Council of Catherine the Great, 1760s
Intermediate, Single Delegate
It is immediately after the coup of 1762. Empress Catherine (formerly Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst) is now sitting on the Russian throne – well, after adjusting the cushion first of course – after her not-so-dearly-beloved husband, Peter III, was overthrown with the help of the Imperial Guard, a few discreet letters, and a whole lot of vodka-fueled scheming. Peter is… indisposed. The court is buzzing with rumours (and conspiracies, after all, this is Russia), foreign ambassadors are already sniffing for advantage, and nobles are wondering which way the wind will blow, literally and politically.
The empire is vast, fractious, and perilously close to chaos. Peasants are restless, the military is divided, the treasury is empty(again), and the Enlightenment ideas swirling through Europe are causing more than a few headaches in St. Petersburg. Oh, and you may want to keep an eye on the guards outside, loyalty is very fluid right now.
Your task? Consolidate power, charm(or crush) your rivals, survive assassination plots, keep the empire from falling apart, and maybe find the time for a lavish masquerade ball worthy of the title “The Great.” Catherine may be “Great,” but the next few years will determine whether she stays that way or ends up as a cautionary footnote in Russian history.
Meet Your Dias
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Hello Delegates!
My name is Genevieve Stubblefield (she/her) and I am honored to be the Chair for the “Catherine the GOAT” Crisis Committee. Other than brief mentions in history classes, I did not know much about Catherine until I watched the TV show “The Great” and proceeded to read a bunch of books about her. What a fascinating and multi faceted historical figure!
I am a junior from Arcata, CA (six hours north of the bay!), majoring in political science and psychology. Joining UCBMUN last semester was my first experience with Model UN, although I did speech and debate in high school. It has been a wonderful and welcoming community, and a great way to continue honing research, collaboration and leadership skills.
Outside of MUN, I enjoy going to concerts at UC Berkeley’s beautiful Greek Theater (I'm getting to see Ethel Cain in August!!!), traveling, dancing, cooking for my roommates, and reading a LOT. A lifetime love of reading and interest in history (and the infectious enthusiasm of our lovely USG Karis & CD Tanya) was what drew me to this committee. Majoring in political science and psychology has made me very interested in how a combination of practical reason and strong human emotion can change the course of history.
Politics, society, love, pride, and human nature are so strongly related, and I cannot imagine a more fun setting to explore this than Catherine’s Russia. Be bold and have fun in a committee designed to be just as chaotic as the time period it's based on!
I sincerely hope you have just as much fun in this committee as we had making it.
Best,
Genevieve Stubblefield, Chair
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My name is Eman Umer, and I’m excited to be your chair for Chatherine the GOAT. I’m a rising sophomore at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Political Science and Philosophy. I joined UCBMUN just last semester, and I’m incredibly excited to see what this committee brings to BearMUN!
UCBMUN drew me in with its fast-paced energy, creativity, and space for both chaos and collaboration, which are qualities I’m sure that this committee will highlight. Whether you choose to craft backdoor alliances, deliver impassioned speeches, or orchestrate a coup or two, I cannot wait to see the story you create.
This committee was designed to push boundaries. You’ll have the chance to draft resolutions, plot dramatic twists, negotiate secret deals, and reshape the committee’s direction, so don’t be afraid to take risks and make bold choices. You’ll find that the best crises aren’t always the loudest; they’re the smartest, strangest, and most unexpected.
Beyond my academics, I love traveling (I am writing this from my hotel in Canada currently), reading (I just finished The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain), and spending time with my cat (who has a talent for sitting on my laptop at the worst possible times). I’m also always down for a good debate, a new book recommendation, or philosophical rabbit holes that no one asked for.
I truly cannot wait to see the energy, creativity, and strategy you bring to this room. Make it bold. Make it messy. Make it yours.
See you soon,
Eman Umer, Chair
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Dear Delegates,
My name is Tanya Anand, and I will be your Crisis Director for Catherine the GOAT! I am a sophomore at UC Berkeley majoring in Global Management at the Haas School of Business and double majoring in Global Studies, concentrating in Peace and Conflict in the Middle East & North Africa. I’m thrilled to help bring this committee to life and make it one of the highlights of your BearMUN weekend!I began MUN in my freshman year of high school, and six years later, I’m still hooked. In addition to serving as your Crisis Director, I am also your Director of Technology for this conference. I truly love the creative chaos and collaboration that MUN offers, and I can’t wait to see what you'll bring to this very unique committee.
Catherine the GOAT was born from a binge-watch of The Great (highly recommend) and fan-girling over it with your incredible USG, Karis, but our version will blend that same witty, irreverent spirit with stronger roots in actual history. The coup has just happened, Catherine’s throne is newly won, and the court is a swirling mix of scheming nobles, foreign intrigue, and questionable alliances. The stage is set, but the story is yours to shape.
Outside of MUN, I love to travel (I grew up in 11 different countries), play tennis, follow Formula 1 (and anything car-related), throw pottery, and curate an ever-expanding playlist collection (all-time favorites include The Weeknd, Arijit Singh, and Anirudh Ravichander).
I can’t wait to see what drama, diplomacy, and delightful disasters you’ll bring to this committee. Prepare your plots, after all, in Catherine’s court, the tea is hot and the stakes are even hotter.
Looking forward to an incredible weekend!
Best,
Tanya Anand, Crisis Director