Bloc Politics

Bloc Politics

• A bloc is a group of nations that tend to vote together.
  
• Your nation may be part of one or more regional, political or economic blocs.
  
  • When you go into committee, you should already know which blocs your country is in.
    
• Sometimes, your blocs may work against each other and you will be caught in the middle.
  

1. For example, let's say your country is Nigeria…
   
   1. Regionally, you will be part of the "Sub-Saharan Africa Bloc."
      
   2. Economically, you will be part of the G-77 (which is a term referring to the countries not in the G-20). However, you are one of the richer countries of the G-77)
      
   3. Politically/Economically, you are part of the "OPEC (Oil Producing and Exporting Countries) Bloc."
      

• If legislation comes up in committee from the G-77 countries that says "We G-77 countries believe that the high price of oil is hurting our economic development and we need help lowering them," and they make allies with the Sub-Saharan Bloc says that "We in Sub-Saharan Africa have too many environmental problems and want to pass legislation where nations must drill oil in a clean way," and OPEC Nations respond by saying "We believe that finding oil and drilling oil with the cheapest methods is best for the economy and development of poorer nations," then how does Nigeria vote? If you vote with G-77 and Sub-Saharan blocs, you hurt your economy and weaken your OPEC bloc and weaken your influence within that bloc. If you vote with the OPEC side, you will weaken your G-77 and Sub-Saharan bloc and your influence within those blocs.
  
  • With bloc politics, you must think
    

1. "What are my countries' goals?"
   
2. "What blocs am I in?"
   
3. "How can I use my position in my bloc in order to obtain my countries' goals?"
   

   
    

• You will not have enough time to talk to everyone during a caucus at an M.U.N. Conference. Therefore, you should …
  
  • Research what blocs your country is a part of.
    
  • focus on delegates from countries that are a part of your bloc during caucus time. Make friends with them!
    
  • Here is a good list of some of the more important blocs.
    
    • HINT: Pay particular attention to which blocs The United States, China and Israel are (or are not) in.
      
      • http://www.eyeontheun.org/view.asp?l=11&p=55