TCMUN
Historical Security Council
Advanced Committee
Introduction
Of the six main organizations originally established by the United Nations Charter in 1945, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was, and continues to be, the only committee with the ability to, “...make decisions that member states are then obligated to implement under the [UN] Charter….” (“What is the…”). Note that unlike other committees, which can only make recommendations to member states, the UNSC resolutions are obligatory. The primary mandate of the UNSC is to serve as a center of debate amongst nations to facilitate the maintenance of international peace and security. This is to be done by developing friendly international relations and encouraging cooperation regarding international problems. The more tangible powers of the UNSC include the capacity to establish peacekeeping operations, enact international sanctions, and authorize military action (“Functions and Powers”). A mandate from the UNSC is the only UN directive with the capacity to deploy peacekeepers, though they have restrictions on their actions as a UN body such as the scenarios in which they are able to engage in conflict. At the time this committee takes place, all of the capabilities described above are accessible to delegates. The first peacekeeping mission took place in 1948, and UN authorization for military action and international sanctions had been utilized for conflicts such as the Korean War (“UN Peacekeeping…”)
Chairs
Topic A:
The Algeria War (1954-1962)
The first and only topic will focus on addressing the French-Algerian War from the perspective of the United Nations General Assembly in 1956, specifically beginning with the outbreak of the Battle of Algiers. The conflict began in 1954 when the National Liberation Front (FLN) launched a violent independence campaign against French colonial rule. Though Algeria’s bid for independence may seem straightforward in the post-World War II era of decolonization, the war was highly complex, involving ethnic tensions, Pan-Arabism, Cold War geopolitics, and violent conflict between native Algerians and European settlers.
The Battle of Algiers (Sept 1956–Sept 1957) marked a turning point, with brutal urban warfare, civilian casualties, and massive French military retaliation. The committee aims to address this crisis while exploring broader issues such as Cold War proxy dynamics, humanitarian law, and the legacy of imperialism. Rather than judging the past through modern lenses, the goal is to foster a nuanced understanding of the war and its global impact.