Ralph Bunche

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Ralph Bunche
Born	Ralph Johnson Bunche August 7, 1904 Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died	December 9, 1971(1971-12-09) (aged 67) New York City, New York, United States
Nationality	American
Alma mater	UCLA, Harvard University
Occupation	Political scientist, diplomat
Known for	Nobel Peace Prize laureate

Ralph Johnson Bunche (August 7, 1904 – December 9, 1971) was an American political scientist and diplomat who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his mediation in Israel's conflict with Arab states in the late 1940s. He was the first African American to be so honored in the history of the prize.

Early Life and Education

Ralph Bunche was born in Detroit, Michigan, and later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and then to Los Angeles, California. He attended UCLA, where he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He then earned a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Harvard University.

Career

Bunche began his career as a professor at Howard University, where he also founded the political science department. During World War II, he worked in the Office of Strategic Services and later joined the State Department.

United Nations

In 1946, Bunche joined the United Nations and was involved in the establishment of the United Nations Trusteeship Council. He played a significant role in the decolonization process and was instrumental in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nobel Peace Prize

Bunche's most notable achievement came in 1949 when he successfully mediated the Armistice Agreements between Israel and four Arab states: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. For this work, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950.

Legacy

Ralph Bunche's contributions to international diplomacy and peace have been widely recognized. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Several institutions and landmarks have been named in his honor, including the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at the City University of New York.

Related Pages

• Nobel Peace Prize
• United Nations
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Armistice Agreements (1949)
• Howard University
• Presidential Medal of Freedom