Ah yes, the classic MUN nightmare: you open your country allotment, type “Your Country + Agenda” into Google, and what do you get? Nada. Zilch. Maybe a dusty newspaper article from 2008, but mostly travel ads and “Top 10 Street Foods to Try in yada yada yada.”

Meanwhile, the USA delegate has already printed a 50-page policy guide in color. China’s rep is quoting treaties like it’s open-book trivia. And you? You’re sitting there, staring at your screen, considering a career change.

Well, don’t panic, bestie. Representing a “mute” country is not a curse- it’s actually your chance to slay the committee in ways the loud countries can’t. Here’s the ultimate (and slightly savage) guide to faking *coughs aggressively* I mean, building a stance when your country has ghosted the agenda. 

• Know Your Country Like It’s Your Favorite Celebrity Crush

Step one: stalk your country the way you’d stalk your ex’s new fling. I mean it- maps, economy, allies, enemies, the whole vibe.

• Landlocked or beachy?
• Rich or broke (no shame, just strategy)?
• Besties and frenemies in global politics?

What’s their “main character energy”, peaceful monk vibes or drama queen tendencies?

Example: Bhutan in a cybersecurity debate. No, they don’t have “Cyber Ninjas 3000.” But Bhutan is eco- friendly, peaceful, and obsessed with Gross National Happiness. Translation: Bhutan will scream “cooperation, peace, and capacity building” while sipping herbal tea.

See? Silence isn’t weakness. It’s a personality trait.

• Copy the Group Project (But Make It Look Smart)

Your country might not have said a word, but its squad definitely has. Regional blocs love talking.

• ASEAN? They publish group statements like it’s gossip hour.
• The African Union? Always dropping communiqués.
• The EU? Wakes up at 6 a.m. just to write 50-page policies no one reads fully.

So if your country is chilling in the AU, you can just go, “We align with the AU’s statement.” Congrats, you just did the diplomatic version of copying homework.

• Stalk Their UN Voting History (The Receipts Never Lie)

Even the quietest countries have voting records, and trust me, those are juicier than Instagram comments.

• UNGA votes → tell you who they secretly like.
• HRC votes → reveal their moral compass (or lack of).
• UNSC history → chef’s kiss, if they were ever there.

Example: If your country abstains from every sanctions resolution, you don’t need Sherlock Holmes to tell you they hate sanctions. Boom! stance unlocked!!!!!! 

• Follow the Money, Follow the Tea

Let’s be real: countries are loyal to whoever pays the bills.

• Who funds them? Aid = loyalty.
• Who trades with them the most? Besties.

Who sells them weapons? Definitely not “just friends.”

So if Nepal never talks about energy but imports 90% of its fuel from India, you already know where Nepal stands: “Cooperation with India is life.”

Catchphrase: Show me your receipts, and I’ll show you your policy.

• Twist the Topic to Fit Their Obsessions

Every country has a pet obsession:

• Islands? “OMG Climate change is killing us.”
• Developing nations? “Aid and growth please.”
• Conflict zones? “We’d like to not explode please, thanks.”

So even if your country doesn’t care about AI or space wars, twist the topic. Maldives in a space-tech debate? Easy: “Satellites can track rising sea levels that threaten our existence.” Cue dramatic mic drop.

• Neutral does NOT mean Weak (It’s Actually Iconic)

When you’ve got nothing, neutrality is your bestie. Don’t invent a fake war your country never fought. Just play it safe:

• “We recognize the importance of…”
• “We support further dialogue…”
• “We align with regional priorities…”

Remember: being diplomatic is better than being delusional.

• Silence = Creative Freedom (Your Chance to Slay)

Representing a loud country is easy- you just regurgitate press releases. Representing a silent one? That’s an elite-level strategy. You get to connect dots, invent links, and basically spin straw into gold.

Imagine: Maldives in a cybercrime debate. Instead of crying about no sources, you go, “Cybersecurity is vital for protecting our tourism-based economy from fraud.” Look at you, innovating!!

• Research Like a Pro, Not a Zombie

Your starter pack when Google flops:

• UN Docs → resolutions, voting data.
• Think Tanks → Brookings, ORF, Chatham House.
• News Archives → BBC, Al Jazeera, Reuters.
• Government Websites → dusty PDFs, but useful.
• Allies’ Policies → copy-paste but smarter.

And no, scrolling TikTok isn’t research (unless your agenda is “Gen Z humor and procrastination” haha omg I’m so funny)

• Flip Weakness Into Flex

Here’s the tea: chairs don’t expect Botswana to have 20 press releases on space militarization. What they do expect is consistency, creativity, and actual diplomacy.

So instead of panicking, lean in: Be the “voice of reason.” Link everything back to your country’s core issues. Sounds realistic, not desperate. Sometimes being low-key is actually high-key iconic.

Final Words (Before You Rage Quit Google)

Representing a country with no stance feels like being ghosted- but in MUN terms, it’s a secret opportunity. It forces you to be creative, diplomatic, and adaptable instead of a walking fact machine.

When you raise your placard, that’s what the chair loves the most- the challenge of shaping silence into substance. Because trust me, it’s not about who has the fattest research binder, it’s about who plays their cards the smartest.

So the next time you get stuck with a “mute” country, remember:

Silence isn’t empty- it’s a blank canvas. And you? You’re the artist. And if all else fails, hey! at least you’ll have a killer research horror story to share at the socials!!! 

Thank us later!