Forming Blocs

With BMUN LXIX less than a week away now, let's talk blocs!

In crisis, you'll have plenty of opportunity to consider where your alliances lie as a country, and what stances you should take based on your past and current relations. In order to ensure you think of all options, here are some bloc formations that could possibly occur:

Colonizer vs Colonized

Japan's invasion of Mukden sounds familiar to many countries present in our committee. Keeping in mind your own country's history with colonization, what could the Mukden incident possibly mean for you?

Be it for protection, representation, or any other reason, you might consider what would best represent the interests of colonized nations like yourself in the League (or how to change the League to make them more representative) and possibly form a bloc of united colonized nations. Together, you can work to see that you remain safe and that Japan is properly restrained from that continued behavior. 

Similarly, colonizer nations might find themselves sympathetic with Japan's goals, considering they've employed similar justification in their own history. In that sense, it's likely colonizer nations would band together to protect their own methods of advancement, and would use that to form their own alliance.

East vs West

As we all know, the League of Nations is not the most culturally inclusive organization, which is partially what escalated this conflict in the first place. Many Eastern countries, including China and Japan, have not been fairly represented in the League, made especially clear by the denial of the Racial Equity Clause. Therefore, it could be a big improvement to have a solid representation of Eastern countries in the League awarded their due respect, and in that sense would further prevent Japan from feeling disrespected and misrepresented. 

How would you want to change the League's structure to be more inclusive and respectful of your needs? What would that system look like? Answering that question might find you in a new alliance.

Fascist vs Democratic

Changes in government structure is a very relevant issue in our crisis, especially considering that we're trying to prevent WWII, a war that happened due to the rise of fascism. 

Imperial Japan has long established its history of using fascist methods of control over its people. Though it differs from Western fascism, some countries are receptive to that method of control, while others are prepared to fight it by any means. Here, consider how you can address the political roots of the problem with other countries in similar stances. 

Pro-China vs Pro-Japan

Lastly but certainly not last, it might boil down to being pro-China vs pro-Japan (or in that sense, anti-Japan or anti-China). If you find yourself uncertain on where you stand, it might help to think of how you think of each country. It's possible you might be on one side just because you have bad history with the other, and that's normal! If this is what's important to you, you'll find a unique set of blocs that could be just as effective in your goals. 

At the end of the day, remember the goal is to prevent Japan from leaving the League of Nations in the hopes of preventing World War II. Consider the previous bloc formations to think how your specific country policy and relationships could be the most effective, and especially how to make the League more effective in this issue. Remember, there is no one right answer, but rather a collection of choices to make -- just be sure they're good ones!