Chinese Rep Election

Ethereal

You won't even make the valid and legitimate presumption that a representative will represent his country's views? :rolleyes:

To both candidates, do you consider China to be communist, socialist or capitalist? Which way do you expect it to go in the next 5 years?

China defies all three constructs. the best possible description would be a blend of communism and capitalism. I hope that China maintains this within the next five years, as it seems to create a society without all that is bad about capitalism ans removing most of what is bad with communism in practice. I do not think it will drift closer to capitalism, whilst this would create greater economic benefit, it would be a betrayal to the fundamental principles of the government, besides, we need something credible to balance out Western Capitalism, ya know, yin and yang and all that shizzle.

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Ethereal

To both candidates, do you consider China to be communist, socialist or capitalist? Which way do you expect it to go in the next 5 years?

China is a mixture of communist policies and an increasingly capitalist economy. At the rate the economy is expanding, rising capitalism is to be expected but at the same time I think its hard to predict how much of a polarising factor the country's authoritarian tradition will pose in the future China :smile:

Reply 64

Ethereal

19

What are the candidates positions on creating greater involvement for none-traditional MUN roles ie representing bodies other than nations?

What do candidates intend to do to breed life into this place other than create resolutions?

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This candidate is fully supportive of increased involvement for roles of bodies instead of nations. I think the diversity would add flavour and bring out some of the other aspects of the UN's place in the world.

Nefarious

Heh heh!
Thank you Mr. SG for pointing that out.

Strepsils for your cough?

Reply 67

A Y A Z

11

Craghyrax

This candidate is fully supportive of increased involvement for roles of bodies instead of nations. I think the diversity would add flavour and bring out some of the other aspects of the UN's place in the world.

And what activities, if any, do you plan to introduce to the MUN to increase participation?

The idea of the MUN Member of the month is null and void as I mentioned it before these candidates could.

Reply 68

Mr Man

And what activities, if any, do you plan to introduce to the MUN to increase participation?

The idea of the MUN Member of the month is null and void as I mentioned it before these candidates could.

IIRC, I was the one who brought Member of the Month to the MUN in the first place :p:

Reply 69

Ethereal

What are the candidates positions on creating greater involvement for none-traditional MUN roles ie representing bodies other than nations?

I don't believe in creating more committees like the Security Council, until we have the members to run them.

However it would be great to have more representation of bodies, like if I remember correctly you do, representation of the Observer status bodies and organisations. It would add a whole new twist to the MUN, in that if we have a rep. for Amnesty they could push for greater awareness of Guantanamo, as they would, a Greenpeace rep. could bring greater awareness to enviromental issues, A WTO rep speak about economic issues and so on...

I believe one of the reasons why these positions are not currently occupied is that there isnt an awareness of the positions themselves, and also that more, rather than less, can be done occupying one of these than occupying a Nation. When members join the MUN, they know that they can represent a country, but perhaps more can be done, possibly by the SG, to make them aware that it would be more interesting if they didn't represent a country but instead a body. I would fully support any proposal to create greater involvement for non-traditional bodies.

What do candidates intend to do to breed life into this place other than create resolutions?

As for breathing life into this place, I am a great believer in 'lead by example' and that's what I plan to do. At the same time I believe we dont need to have more resolutions, but rather more interesting resolutions. It's pointless if a resolution is created that everyone will agree to or that breeds a similar response from everyone, as such we need to have slightly more controversial resolutions. I would support bringing back the newsfeed that we used to have to spoonfeed people topics on which to comment and start threads about.

I think one of the issues with the current popularity of the MUN, or rather lack of it, is to do with the real life image of the UN. It would perhaps be useful to have changes that separates the MUN from the real UN, without losing the basic principles. One example would be veto power, it acts as a great deterrent to controversial resolutions and at the same time, is one of the reasons why the real UN has such a watered down image. As we are faced with the possibility of this forum being scrapped, I believe such a drastic measure may just work to kick-start it back to life. Obviously it would need greater approval and it would mean that we would have to have an OOC discussion about it, considering that if we acted in character five of us would have to veto the proposal.

Reply 70

Ethereal

What do candidates intend to do to breed life into this place other than create resolutions?

Mr Man

And what activities, if any, do you plan to introduce to the MUN to increase participation?

One thing I would like to make quite clear at this point, is that I feel an extremely realistic view needs to be taken towards our current situation. If anybody in the MUN had had ideas on reform, or ways to inspire greater activity it would have been proposed and out on the table already as there is nothing to stop any GA delegate from starting a motion, making a new thread, posting a resolution, or PMing Nefarious. With regards to this issue, there is absolutely no capacity that an SC position offers that would make any such steps or action possible where they weren't before. If such a catalyst were around, we should have seen evidence already. Furthermore it takes, in this case, a GA to tango and it is quite unrealistic to suggest that any SC member, or even Nefarious, is in a position or even holding responsibility to squeeze out the motivation and participation needed for the MUN to thrive.
I very much enjoy debating international affairs, and taking on the angle of a particular nation's viewpoint. As such I can debate and challenge, and shall do. If I can effect any change it will be through the influence of being active and proactively challenging. At the end of the day, however, the life of the MUN is dependent on there being others with a similar enjoyment, willing to take part and engage. I feel that to suggest or commit to change this would be unrealistic and pretentious in this context.

Reply 71

randdom

To both candidates if elected what will the first resolution that you produce be and why?

I don't know yet. I intend to continue as I have been; screening the news for suitable opportunities, and exploiting them where possible. I do need to point out, though, that the resolution-drafting opportunities open to me will be significantly limited by my position. You won't, for instance, be seeing any more resolutions on detainment of terror suspects or greenhouse gas emissions :laugh:

Reply 72

randdom

20

how long until the vote?

Reply 73

Nef isn't online ;no;
I'm still answering!!! :s-smilie:

Reply 74

Ethereal

What support would you give to the UNHCR in achieving our humanitarian objectives, and also our objectives on cracking down on illegal armaments and shipments?

China has a rapidly stretching economy, and faces huge population expansion. As such there is a limit the the amount of resources we have spare for international interest. Having said this China maintains a close observence and assessment of arms trade policy, and will make amendments where we see necessary. We will endeavour to give humanitarian aid, where need is greatest, in so far as we are at liberty to do so. We also stand in readiness to take in refugees where we can.

Reply 75

A Y A Z

11

6+6=12

IIRC, I was the one who brought Member of the Month to the MUN in the first place :p:

I remember, yes. But I mentioned it just before the election so I get the credit!

OOC

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