Kerala Minister P.K. Shaji urged students at the GDSMUN event to engage in debates for dialogue rather than victory [1].
The call for a shift in perspective highlights a broader effort to move student diplomacy away from adversarial competition and toward mutual understanding. By emphasizing inclusivity, the minister aims to foster a generation of leaders who value consensus over conquest.
During the event, Shaji spoke to the students about the purpose of diplomatic simulations. He said that the goal of such exercises should be to promote understanding and inclusivity through dialogue [1]. This approach challenges the traditional model of competitive debating, where the primary objective is often to defeat an opponent through rhetoric.
"Minister Shaji encourages students to engage in debates for understanding and inclusivity, promoting dialogue over competition," Shaji said [1].
The GDSMUN event serves as a platform for students to simulate international diplomacy. By encouraging participants to prioritize the process of communication, Shaji suggested that the true value of the simulation lies in the ability to bridge differences, not in winning an argument.
This emphasis on cooperation reflects a desire to cultivate soft skills in the youth of Kerala. Shaji said that the ability to listen and integrate diverse perspectives is more critical for future governance than the ability to win a structured debate [1].
“debate for dialogue, not victory”
This shift in educational rhetoric suggests a move toward 'collaborative diplomacy' in student forums. By decoupling the act of debating from the requirement of winning, the initiative seeks to reduce polarization among youth and mirror real-world diplomatic needs where compromise is more valuable than a total victory.
