Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference

November 3rd-5th, 2017

2011 LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES

BACKGROUND GUIDE

Honorable Delegates,

Welcome to the 2016-2017 Arab League 2011 Committee, hosted by

Virginia Techs MUN club. My name is Omar Safsaf and I will have the honor
of serving as your Chair for the 2017 Virginia Tech Model United Nations. This
will be my first time chairing a committee, and as such I will appreciate any
help from experienced delegates. I am from Libya, and I have debated in
Model Arab League once before.
Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference
November 3rd-5th, 2017

The Arab League 2011 is a special committee and different from others
in the conference. The committee is especially unique given that the issues
discussed are recent and underdeveloped. Delegates will be expected to
represent the policies and values of their respective states accurately, to
establish efficient and realistic resolves to major conflicts. Because the issues
discussed are recent, delegates will be challenged to provide resolves that
might not already exist. While research is vital to success in this committee,
the ability to debate and creatively impose resolutions is just as important.

Delegates with solid foundation in research will be highly challenged

and engaged. Possessing confidence in your ability to debate will also help
you succeed. This background guide serves as guidance and as a starting
point for research. The topics presented in this committee guide are of high
importance to Arab League States, and as such, delegates are expected to
address each topic. Im looking forward to be your chair.

Sincerely,

Omar Safsaf

Topic 1: Considering the creation of a League-wide entity that tracks

and monitors the elections in the recently freed states of the Arab

Spring. Actions implemented can include but not limited to, setting
Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference
November 3rd-5th, 2017

election integrity standards, and/or use of technology to combat

fraud.

1 Intro to the Topic

a General Background

Various Arab states were in transition face after the 2011 Arab Spring

Uprisings. Per United Nations Peacekeeping, Credible and transparent

elections are one of the key first steps for post-conflict societies to establish

long lasting peace and security (Electoral Assistance: United Nations

Peacekeeping). For a country to properly transition into democratic

efficiency, it must ensure that the will of its people is represented with

integrity.

Election monitoring is a very complex process that involves much more

than ensuring votes are quantized accurately. Monitoring must ensure that

election laws are fully adhered to; that votes are educated to a certain

degree; that all voting procedures are fair; and that campaigns are lawful

(Democracy Program). Monitoring is integral to the portrayal of peoples will

as it ensures full legitimacy to the winner.

b History of Arabic Nations

Most Arabic countries that won independence after the second world

war, were ruled by autocratic figures, monarchs, or dictatorships. This left

the people of the country with limited involvement in the making of the

policy and/or the voicing of their opinions. Arabs were left without incentive
Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference
November 3rd-5th, 2017

to learn about domestic issues. Whenever parliamentary elections took

place, they were not competitive and lacked integrity. As the world

progressed and globalization spread, the population of the region was more

knowledgeable of how the first world functioned. The rapid increase in

awareness finally translated to action and the percussions started to emerge

in 2011 amidst the Arab Spring. While major domestic reform is still in its

early stages, democratization processes have gained considerable

importance on the agendas of Arab leaders in the past decade (Electoral

Assistance: United Nations Peacekeeping). Countries like Libya, Tunisia,

Egypt, and Jordan have taken major steps towards political reform

(Democracy, Voting and Public Opinion in the Arab World).

Regardless of the change in Arab way of rule, the Arab league

historically is very inefficient in positively influencing the election integrity

matter (The Integrity of Elections: the role of Regional Organizations). Most

of this is due to the lack of a specific entity that is responsible for elections

and the controversial interpretation of the eighth article of the Arab League

Charter that states that all members shall respect the laws imposed by the

government of other states and shall accept them as issues the only concern

those states (The Integrity of Elections: the role of Regional Organizations).

c Finding a solution to the issue: Past, Present, and future

Stating what was previously stated, the answer to this issues involves

much more than accurately counting votes. Delegates should consider

Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference
November 3rd-5th, 2017

whether the eighth article and others current means of election monitoring

suffice, or should changes be introduced. They must consider the

sovereignty of all states after the 2011 Arab spring. Delegates should be able

to analyze which method guarantees most stability and freedom for the

population.

Furthermore, delegates should show awareness of the financial stability of

the countries who experienced the Arab Spring uprisings and take the latter

into account when addressing election monitoring improvements.

2 Questions to consider in research

How has previous election monitoring methods succeeded and failed?
If elections in my country exist, how are they run and what are their

limitations?
Financial State of my country and its capacity to help improve election

monitoring.
To what extent should the Arab league respect the sovereignty of

states when imposing resolves. (Think eighth article of the Arab

League Charter)

3 Questions a resolution can answer

What specific standards should be imposed to protect voting

integrity?
How should voter knowledge be quantified and considered?
In what ways, should technology be introduced to prevent voter

fraud?
Virginia Tech Model United Nations Conference
November 3rd-5th, 2017

Works Cited

"Democracy Program." Democratic Elections and Standards, Monitoring

Elections | Carter

Center. CarterCenter, 2016. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

Electoral Assistance. United Nations Peacekeeping." United Nations. United

Nations, 2015.

Web. 29 Nov. 2016.

"The Integrity of Elections: The Role of Regional Organizations." The Integrity

of Elections: The

Role of Regional Organizations | International IDEA. N.p., 2015. Web.

29 Nov. 2016.

Penn, Joanna. "Democracy, Voting and Public Opinion in the Arab

World." Journalist's

Resource. N.p., 18 Aug. 2015. Web. 29 Nov. 2016.