Daimun - Ishika Srivastava

MEET THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Deputy Secretary-General : Ishika Srivastava

"If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle "
-Sun Tzu, Art of War

Dear Delegates and MUN Directors,

The Babylonians of the Axial Age are credited with producing the oldest map known to man. We will likely never know for certain if this map was the first of its kind. However, what we can understand is that the concept of compartmentalising our land is as old as civilisation itself. Forming lines. Demarcating areas. Creating divisions.

These lines, perhaps arbitrary at their conception, have transformed into symbols of identity today. Every city, nation, and continent is defined, in some way or the other, by this representation. We cannot unite our world without first understanding its divisions - where they came from, and their intended purpose. Developing this understanding must be our first step towards global cooperation.

As mentioned before, all continents are a product of this division. However, the case of Asia will always remain unique. The birthplace of the Mesopotamian and Indus Valley Civilisation, she is an amalgamation of ancient cultures. Asia has consistently held an important place in the global community. We now find ourselves in the period recognised as the Asian Century. The baton of progress has found its way from the hands out the British and the Americans to our own. Not only does Asia influence the global economy, it also moulds the culture of the future. Yet with such a large sphere of influence, the probability of mismanagement also increases exponentially. The reality of the situation is that Asia is home to over 4.4 billion individuals with distinct cultural roots, and is consequently plagued by a vast array of conflicts.

Be it in the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan, or in the middle of a Yemeni desert, each conflict is born of a different kind of disparity; each is unique in the way it came to exist, and in the impacts it has on a local and global scale. The uniqueness of each conflict necessitates the uniqueness of its solution, and every single choice we make to solve a given conflict is essential. We cannot ignore that each conflict plays a role in shaping the region around it. We must go a step further in understanding and ending our conflicts. We are living in a time where there is an over-representation of conflict. Where most of us are simply not aware of the gravity of the situations most relevant to our existence. Thus, through the course of this year’s conference, I hope you, the delegates, explore new avenues in depth and understand the way in which newer conflicts play into the international stage. After taking this step we can understand our enemy, understand our conflict. For if we do not, as Sun Tzu foreshadowed centuries ago - we will succumb in every battle.

Let us not succumb. Let us prevail. This is our first step towards progress. All we ask of you, is to join us.

The world awaits. Make it your own.