Imperial Historical Committee
Unlike most of the other committees in CACMUN, the Imperial Era (IHC) committee is not an official UN committee where real individuals, institutions and governments participate, but rather a committee based on the one taken forward in the Harvard Model UN (HMUN) during the 80s up until the 90s called the Historical Committee, with the intention of allowing debaters to participate in pivotal historical events worldwide which had effects that are still seen today in order to build new perspectives of decision making, based on the previously established by such historical figures and nations. The original committee in HMUN in 1980 aimed to make students apply diplomacy and negotiations while adapting to a different time period within historical contexts, adding an analytic and strategic dimension not only to the debate but to the whole model. During its early years the committee embarked political and economical distress during events such as both World Wars, the Cold War and the League of Nations, representing delegations, presidents, emperors and even kings. Now, 45 years later, this unique committee has become a staple in MUN conferences all throughout the globe, including our very own CACMUN, inspiring different committees such as this one, the Imperial Era (IHC) committee.
Description of the committee and topic details
Topic A (The Franco-Prussian War): The 1870 war between the French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia ended in a decisive Prussian victory and the capture of Napoleon III, shifting the balance of power and leading to the unification of Germany.
Topic B The Great Game (Afghanistan) (The 1885 Panjdeh Incident):
During the era of the Great Game, characterised by imperial rivalry between Britain and Russia over Central Asia, the Panjdeh Incident of 1885 marked a critical turning point in Anglo-Russian relations over Afghanistan. Occurring at Panjdeh, near the borders between Russia and Afghanistan, it represented a direct confrontation between Russian expansionist forces and Afghan troops backed by British interests protecting India's northwestern approaches. Russian troops under General Komarov stormed the Afghan garrison, killing hundreds and seizing the oasis, an act Britain viewed as a violation of the ongoing boundary negotiations at the time. The incident proved deeply controversial, seeing as Russia justified its actions as a response to Afghan provocation, while Britain accused it of aggressive imperial expansion and threatening India's security. Consequently, the British Parliament faced controversy when deciding whether to honour previous, defensive agreements with Afghanistan. Any failure to resolve the crisis diplomatically risked igniting a full-scale conflict between the two imperial powers.