We are Europe's premier crisis conference, at the best social sciences institution, in the greatest city in the world.
GREETINGS FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL
Dear delegates, faculty advisors, and friends,
On behalf of our secretariat and staff, I have the privilege of welcoming you to the eighteenth session of the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Model United Nations conference. It will be held at LSE’s storied campus in central London from the 2nd to the 4th of February 2024.
Almost two decades ago, LSEMUN pioneered in Europe the style of MUN debate that has come to be known as crisis, a variant of the conventional general-assembly format. Instead of the formulaic drumbeat of moderated and unmoderated debate, crisis puts delegates in the shoes of statesmen in a dynamic, fast-paced, and high-pressure situation akin to real-world scenarios. Its core purpose: empowerment. Since its inception, LSEMUN has established itself as Europe's premier crisis-centric conference, both in scale and academic calibre, and as one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious MUN conferences.
Our mission for LSEMUN 2024 is to provide the single most formative conference experience. We will have succeeded if delegates leave the closing ceremony as more purposeful, passionate, and active citizens. Our theme is more than an Instagram post, it guides every decision we make: empowering today: pioneering a sustainable tomorrow.
By sustainability, we are referring, in large part, to the climate crisis. In that vein, I am proud to announce that our conference will lead by example by targeting net zero carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) in collaboration with Sustainable LSE. In-person events are inherently unsustainable - bringing together hundreds from afar for just two or three days - and we aim to set a precedent of social responsibility that is followed by the MUN community nationwide. However, we also conceptualise sustainability more broadly as the long-term sustenance of the systems that shape us and our planet, and it is this philosophy that marks the distinctive tenor of this conference. In this vein, we are bringing together a panel of pre-eminent diplomats, academics, and private sector professionals for a fireside chat pertaining to the intersection of sustainability, geopolitics, and international trade.
We have seven committees on offer, each of which are groundbreaking in their own right and spearheaded by the most experienced Crisis Directors on the circuit. The roster has been carefully curated to cater for every type of delegate by providing a diverse range of world-class options. The time periods range from 33AD to 2040, the geographic settings span three continents, and the focuses of committee vary from espionage, to military conflict, to a hostage crisis, to even technical economic policy - a British first. Our committees include one, two, and even three cabinet crises - another British first. There are two specialised legislative bodies - the Roman Senate and the UK House of Commons - and an ‘ad hoc’, a committee for which the theme is kept strictly confidential until the day of the conference. We have been so bold as to offer an alternate history narrative which reimagines the exploration of North America in the case of a differently shaped landmass. This year, our academic offering is truly world-class in quality, diversity, and innovation.
Beyond academics, a MUN conference is nothing without its socials. We are thrilled to unveil our flagship boat party on the Thames, complete with complimentary drinks and canapés with the backdrop of London’s world-renowned landmarks. But we have another ace up our sleeve: a cocktail reception in the Great Hall of LSE’s crown jewel, the Marshall Building. Prepare your classiest suits for networking with the dignitaries on our fireside chat panel.
It is also important to note our continued emphasis on last year’s theme of diversity and inclusion. We are proud to announce our financial aid, which will promote participation and financial accessibility, and our LSEMUN Tour, during which we are visiting over 5 universities across the UK to introduce the crisis MUN format and reduce barriers to entry.
Welcome to LSEMUN: A world leader in purpose, thought leadership, academic excellence, and immersive socials. See you in February.
Best wishes,
Advait Kuravi
Secretary-General
LSEMUN XVIII
‘The best crisis MUN conference in the most prestigious social sciences institution in the greatest city in the world.’