When you first receive your country assignment for a Model United Nations conference, it’s hard to know where to begin your research! Just as gaining knowledge about your committee and debate topics is an essential part of preparing, so is understanding the country you are tasked with representing, as well as learning how it relates to others on the world stage. To accomplish this, indexes are your best friend.
First of all, what is an index and what can it help you learn? Indexes are alphabetical lists organized according to different measurement systems that analyze data and characteristics of different nations. They are used by organizations ranging from the United Nations to the Central Intelligence Agency to examine countries, their differences and similarities, and where they stand in relation to other nations in terms of factors like development, economic growth, poverty, etc. Therefore, indexes are a great resource when it comes understanding the ins and outs of your country assignment.
Below are 5 of the best indexes for learning about your country assignment. Using the example country assignment of Romania, we can delve into how these indexes can be a valuable asset in your committee research.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is compiled annually by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and provides detailed profiles for each country based on indicators such as health, poverty, gender equality, trade and financial flows, average income, environmental sustainability, etc.
You can use this index as a launching point for your research into your country policy on a wide range of topics. For example, if you were representing Romania in World Health Organization committee, checking Romania’s HDI profile can give you important statistics on its citizens’ health that can help you understand where the nation succeeds, where it faces challenges, and how its health levels intersect with its development.
#2. Gini Coefficient
The Gini coefficient is another interesting annual index to look at to find out a nation’s level of wealth inequality. The Gini coefficient examines the way money is distributed across nations, and is based on data from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. If a country has a Gini coefficient of zero, then it has achieved equality in terms of financial prosperity. If a country’s Gini coefficient is one, then it has the maximum financial inequality possible among its residents.
While the Gini coefficient and index analyze income and wealth distribution, they are not a measure of absolute income or wealth. Therefore, countries can have the same Gini coefficient even if they have widely different absolute incomes.
Currently, Romania is ranked #14 on the Gini index, indicating that its level of income inequality is relatively low.
#3. Corruption Perceptions Index
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is released by Transparency International on a yearly basis, offering an overview of relative corruption in countries and territories across the world. Defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, corruption can greatly influence a country’s decision making, progress, and freedom. Transparency International divides the impacts of corruption into four categories – political, economic, social and environmental.
The most recent CPI, which was released in 2018, uses data from 13 surveys and expert assessments to assign each country or territory a score from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), and then ranks them accordingly.
Romania has a CPI score of 47, ranking 61st in the world for levels of corruption. Aside from being an interesting fact about the country, the CPI score is an important thing to consider when researching your committee’s assigned topics, as corruption intersects and influences other issues, and can be a major obstacle for a country’s progress.
When you are representing a country, it is important to know about the risks and vulnerabilities it faces. The Fragile States Index (FSI), released by the Fund for Peace, is an important tool for identifying these factors. The FSI ranks countries based on twelve indicators of state vulnerability in several categories: Cohesion, Economic, Political, and Social. These indicators are each given a score from 0 (most stable) to 10 (least stable,) creating a scale spanning 0−120. These indicators examine a country’s likelihood of conflict or collapse, and assess states on a spectrum ranging from sustainable and stable to warning and alert.
Romania is ranked 137/178 countries as of 2019 with a score of 47.8/120. To put this in perspective, Yemen is ranked 1/178 and Finland is 178/178. Therefore, Romania is classified as “stable,” and its score indicates that it has a smaller chance of entering conflict than the majority of other countries.
One of the most comprehensive indexes and resources, the Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook offers a wealth of knowledge on different nations. For 267 countries and territories, it provides information on history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues, making it ideal for your country research. In fact, it even encompasses data from other indexes including the Gini coefficient! The CIA World Factbook is an excellent place to begin your research on any country policy or topic.
BONUS! Best Delegate Model UN Country Profile and Policy Map
Did you know that Best Delegate has their own country profile and policy map? We’ve gathered some of the best resources on the web for you to use in your research! Simply find your country on the map and click on the red pin to find links to resources that are helpful for delving into country research.
Want to further cultivate your research and analysis skills so you can excel at representing your country in committee? Then the Model United Nations Institute summer programs are just for you! As part of the Diplomat program, you’ll have the chance to gain knowledge you need to excel in Model UN as well as skills that will help you research your country policy using sources, techniques, and strategies like these. Meanwhile, the Ambassador program is a great opportunity if you are a Model UN veteran looking to refine your abilities in research, public speaking, resolution writing, negotiation, and leadership! Registration for the 2020 Model UN Institute summer programs is open now.
