"A Waterway at War": The Suez Canal Crisis, 1956 — United Nations Security Council

Background Guide coming soon!





About the Committee

The sands of the Sinai are shifting, and the ""artery of empire"" has been severed. In a defiant roar from Alexandria, President Gamal Abdel Nasser has nationalized the Suez Canal, reclaiming for Egypt the rightful property of its people. For decades, this narrow strip of water has been the vital link between West and East and a symbol of European influence in the Middle East. Now, that link has been seized with the stroke of a pen, leaving the world reeling in disbelief. In London and Paris, the atmosphere is one of outrage and desperation. To the British, the canal is the lifeline of their dwindling empire and a crucial conduit for oil, a necessary resource in a rapidly-modernizing world. To the French, Nasser’s defiance fans the flames of rebellion already spreading across North Africa. The colonial powers are at a crossroads: do they accept a new world order where sovereignty belongs to the post-colonial state, or do they strike back to preserve the remnants of their global dominance? The world watches as the shadow of the Cold War looms over Egypt. Washington counsels restraint, fearful that war will drive the Arab world into the waiting arms of the Soviet Union, while Moscow senses an opportunity to dismantle Western influence. The United Nations serves as a potential arbiter of a peaceful resolution, but calls for cooperation are met with Cairo’s unwavering demand for total independence. The clock is ticking, and the fragile peace of the post-war era nears its breaking point. As delegates in this emergency session of the UNSC, you face a world in transition. Will you champion liberation and the right of a sovereign state to control its resources? Or will you defend the sanctity of international treaties and the stability of global commerce? In this committee, you will navigate a labyrinth of secret alliances, economic pressures, and mounting military threats. In the meantime, the currents of history pull you toward an uncertain horizon. Welcome to the Suez Canal Crisis, 1956.


Meet the Dais


Luna Nefeli

Chair

Hi, my name is Luna Valayannopoulos, and I am thrilled to serve as your chair for UNSC alongside our super cool CD Patrick for a weekend of good vibes, plot-twists, and surprises. We really can’t wait to see what you come up with!

A little bit about me. I am senior in the SciencePo Paris x UC Berkeley program currently double majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. I just came back from a semester in Washington DC, so if we haven't gotten the chance to meet on the circuit this year hiiii! and super excited to be back for the best conference of the year (DUH!). Over the past year and a half I've had the chance to chair and compete on the circuit in both crisis and GA committees, but nothing compares to a UNSC. As stressful and intense as it can be, it's an environment I always find myself coming back to. Outside of school, I love anything to do with the outdoors, especially sailing, surfing, and long walks. Anyone that knows me will also tell you how much I love to talk about my home country France, so if you have any questions/comments please come chat.

More seriously though, I can confidently say that our staff is working incredibly hard to make this the best conference yet. I hope you all enjoy this committee as much as Patrick and I have enjoyed putting it together.

Can't wait to meet you all soon!

Best,
Luna Nefeli
Chair, "A Waterway at War": The Suez Canal Crisis, 1956 — United Nations Security Council


Patrick Bennett

Crisis Director

My name is Patrick and I'm a third-year student studying Civil Engineering and Business Administration in the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) program here at UC Berkeley. While my main academic interests involve engineering and entrepreneurship, I'm also interested in constitutional and environmental law, education, climate policy, and cinematography. Outside of school, you can find me running in the Berkeley hills, woodworking in my parents' garage, or at a local art museum. This is my third year as part of UCBMUN, and I couldn’t be more grateful for my journey. I currently serve as Co-President of UC Berkeley Model UN (the travel team, not the conference), and in previous semesters served as New Member Trainer and Secretary-General of BearMUN, our high school conference. Staffing committees have always been my favorite part of the world of MUN, and I’m excited to bring this UNSC to life as your Crisis Director! Last year during UCBMUN XXX, I served as Coordinating Crisis Director for our Joint Crisis Committee - Violent Delights, Violent Ends: Romeo and Juliet. While this UNSC takes a more historical turn than the JCC, Luna and I can’t wait to bring the same mix of challenging debate and creative energy to this committee.

Best,
Patrick Bennett
Crisis Director, "A Waterway at War": The Suez Canal Crisis, 1956 — United Nations Security Council