Ideals, Interests and TEIMUN — An Interview With Dyonne Niehof
TEIMUN, a model UN based in the Hague is one of the oldest in Europe (founded in 1987). On Monday, July 21 TEIMUN 2014 kicks-off for a week of quality MUNing, a perfect opportunity to talk to Dyonne Niehof, chair of the Board of Directors. She answered questions about idealism and real-world agenda, as well as how MUNs play into world politics as a possible agent of change, and more.
MUNPlanet: TEIMUN is one of the MUNs in Europe with the greatest tradition. How is it like to chair the Board of Directors?
Dyonne: Well, as you can probably imagine, so far it has been a great experience. I was given the opportunity to be the chairman of an entire foundation, and to lead a group six ambitious students. During my student life I have been an active part in several committees and organizations, but this was a whole new level. TEIMUN is an organization run by students, but in the Hague, Brussels and the international community the foundation is being perceived as a professional international organization. The difference between the student life in Groningen and the working hours at our office was sometimes huge, but also very interesting.
During the past year, we experienced the craziest things. We were invited to network drinks and ceremonies where we were, without a doubt, the youngest attendants. The previous year, we had the opportunity to meet ministers and politicians, and we even went to an event where the Dutch royal family was present. You can imagine that for 21-year-old students these situations are sometimes overwhelming; but because we were encouraged to actively network and represent our organization, we learned a lot.
MUNPlanet: The theme of this year’s TEIMUN Conference is ‘Pursuing Perpetual Peace: Ideals and Interests at War’. How does this topic resonate with the present and future of International Relations?
Dyonne: This year’s topic does not only resonate with International Relations, but with decisions that you make every day. If you would take note of it, you would probably find an example every day of a struggle between your ideals and your interests. A very simple example is the following: going to your lecture on Monday morning at 9 AM. Your ideal will probably be to pass your courses at the university with good grades, but your interest on a Monday morning around 8.30 AM might be to stay in your bed. And this is only a conflict between your own ideal and interest, imagine what the situation would be like if there would be something much larger at stake, or if other parties are involved as well.
A very clear example that resonates with International Relations is the issue of human rights and immigration. Almost every world leader advocates human rights and equality, but not all policies are directed towards these ideals. Immigration in the European Union has been a hot topic for years, since countries are reluctant to bear the costs of immigration in light of the current European crisis. The immigration issue within the EU is also a topic during this TEIMUN conference, and I am very much looking forward to see whether the delegates will be able to let their ideals prevail over their (national) interests .
“I believe that MUNs do not necessarily change the way you perceive the world, but they broaden your world. During MUN conferences we will not be able to bring everlasting peace, but we can try taking baby steps by creating awareness and facilitating an international dialogue.”
“The immigration issue within the EU is also a topic during this TEIMUN conference, and I am very much looking forward to see whether the delegates will be able to let their ideals prevail over their (national) interests.“
MUNPlanet: In what ways do you think MUNs influence the way people think of the world – I cannot help but notice that Immanuel Kant’s famous work is in the foundation of this year’s conference topic.
Dyonne: A very special feature of MUNs, and I believe TEIMUN in particular, is that you meet people from all over the world. Last year, my council discussed the issue of opium trade in Afghanistan. During the second day, we found out that one of the delegates in my council lives in Afghanistan, and that he knows people who trade opium. Not because those people are criminals, but because they need a way to survive. Suddenly this problem was not ‘just’ a global issue and something that happens far away, but it became really personal.
Representing another country encourages you to see international problems from a different perspective. This increasing mutual understanding between the delegates, since you perceive the world from a different view. For example, if you are a Dutch national, you read more or less the same newspaper every day, you look at the same (Dutch) news every day, and you talk to your (Dutch) friends about the news and about problems in the world. It is fairly ease to represent and protect these interests, because you were raised in a certain environment and with certain beliefs. But when you are encouraged to step into someone else’s shoes, you have to step out of your comfort zone and suddenly take someone else’s preferences and ideas into account. From my own experience I know that this can be quite a challenge, but if you succeed this increases your understanding of the world and will bring you closer to your fellow delegates. Therefore , I believe that MUNs do not necessarily change the way you perceive the world, but they broaden your world. During MUN conferences we will not be able to bring everlasting peace, but we can try taking baby steps by creating awareness and facilitating an international dialogue.
You can read the rest of the interview on MUNPlanet.
