The Instructor's Notes offered here are intended to show how Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey can be successfully incorporated into current curricula at the university and college level. The Notes, which have been developed by top educators with expertise in each area of study, will be of special interest to faculty teaching courses in political science, sociology, American history, international relations, multicultural and African-American studies, and on the United Nations.


Ralph Bunche's Contributions to Political Science and the Study of Race and Politics, by Paula D. McClain
These Notes focus on the pioneering contributions made by Ralph Bunche to the foundation of modern-day black politics as well as to the study of race and race relations in the disciplines of political science and sociology.

Paula D. McClain is professor of political science and law at Duke University. A Howard University Ph.D., her primary research interests are in racial minority group politics, particularly inter-minority political and social competition, and urban politics, especially public policy and urban crime. Her most recent articles have appeared in the Journal of Politics, American Political Science Review, and American Politics Quarterly. Westview Press published the second edition update of her most recent book, "Can We All Get Along?": Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics, coauthored with Joseph Stewart, Jr. in early 1999. The third edition is due in early 2001.



Ralph Bunche: Civil and Human Rights, by Charles Henry
These Notes focus on Bunche's intellectual and practical contributions to the struggle for civil rights and human rights, in the domestic and global arenas. They raise several pertinent questions, including the extent to which his worldwide fame was a factor in improving the condition of African Americans as a group, and how that fame was used to promote the US democracy abroad. The Notes can be used with the film in a variety of courses but would be of particular relevance to African American and American studies, American history and international relations.

Charles Henry holds a Ph.D. in political science and is professor and chair of the Department of African American Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. He was chair of the board of directors of Amnesty International USA from 1986 to 1988. Recent works include an edited volume of Bunche's speeches and writings and a biography of Bunche. Henry was a scholar/advisor on Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.



Ralph Bunche, Government and Foreign Policy, by Ronald Walters
These Notes cover the experience of Dr. Ralph Bunche with government and his relationship to the American government and with those governments whose association comprises the unique quasi-governmental activities of the United Nations. They are relevant to the study of the foreign policy agenda of government in courses related to these two levels.

Dr. Ronald Walters is Distinguished Leadership Scholar and Director of the African American Institute in the Burn Academy of Leadership. He is also Professor in the Government and Politics Department at the University of Maryland College Park.
His most recent books are African American Leadership, (SUNY Press, 1999) and, with Cedric Johnson, Bibliography of African American Leadership: An Annotated Guide (Greenwood Press, 2000). Dr. Walters was a scholar/advisor on Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.

 

Sociology, by Troy Duster
 These notes are intended for social scientists interested in the relationship between social movements, organizational constraints, and personal biography. The social history of Ralph Bunche's professional career provides a rich source of information and gives flesh to some of the skeletal theories of social change and advocacy. Bunche helps reveal just how much "agency" there can be in a bureaucratic setting.

Troy Duster is currently Professor of Sociology at New York University and Director of the American Cultures Center a the University of California, Berkeley -- where he also holds the position of Chancellor's Professor of Sociology. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He is the former Director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change at the University of California, Berkeley. His books and monographs include The Legislation of Morality, Aims and Control of the Universities, Backdoor to Eugenics, and Race: Essays on the Concept and its Uses in Multi-Racial and Multi-Cultural Societies. He is also the author of a number of works including articles in Politics and the Life Sciences, The Genetic Frontier: Ethics, Law and Policy, and DNA and Crime: Applications of Molecular Biology in Forensics.

 

Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping, by W. Andy Knight
These Notes suggest ways in which instructors can utilize Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey in teaching courses in political science. Such courses include: international relations, international organization, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and multilateralism courses. The Notes examine how Ralph Bunche attempted to put political theory into practice in conflict resolution and peacekeeping.

Dr. W. Andy Knight is professor of international relations in the Political Science Department at the University of Alberta. He has written extensively on the United Nations and conflict resolution. His latest publications include: Adapting the United Nations to a Postmodern Era: Lessons Learned (Macmillan/Palgrave 2001); A Changing United Nations: Multilateral Evolution and the Quest for Global Governance (Macmillan/Palgrave, 2000); and United Nations and Arms Embargoes Verification (Mellen Press, 1998). Professor Knight is currently editor of Global Governance Journal and is past Vice Chair of the Academic Council on the United Nations System.



Ralph Bunche, International Civil Servant, by Benjamin Rivlin
These Notes focus on the role Ralph Bunche played in various capacities during his 25 years of service at the United Nations. They were prepared for instructors interested in using Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey to enhance their presentation in courses on the United Nations and international organizations.

Benjamin Rivlin is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute on the United Nations at the City University of New York, Graduate School and University Center. He worked with Bunche in the Office of Strategic Sevices (Research and Analysis Branch, Africa Section) and the United Nations Trusteeship Department. He is the author of Ralph Bunche: The Man and His Times, The United Nations and the Italian Colonies, and co-authored The Contemporary Middle East: Tradition and Innovation. He was a scholar/advisor on Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey.



Decolonization and Trusteeship, by Dr. W. Ofuatey-Kodjoe
These notes are intended to suggest ways in which the videotape Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey may be used to explore some of the issues that Ralph Bunche dealt with in his life. Some of the issues that preoccupied Ralph Bunche were racism, imperialism, colonialism, colonial administration, African culture, the League of Nations mandates systems and the UN Trusteeships System. Each section of the notes introduces a concept of relevance to the videotape, followed by a number of talking points, and a short list of references.

Dr. W. Ofuatey-Kodjoe is Professor of Political Science at Queens College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY). He is also the Executive Officer of the Ph.D. Program in Political Science at CUNY, and the Director of the Fellowship Program at the Ralph Bunche Institute on the United Nations.
Professor Ofuatey-Kodjoe holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Swarthmore College, and an M.I.A., Ph.D. and Certificate in African Studies all from Columbia University. He has served as Director of the Africana Studies and Research Institute at Queens College (1973-1982). His publications include The Principle of Self-Determination in International Law (Nellen, 1977), and Pan-Africanism: New Directions in Strategy (University Press of America, 1985).