Academics

Position Papers.

The formal statement of your country's stance — and the foundation of strong debate.

The essentials

Your delegation, on one page

A position paper is a concise, formal document that presents your assigned country's perspective on each forum topic. It is your first act of diplomacy at CALMUN.

What is a position paper?

It is a structured summary of your nation's official policy on a given issue. A strong paper demonstrates command of the topic, situates your country within the international debate, and outlines the solutions your delegation will champion in forum.

Why delegates must submit it

Submission is mandatory. The paper proves that each delegate has researched their country and topic, allows chairs to assess preparation, and makes for substantive, well-informed debate. It is also a key consideration for conference awards.

Examples

Official position paper examples

Study these official model papers — in English and Spanish, as PDF and Google Docs — to see exactly how a strong position paper reads before you write your own.

Format

Format requirements

Every position paper must follow the structure below and use the official template.

  • One page per forum topic
  • A clear statement of your country's position
  • Past national and international actions taken
  • Concrete, feasible proposed solutions
  • Formal, diplomatic language throughout
Assessment

Evaluation criteria

Chairs assess each paper against four equally weighted standards.

Research Quality

Depth and reliability of the evidence, data, and sources supporting your argument.

Accuracy of Country Policy

How faithfully the paper reflects your assigned nation's real diplomatic stance.

Feasibility of Solutions

Whether the proposed measures are realistic, actionable, and within the forum's mandate.

Structure & Clarity

Organisation, formatting, and the precision of the diplomatic language used.