Research

====**Country Research Questions: pg. 43-44 __Uniting the World Through Model United Nations__** provides clear and concise questions for research. The questions below are a little more complex but also useful for students.==== []
 * What sort of government does your country have?
 * What types of ideologies (political, religious or other) influence your country’s government?
 * Which domestic issues might influence your country’s foreign policy?
 * What are some major events in your country’s history? Why are they important?
 * Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
 * Where is your country located and how does its geography affect its political relationships?
 * Which countries share a border with your country?
 * Which countries are considered allies of your country?
 * Which countries are considered enemies of your country?
 * What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?
 * What is your country’s gross domestic product (GDP)? How does this compare to other countries in the world?
 * When did your country become a member of the UN?
 * Does your country belong to any [|intergovernmental organizations] outside the UN system such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
 * Does your country belong to any regional organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) or the Organization of American States (OAS)?
 * Does your country belong to any trade organizations or agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)?

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What is the problem? How does it affect your country?
 * What has your country done to combat the problem?
 * What are the various “sides” in the debate?
 * Which aspects of the issue are most important to your country?
 * If your country is not involved with the issue, how can it become involved?
 * How will your country shape the debate at the conference?
 * What arguments will other countries make?
 * How do the positions of other countries affect your country’s position?
 * Is there evidence or statistics that might help to back up your country’s position?

[|Links to Maps that can be useful for Country Background Research:] 0r