The mission of the Cornell International Affairs Society [CIAS] is to cultivate within students an enhanced understanding of international affairs while developing essential skills in public speaking, leadership, rhetoric and diplomacy. CIAS achieves these goals through Model United Nations (MUN)—a style of simulation debate in which participants represent people, factions, organizations or countries as delegates. The participants come together in committee session, having researched their delegation and the set topics, and attempt to resolve any problems identified, all the while jockeying for political, economic or military power, forming/breaking alliances and utilizing their diplomacy. Delegates play many roles during committee: that of the politician, the analytical thinker, the lobbyist and the builder, every function being necessary to the successful resolution of any conflict or problem in committee.

In addition to inculcating those practical skills within its membership by attending collegiate-level MUN conferences, CIAS offers the opportunity for professional development through the hosting of our own high school (CMUNC) and collegiate (CIAC) conferences on Cornell’s campus.

It is evident that developments that sculpt our society are increasingly marked by global phenomena such as the increasing interdependence associated with a prominent global economy, the rise of multinational corporations, the mounting relevance of subnational actors, the expanding frontier of international law, and the advancing diffusion of ideas across borders and cultures. We therefore believe that a global perspective and sophisticated understanding of international affairs is crucial to any career path in the 21st century.