NAM proved to be a distinctive forum for coordination that provided developing countries the space to demand respect for their economic, social, cultural, and political rights. The largest continent on the planet, Asia, experienced seven crisis-stricken and chaotic years from 1965-1971. In the spirit of the overarching theme of the conference, “The Asian Century: Tectonic Shifts in Global Relations”, the Historical Crisis Committee will be set in the years 1965-1971.

Going chronologically, the first agenda on our list is the Indonesian Communist Purge of 1965. On the infelicitous night of 30th September 1965, the assassination of 6 high-ranking army generals and suspicions of an imminent coup d’état triggered a power struggle between President Sukarno and military leader Suharto. The ensuing series of events drenched an entire nation in blood and showed subtle undertones of the ideological battle ensuing in the Cold War. Who will come out on top? Will the lives of millions be saved? Will communism devour capitalism or will the latter contain the former, and how will the world come together to alleviate this crisis while there exist such stark ideological divisions?

The next crisis on our hands is the Third Arab-Israeli War, popularly known as the ‘Six Day War’. Fought between 5th and 10th June 1967, this conflict began with a large-scale, unexpected Israeli invasion into Egyptian territory. This conflict revolves around both parties’ attempts to gain control over the Strait of Tiran, an important shipping route. Considering that foreign relations between Israel and other neighboring Arab states were nothing but precarious at the time, this crisis inevitably suggests multilateral conflict. This agenda will test the manner in which delegates respond to the threat of a full-fledged war with multiple economic, humanitarian, and peace-threatening factors playing in role in the crisis.

Last, but most certainly not least, we have the Third Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. This agenda focuses on a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that took place from the 3rd – 16th December 1971. This crisis is particularly multi-dimensional in nature, including events ranging from the controversial Pakistani airstrikes on Indian Air Force bases to the increasingly rancorous humanitarian crisis rooted in the growing self-determination movement in East Pakistan (now known as Bangladesh). The role of NAM in finding effective solutions to a crisis occurring on multiple fronts will call upon delegates to come up with innovative solutions in the face of obdurate foreign policies.

Delegates at the HCC will need to challenge not only each other, but also themselves; the dynamic nature of our agendas and the historical context within which they are being discussed in will no doubt bring out the best in you as critical thinkers and risk-takers. We at the HCC invite you to join our one-of-a-kind committee, where you will gain the opportunity to not just experience history, but potentially rewrite it. A word of advice – prepare yourselves for the debate of a lifetime, for this will be a committee like no other you have experienced before.