Caplan, Gerald L., 1938-

Gerald Lewis Caplan, public affairs commentator and consultant, was born in 1938 and educated at the University of Toronto (B.A., 1960 ; M.A., 1961) and the University of London, where he received his PhD in African Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1977. In 1965-1966, he lectured at the University College of Rhodesia following which he was an Associate Professor at the Ontario Institute in Studies in Education from 1967 until 1977. From 1970-1977, he was Senior Adviser to and Campaign Manager for the New Democratic Party of Ontario under leader Stephen Lewis. He was Director of the CUSO-Nigeria Program (1977-1979), Canadian Director of CUSO (1979), Director, City of Toronto Health Advocacy Unit (1980-1982), Federal Secretary, New Democratic Party of Canada (1982-1984), National Campaign Manager, NDP General Election (1984), Co-chair, Government of Canada Task Force on Broadcasting Policy (1985-1986), Co-chair, Royal Commission on Learning, Ontario (1993-1995), Director of Research and Strategic Issues, Ontario NDP Party Caucus (1998-1999) and, most recently Visiting Scholar, Economic Commission for Africa and Research Associate, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University (2000). Over the course of his career, Caplan has been a syndicated columnist for the Toronto Star (1984-1993) and television commentator. He is the author of several monographs including The Elites of Barotseland, 1878-1969 : A Political History of Zambia's Western Province (1970), The Dilemma of Canadian Socialism : The C.C.F. in Ontario (1973), Just Causes : Notes of an Unrepentant Socialist (1993), Rwanda : The Preventable Genocide (1994) and principle author of the UNICEF State of the World Report (1996, 1997) in addition to numerous articles, book reviews and reports.