LSEMUN 2024

About the committee

When Alexander I was first crowned emperor in 1801, he promised grand social reforms that would modernize the country and make it more similar to the rest of Europe. However, as the years went by, it became increasingly clear that Alexander would not keep his promises. The young intellectuals of Russia are increasingly becoming more dissatisfied with the situation. They start forming secret societies in which they discuss how they would form their own government. They are particularly interested in reducing the monarchy's power, abolishing serfdom and introducing freedom of speech to Russia. Among said secret societies, one of the biggest ones was the Union of Prosperity, which in 1822 went on to split into a more Northern and a Southern Society. These groups both want freedom but have somewhat different definitions of what freedom is. The Northerners wanted constitutional monarchy, while the Southerners wanted to establish a republic. However, both societies coincide in one thing: the biggest obstacle standing between them and freedom is the Tsar. In this crisis, you will get a shot at reforming the 19th-century government and participating in secret societies. You might be able to achieve your goals peacefully, or you might reach for more drastic means...

Countries

About the committee

This Great War Crisis of 1918 will place delegates into the shoes of military, diplomatic, and political officials of both the Allied and Central Powers during the closing months of the First World War. The Allies are set to be victorious, and years of war have made it so that the Central Powers will not be able to continue its war effort for any longer than three months as resources and morale dwindle. However, what Europe will look like once the guns go silent is not written in stone, and it will be the responsibility of the delegates to secure the strongest position they can for their country. Delegates will be assigned to military, diplomatic and domestic political roles serving particular countries, including Britain, France, the USA, Italy, Germany, Austro-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire, just to name a few. Delegates must launch offensive and defensive military actions, communicate with one another to strengthen their international position, and seek to stabilise their own domestic situation, which grows ever untenable as the war goes on.

Chair

• Aidan Cross

Countries

About the committee

This crisis will be kept clandestine until the weekend of the conference.

Countries

About the committee

LSEMUN 2024’s Roman Senate crisis will represent Rome’s Senate, the main (and technically sole) legislative decision-making body of the Roman Empire. The crisis will take delegates through the financial crisis of 33CE – one of the first documented financial crises in world history – and the relatively modern phenomenon of a ‘credit crunch’. The Senate will be put to the task of balancing Rome’s fragile economy, investigating the possible sources of the crisis and trying to make itself relevant in a rare chance to weaken the Emperor’s power and bring some semblance of Republicanism back to Rome. During the crisis, you, as a Roman Senator, will be attempting to balance your own budget by managing your estates (land) and investments (in banks) to preserve or grow your wealth and political power using directives while also attempting to stabilise Rome’s untamed financial sector using legislation in the senate (front room) – two goals that you will often find irreconcilable having to choose between you and your family’s wealth and influence or the good of the Empire. While the main financial crisis goes on, it will also be your job to appoint your fellow Senators, or be appointed yourself, to deal with Rome’s other matters relating to the crisis – be it mutiny, unrest, revolts, famine, plague, the Imperial succession or even an invasion depending on how delegates react to the crisis – with your success or failure in these endeavours relating directly to your political influence and standing among your peers. In short, your job is a balancing act – the world’s first ‘Keynesian Depression’ sinking in means Rome is a powder keg ready to go off, and your job is to ensure stability while protecting the interests of yourself and your family/House.

Countries

About the committee

It is our utmost pleasure to introduce the ‘Age of Discovery’: an exploration into a re-imagined America. In this Tri-cabinet committee, you will have the chance to be a member of either the British, French or Ming Dynasty and explore an alternative era of America. You will need to resolve monetary, military, and political conflicts in your country and compete in exploring the new land for resources and military advantages, where you will have the opportunity to establish settlements and grow your kingdom. This committee is designed so that you would be presented with the opportunity to learn about war and maritime strategies, grow your understanding of economics and, most importantly, improve your leadership, negotiation, and critical thinking skills; as such, it is well suited for intermediate and well-experienced delegates.

Countries

About the committee

This crisis will focus on the infamous Salem Witch Trials and the strange circumstances that led to them in Massachusetts in 1692. Centralising on the theme of prosecution and paranoia, delegates will assume the role of town hall members assigned the responsibility of weeding out the witches and governing the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Countries

About the committee

Set in the year 2040, parliament is split over the idea of Irish reunification, and this has been the main focus of parliament for months now until cyber attacks began all over the country. Firstly, the national grid was hacked, then there were issues with water filtration systems, and now drones are attacking schools and public places. In this crisis, you will need to figure out who is behind these attacks, represent your constituents in upcoming elections, and figure out how to deal with the potential Irish Reunification, among so much more!

Chair

• Mollie McGowan

Countries