United Nations Historic Council

Introduction to the Committee

Welcome to Historic Committee of the United Nations. We are taking all delegations back in time to the height of the Vietnam War, a critical moment in global history. The conflict in Vietnam has drawn in major world powers and caused regional instability. As the war approaches a turning point, with no clear resolution in sight, the international community must confront the consequences of prolonged military intervention and to consider how international diplomacy and cooperation can guide us toward peace. 

Topic 1 – Peace, Neutrality, and the Humanitarian Crisis in Southeast Asia

The Vietnam War created a massive humanitarian crisis. Civilians suffer constantly from violence, destroyed villages and even families torn apart. Millions of civilians were displaced or killed, which has led to a severe refugee crisis. Chemical weapons like Agent Orange have caused long-lasting harm. Neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia were also drawn into the conflict, worsening regional instability. International aid efforts were often limited by political divisions, as Cold War rivalries paralyzed the UN and other global institutions. Neutral countries and the Non-Aligned Movement attempted to mediate, but their influence was limited. This subtopic challenges delegates to address the human cost of war and the role of diplomacy, neutrality, and international aid. Can peace be achieved in a divided world? What responsibilities do nations have to protect civilians, even amid ideological conflicts?

Topic 2 – Foreign Intervention and Cold War Geopolitics in Vietnam

This topic focuses on the external influence of powerful nations in the Vietnam War. Considering how the Cold War has been helping to shape the highlighted conflict, it is important to recognize how Vietnam has become a battleground for global ideologies, especially between communism and capitalism. The United States has seen Vietnam as a critical obstacle in its strategy of domination, fearing that the fall of South Vietnam to communism will trigger a domino effect across Southeast Asia. To counter this threat, countries are getting involved first through financial and military aid and support with millions of troops, but also with weapons, training, and supplies. This foreign intervention turned a regional conflict into a Cold War proxy war, making it much more intense, prolonged, and globally significant.  Delegates should consider whether international involvement helped stabilize or destabilize Vietnam and the surrounding region, and whether ideological motivations justified the human and political costs. This subtopic invites debate on sovereignty, the legitimacy of intervention, and the responsibility of global powers in fueling or resolving conflicts rooted in ideological rivalry. 

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