Tri-Continental Conference

Background Guide


From January 3rd to 18th, 1966, over 500 leaders of revolutionary movements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America attended the Tri–Continental Conference in Havana, Cuba. For the first time, the countries of the Global South were united to focus on issues of anti–colonialism and anti–imperialism. The conference attendees connected over their shared struggles for liberation in the context of the global wave of decolonization movements. It was radical in its approach of rejecting capitalism and the interference of the United States in communist nations, as well as in its message of international revolution with socialist motivations. Many African and Asian countries had recently gained independence or were still fighting against their colonizers, while many Latin American countries experienced changing governments and new political movements. The issues discussed in the conference are ones that continue to affect former colonial states into the present. While new political organizations and economic proposals were created, some Latin American countries had unsuccessful revolutions and some African countries struggled to gain independence. As delegates, the future of revolution is in your hands. Let's write the future.


Vishwaa Sofat

Chair

Vishwaa (he/him/his) is a junior from New York City, double majoring in Political Science and STS with a Public Policy minor. Having participated in Model UN throughout high school, MUN holds a special place in his heart and he is honored to be serving as the President of UC Berkeley Model United Nations this year. He values the opportunity to learn about new issues, recognize how imperfect our world is, and work collectively with other delegates towards a solution—perhaps not always a perfect one. Alongside Model UN, he runs his own civics initiative, is involved in research on campus, and writes for the Daily Californian. In his free time, you can find him bantering over how the East Coast is the superior coast, playing soccer with friends, or in line waiting to order from Yogurt Park. Vishwaa is looking forward to the conference and providing delegates in Tricontinental Conference, 1966, with plenty of unforgettable memories!

Best,
Vishwaa Sofat
Chair, Tri-Continental Conference

Harsh Kumbhat

Chair

Harsh Kumbhat (he/him/his) is a sophomore studying film and creative writing at Cal! Harsh has always wanted to become an artist of some sort, and wants to use his work to cause and inform political change. On any given day, you can find this film nerd scribbling away in his little notebook, coming up with half–baked script ideas, writing terrible short stories and even worse poetry. Harsh is an international student and spent all his life in India. Having grown up in Kolkata, where one is always engulfed in local culture, he’s interested in a plethora of other things. From cooking and eating new types of food to performing stand–up comedy and writing satire—and of course, competing at Model UN conferences—Harsh dabbles in a little bit of everything. Most of the time though, you can probably find him snuggled up in bed, watching a sappy rom–com (500 Days of Summer crushes him to this day). Harsh is extremely excited for this edition of BearMUN and hopes to make it an unforgettable experience for all attending!

Best,
Harsh Kumbhat
Chair, Tri-Continental Conference