KSUHSMUN
 Caucusing


 Caucusing is probably one of the most crucial elements to a successful Model UN experience. Sure, you have to able to produce coherent speeches on your country's policy, and on the topic at hand. But, when the time comes, you also have to be able to gather in small groups and work on getting your ideas across, and see to it that those ideas end up In a resolution passed by the body. Or, you might be attempting to see to it that other delegate's ideas are blocked from gaining much support.

Either way, the point is to gain support for a certain set or 'platform' of -ideas. A working paper will not succeed without the necessary support of the body. You can write the most awe-inspiring, groundbreaking resolution in history, and give speeches that would make a politician jealous, but if you can't gain support for your resolution during caucusing, it will likely fail. Although many skills are needed in caucusing, certainly a primary one is compromise.

Better yet, seeming to compromise on some of your nation's key points, while actually sticking to the ones that matter will get you far.

How to Caucus Effectively

 1. Seek out countries that you know have similar views to your nation. Examples of this would be Islamic bloc, OPEC bloc, Asian bloc, EU bloc, etc.

 2. Once you have found a working group, decide on what issues and concerns you all agree upon. Do not allow the group to get stalled by focusing on the issues you do not agree upon.

 3. After the group has a working paper complete, try to gain support in other caucusing blocs by asking for their input and suggestions as relating to your working paper, and provide the same for theirs. Compromise is the key. If you cannot see eye to eye with another country, find others that can or will compromise. Don't waste a great deal of time on nations that cannot support your work

 4. Merge working papers and resolutions when possible. This keeps the number of resolutions and working papers small and manageable.

 5. Do not anger other delegations. Aside from being out of character for a diplomat (mostly) and probably immature, allies on one topic may not be allies on the next, and vice versa. in other words, don't bum any bridges after you cross, but also
 don't take out any you haven't got to yet, either.

 Hints

Look for allies while doing your research. This is easy, and helps immensely. Use your speeches in committee to find allies, and recruit them to your cause. Remember alliances can be forged for some really strange reasons, so keep an open mind. Do not depend upon other delegations from your school. Your country's views could be very far apart, for one thing, and it doesn't look all that great to most Chairs, either.

If you have questions about who to work with, do not forget that the KSUHSMUN staff and Home Government are available to help you.

The key to effective caucusing is good research. By doing thorough research, you will gain not only information about your own nation's policies and positions on a given topic, but other nation's as well. This information about other various national policies should be jotted down while researching, for it may prove to be invaluable information during committee sessions.