Colonialism during the Age of Exploitation shaped modern history and indeed current political climates. The invasion, destruction, and exploitation of communities around the world leaves marks that are still felt today; colonial powers systematically stripped nations of their natural resources, wiped out thousands of years of culture and knowledge, and instituted oppressive and exploitative systems, the legacy of which sets the foundation of modern conflicts.

 

In recent decades, the number of armed political conflicts have been on the rise. Be it civil, international, regional, or intercontinental, said conflicts find their roots in post-colonial stress and lie at the intersection of humanitarian, political, historical, and economic concerns. Additionally, with more frequent appeals to populism in governance and the repercussions of climate change impacting the most vulnerable nations and peoples, the future of humankind and the stability of societies around the world seem more uncertain than ever. As such, progress thus requires compromise and cooperation while taking into account factors including climate change, religious precedents, and economic implications; doing such is most certainly a challenging task, but a necessary one in order to forge a brighter future for the next generations. We hope that all attendees of this year's iteration of SASMUN will consider the global shifts we are facing when drafting resolutions to cooperate through conflict and forge the future.