Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies
The Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, engages in research, graduate training, and public education in the fields of international studies and contemporary global problem-solving. Originally founded in 1973 as the Ralph Bunche Institute on the United Nations in honor of the Nobel Prize-winning diplomat and scholar, it was renamed in 2001 and given a broader interdisciplinary mandate to support and strengthen international studies at the Graduate Center. The Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies aims to provide a congenial setting for activities initiated by faculty, students, and visiting scholars with a wide variety of research interests in international topics.
Located minutes from UN headquarters in mid-town Manhattan, the institute draws not only on the distinguished faculty of The City University of New York and other universities and colleges in the metropolitan area and worldwide, but also on analysts, policymakers, and practitioners. The Institute houses a number of projects that seek to improve the scholarly and public understanding of international affairs and to contribute to solving international problems. It also hosts visiting scholars and graduate students from around the world who wish to take advantage of the institute’s unusual access to international organizations and expertise.
Our Centers
Recent Projects
Since 2001 the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies has hosted, organized, and carried out a range of projects on a variety of different topics.


Podcast
International Horizons
International Horizons is a podcast of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies that brings scholarly expertise to bear on our understanding of international issues. The podcast brings the Institute's research and scholarship to a broader public.
Latest Podcast EpisodesUpcoming Events
Recent News
Mar 2, 2023
How to Manage Polarization? Cultures of Compromise in Comparison
Apply to take part in a Ph.D. student workshop with German students on countering polarization with cultures of compromise at the Graduate Center, July 11-13, 2023. Accepted students will receive funded travel to Germany in 2024.
- Community Message
Jan 12, 2023
Catch These Shows Before They Close
Museum and gallery exhibitions across New York showcase the work of Graduate Center scholars.
- GC Stories
- Faculty News
Dec 12, 2022
Is China's Communist Party threatened by the Protests?
Professor William Hurst, University of Cambridge, discusses the recent protests in China and what they mean for the Chinese Communist Party.
- Podcast
Dec 5, 2022
Protests in Iran: Maybe Not the Tocqueville Paradox
Professor Ali Ansari of the University of St. Andrews discusses the protests in Iran, the interplay between state and religion, and how Iran relates to other authoritarian regimes on International Horizons.
- Podcast