Motions
One library of motions you can prep, debate, and revisit. Pick one and write a case in five minutes. If you want to read more about what makes a good motion, head over to the blog.
This week's picks
THBT the internationalisation of intellectual property law brings more harm than good
Set at WUDC 2023 in Madrid. IP law internationalisation — primarily through TRIPS and bilateral trade agreements — had been a major point of contention between developed and develo...
THBT it is in the interest of the Catholic Church to officially recognize Folk Saints
Set at WUDC 2021 in Seoul. Folk Saints — locally venerated figures never formally canonized — are widespread across Latin America, the Philippines, and parts of Africa. The motion...
TH supports the rise of language-generating AI
Set at WUDC 2021 in Seoul, a full year before ChatGPT launched and transformed public discourse on AI. Teams debated a technology most people had not experienced firsthand.
THBT social media companies should be legally liable for misinformation on their platforms
THBT developing nations should prioritize economic growth over environmental protection
THBT the feminist movement should actively support sex workers' rights
THW ban private schools
THW allow prisoners to choose the death penalty over life imprisonment
THBT the use of AI-generated content should be banned in education
THBT countries should open their borders to all immigrants
THBT whistleblowers should be granted unconditional legal immunity
THW require companies to have employee representation on boards
THBT cultural artifacts should be returned to their countries of origin
THBT space exploration funding should be redirected to solving problems on Earth
THBT professional athletes should not be allowed to endorse political candidates
THBT the United Nations Security Council veto power should be abolished
THBT parents should be held legally responsible for their children's actions
THBT religious organizations should lose tax-exempt status
THBT the EU should create a standing army independent of NATO
THBT the US should formally recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan
THS western nations engaging in gay rights diplomacy
THR the adoption of the Responsibility to Protect
THS Western universities terminating Confucius Institutes on their campuses
THBT Taiwan should pursue friendlier ties with mainland China
THBT developing countries should heavily invest in sovereign wealth funds
THBT microfinance organizations in the developing world should offer loans exclusively to women
THBT tuition and related expenses in state universities should be free
THS the US issuing guest worker visas under which minimum wages don't apply
THP a world where media streaming platforms do not tailor suggestions based on user data
THBT the use of movies and TV shows to depict historical events has done more harm than good
THP a world in which significantly more women are cast in villain roles in media
THP narratives that one's career should aim to do good in the world over narratives of personal fulfillment
THO the narrative that parents should prioritize the interests of their children over their own