Best Position Paper is a written-work award given in most Model United Nations (MUN) conferences to the delegate whose pre-conference position paper most effectively demonstrates research depth, policy accuracy, and clarity of writing. Unlike gavel or "Best Delegate" awards, which are decided during committee based on speaking, negotiation, and resolution drafting, the Best Position Paper award is judged primarily before the conference begins, based solely on the submitted document.
A position paper typically outlines the represented country's stance on each topic on the committee agenda, summarizes relevant background and past UN action, and proposes policy solutions consistent with the country's foreign policy record. Chairs and dais staff evaluate submissions on criteria such as:
- Accuracy of policy: alignment with the represented state's actual diplomatic positions, voting record, and treaty commitments.
- Quality of research: use of UN documents, resolutions, treaties, and reputable secondary sources, often with footnotes or a bibliography.
- Analytical depth: identification of root causes, stakeholders, and trade-offs rather than mere description.
- Writing and formatting: clarity, concision, adherence to length limits (commonly 1–2 pages per topic), and compliance with the conference's formatting rules.
Major collegiate circuits — including the National Model United Nations (NMUN), Harvard National MUN (HNMUN), and the World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) — formally recognize position papers, and at NMUN submission is a prerequisite for any delegation award. High school circuits such as those rated by Best Delegate also commonly include the award.
Because position papers are submitted in advance (deadlines typically range from two weeks to a few days before the conference), the award rewards preparation rather than in-room performance. Some conferences publish winning papers as exemplars for future delegates. Plagiarism, AI-generated content, and missed deadlines are typical disqualifiers.
Example
At NMUN New York 2023, several delegations representing member states such as Sweden and Singapore were recognized with Outstanding Position Paper awards across General Assembly and ECOSOC committees.
Frequently asked questions
At many conferences, yes. NMUN, for example, requires a submitted position paper for a delegation to be eligible for any delegation-level award. Other conferences make submission strongly encouraged but not strictly required.
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