Oral history interview with James O. C. Jonah, 2001
Members of the Columbia University community may log in here to access this content.
Terms of Use: The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the reproduction is not to be used for any purpose other than your own private study, scholarship, or research. Any subsequent copying, downloading or distributing materials accessed by you in the Columbia University Libraries Digital Libraries Collection that are subject to copyright protection may constitute copyright infringement. In addition, Columbia University Libraries may employ technical measures to prevent any further copying, downloading, or distribution of the materials. A violation of these terms may subject you to potential liability for copyright infringement. For more information about copyright, fair use and permissions, refer to Columbia University Library’s Copyright Advisory Services at https://copyright.columbia.edu, and the Copyright & Permissions for Online Exhibitions & Digital Collections.
- Name
- Jonah, James O. C (Interviewee)
- Weiss, Thomas G. (Thomas George), 1946- (Interviewer)
- Title
- Oral history interview with James O. C. Jonah, 2001
- Abstract
- Early life: Born and raised in Sierra Leone; Suez Canal Crisis leads to interest in international politics Education: Trained in classics, Lincoln University, Joint M.A. International Relations Boston University and Harvard University; PhD Harvard University; Friedrich Fellow; Met George Padmore and Kwame Nkrumah, Career: Secretary General of Sierra Leone Independence Movement (SLIM), United Nation s, Office of Research and Collection of Information; Office of Personnel, Office of the Secretary General, and Assignments in the Middle East and Somalia. Themes: World War II; decolonization; anti-colonialism; African and black experience in the United States; Sierra Leona independence; Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld; United Nations (UN) anti-intellectualism; African nationalism; internationalism; Soviet Union and United States (U.S.) relations; relationship of G-77 and the Economic Commission of Latin America (ECLA) to U.S.; U.S. opposition to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); U.S. relations with Middle East; New International Economic Order (NIEO); global negotiations; nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) relationship to UN; international civil service; UN conferences; Secretary-General U Thant; Secretary-General Pérez de Cuéllar; Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali; UN appointments; Kassebaum amendment; UN research; Nyere Commission; end of Communism; human rights; development and security; reminiscences of Somalia coup; and U.S. relationship to U.N.
- Collection Name
- United Nations intellectual history project (UNIHP)
- Subjects
- Decolonization--History--20th century; Anti-imperialist movements--History--20th century.--Africa; African Americans--Social conditions; Nationalism--Africa; Non-governmental organizations; Sierra Leone Officials and employees; Sierra Leone Politics and government 1961-; Somalia Politics and government 1960-1991; Jonah, James O. C; United Nations Officials and employees; United Nations. Economic Commission for Latin America; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; United Nations. Secretary-General; Group of 77; United Nations History
- Format
- oral histories; sound recordings
- Genre
- Interviews
- Date
- 2001
- Note (Biographical)
- Former Under-Secretary General of Political Affairs, Former Political Advisor in the Office of the Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General for Personnel Services, and Former Sierra Leone Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- Note
- Interviewed by Thomas G. Weiss on August 30, 2001
- Note (Provenance)
- Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, Gift, 2009
- Language
- English
- Library Location
- Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Browse Location’s Digital Content - Catalog Record
- 13683937
- Also In
- Oral History Archives at Columbia
- Time-Based Media
- Time-Based Media
- Persistent URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-c7v8-zq71
- Related URLs
- Available digital content for this interview.