference, I also participate in events in the International Affairs Association. In my spare time I serve on the board of Sigma Delta Tau, attend and coordinate activities at Hillel.

This year will be my final ILMUNC but I know that it will be my best because of your participation. For the past 8 years Model UN has been an important part of my life. From a shy delegate in committee to a USG GA, I have loved every moment I devoted to ILMUNC. As my final conference, I hope that this year proves to be the most memorable conference.

I am eager to see what you can bring to our committee and I look forward to meeting each of you. Please feel free to contact me at any time before, during or after conference. Best of luck and see you soon!

Sincerely,

Melissa Rutman

Moderator, Special Political and Decolonization

Ivy League Model United Nations Conference XXVII

Topic A

The Kashmir Issue

The Kashmir region is situated at the intersection of India, Pakistan, and China. Since 1947, the beginning of the First Kashmir War, each of these three nations has attempted to exercise authority over the region at some point. The conflict began when Pakistan and India gained their independence from Britain. Before moving out, the European power partitioned these two states, leaving Pakistan as a religious state and India as a secular one. Due to the fragility of the political balance within Kashmir, this topic has proven very difficult to solve. In committee, you will have to balance the interests of many parties. Indians believe that Kashmir has legally been a part of their nation since the British left. Pakistan has suggested that the Kashmiri people decide what they want to do with their state, even if that means independence or autonomy. Lastly, China's position is that Kashmir is a part of Tibet and should thus be returned to them.

Topic B

University for Peace

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the University for Peace, a school established in Costa Rica by SPECPOL to foster a discussion about tolerance and coexistence. Its courses specialize on interdisciplinary materials, ranging from law to environmental studies to economics. It also publishes the Peace and Conflict Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal read by many NGOs and think tanks. Now independent from the United Nations, UPEACE aims to expand to campuses worldwide. Eventually, it will compose a network of global institutions supplementing the international role of the UN. It also trains younger generations to work towards cooperation and societal development. Your committee will be evaluating the effects of this University so far, both on the international community and on Costa Rica individually, and its relationship with the UN. In particular, it is important to examine its successes and struggles. This will help you decide whether UPEACE should be expanded.