In Model UN, a backchannel note is a short written message exchanged between delegates—typically folded paper passed by conference staff (often called "pages" or "runners") or, in virtual conferences, a direct chat message—used to conduct quiet diplomacy alongside the formal debate.
Unlike speeches from the speakers' list or interventions during a moderated caucus, backchannel notes are bilateral or small-group communications. Delegates use them to:
- Coordinate bloc positions before an unmoderated caucus begins.
- Float compromise language on an operative clause without publicly conceding ground.
- Whip votes ahead of a roll-call on a draft resolution or amendment.
- Share intelligence about another bloc's likely moves.
- Arrange side meetings during procedural lulls.
Most conferences distinguish backchannel notes from directives (used in crisis committees to take in-character action) and from press notes sent to a simulated press corps. In a General Assembly or ECOSOC-style committee, notes are usually screened by the dais only for decorum, not content. In crisis committees, the dais or crisis staff may read every note, since some notes are functionally private directives to a delegate's portfolio powers.
Effective backchannel notes tend to be short, specific, and actionable: a single ask, a proposed clause, or a clear question. Experienced delegates keep a running thread with key counterparts—often the sponsors of competing draft resolutions—so that compromises can be brokered before merger negotiations break down in caucus.
Etiquette matters. Notes that insult other delegates, break character, or attempt to communicate with observers will typically be confiscated, and some conferences penalize delegates whose notes violate the rules of procedure. Chairs at conferences such as NMUN, HMUN, and WorldMUN publish their own note-passing rules in advance, and delegates are expected to read them.
Backchannel diplomacy in MUN loosely mirrors real-world practice, where states routinely use unofficial channels—démarches, side conversations, or third-party intermediaries—to negotiate beyond what is said in public sessions.
Example
During HMUN 2023's DISEC committee, the delegate of France passed a backchannel note to Germany proposing a merged operative clause on autonomous weapons before the unmoderated caucus ended.
Frequently asked questions
In most General Assembly-style committees, the dais only checks notes for decorum. In crisis committees, staff often read every note because some notes function as private directives.
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