Special Committee

HSC

Historical Security Council

About the Committee

The Historical Security Council (HSC), based upon the model of the UN Security Council, operates as a hybrid body by merging the authority of the Security Council for enforcement of the International Peace & Security Mandate with the historical analysis of a Historical Committee. The primary function of the HSC is to recreate specific historical international crises within their original geopolitical context, allowing the delegates to participate in an inclusive, full-discussion format of the events which have previously posed a threat to world peace and security. Thus, the HSC continues to allow the Security Council to authorize sanctions, peacekeeping missions, and military action to address international crises, while also providing the opportunity for crisis-based developments to evolve the content of debate throughout the simulation.

The HSC will operate with fifteen (15) member states. The five (5) Permanent Member states (otherwise known as the P5) will include the United States, United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation (or USSR depending upon the time period being simulated). The other ten (10) elected member states are selected through the General Assembly's rotating member state selection process, although this can vary based on the decade(s) that the HSC is simulating. The HSC has a unique feature in that it includes current events updates regarding the crisis. After each decision, delegates receive "newspaper" articles containing information relevant to the consequences of their actions. This approach ensures that the HSC remains a historically-accurate simulation of a UN Security Council meeting, but also allows for the development of diplomacy in response to developing events.

Resolutions are constructed using the traditional clause-by-clause method of the UN Security Council (ad-hoc debate). In cases where an issue arises which involves actors not present at the table, the HSC may call upon Ambassadors from non-sitting states to provide additional context and/or expertise. However, these invited Ambassadors are only permitted to contribute as observers and do not possess voting rights. By combining historically-accurate scenario settings and UN Security Council procedures, the HSC creates a rigorous environment for delegate participation that encourages strategic thinking, diplomatic negotiations, and crisis management while continuing to demonstrate the UN Charter's commitment to promoting international peace and security.