John Rensenbrink
Encyclopedia
John C. Rensenbrink is an American political scientist and a co-founder of the Green Party of the United States
. Rensenbrink along with others formed the Maine Green Party
and Green Party of the United States
in 1984.
, where he worked on his family's farm. Leaving at the age of 18, he attended Calvin College
in Michigan
, graduating with a BA in 1950. Rensenbrink earned a MA in Political Science from the University of Michigan
in 1951 and a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the University of Amsterdam from 1951-52. He completed his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago
1956. His PhD thesis was titled "Technology and Utopia: The Structuring of Freedom"
in 1956 as an assistant professor of history and international relations. Leaving Coe in 1957, he moved to Williams College
(1957–61) and eventually to Bowdoin College
in Brunswick, Maine
. He taught at Bowdoin from 1961 to 1989, except in 1963-1964. At Bowdoin, he became a full professor in 1974 and served as chair of the Department of Government from 1977–79 and 1987-89.
's nomination for the Maine State Senate. He worked as a campaign manager for two gubernatorial campaigns: Jonathan Carter
in 1994 and Pat LaMarche
in 1998. In 1996, he ran for the United States Senate
against Republican Susan Collins
and Democrat Joe Brennan. He finished in third place, receiving 23,441 votes (3.9%) as the Maine Green Party
's nominee.
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
. Rensenbrink along with others formed the Maine Green Party
Maine Green Independent Party
The Maine Green Independent Party is the oldest state Green party in the United States. It was founded following an informal meeting of 18 environmental advocates, including Bowdoin College professor John Rensenbrink and others in Augusta, Maine...
and Green Party of the United States
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
in 1984.
Early life and education
Rensenbrink was born in 1928 in rural MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, where he worked on his family's farm. Leaving at the age of 18, he attended Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, graduating with a BA in 1950. Rensenbrink earned a MA in Political Science from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1951 and a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the University of Amsterdam from 1951-52. He completed his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
1956. His PhD thesis was titled "Technology and Utopia: The Structuring of Freedom"
Academic career
Rensenbrink began teaching at Coe CollegeCoe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
in 1956 as an assistant professor of history and international relations. Leaving Coe in 1957, he moved to Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
(1957–61) and eventually to Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
in Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
. He taught at Bowdoin from 1961 to 1989, except in 1963-1964. At Bowdoin, he became a full professor in 1974 and served as chair of the Department of Government from 1977–79 and 1987-89.
Political career
In both 1976 and 1978, Rensenbrink unsuccessfully sought the Maine Democratic PartyMaine Democratic Party
The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S...
's nomination for the Maine State Senate. He worked as a campaign manager for two gubernatorial campaigns: Jonathan Carter
Jonathan Carter (politician)
Jonathan Carter is an American politician, environmentalist, teacher and scientist who has run twice for governor of Maine as a Green Independent. In 1992, Carter ran for Congress in Maine's 2nd congressional district. This campaign was not designed to educate the public and to establish a green...
in 1994 and Pat LaMarche
Pat LaMarche
Patricia Helen "Pat" LaMarche is an American political figure and activist with the Green Party; she was the party's vice-presidential candidate in the 2004 U.S...
in 1998. In 1996, he ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate election in Maine, 1996
The 1996 United States Senate election in Maine was held November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator William Cohen decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Republican Susan Collins won the open seat.-Results:-See also:...
against Republican Susan Collins
Susan Collins
Susan Margaret Collins is the junior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1996, she is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs...
and Democrat Joe Brennan. He finished in third place, receiving 23,441 votes (3.9%) as the Maine Green Party
Maine Green Independent Party
The Maine Green Independent Party is the oldest state Green party in the United States. It was founded following an informal meeting of 18 environmental advocates, including Bowdoin College professor John Rensenbrink and others in Augusta, Maine...
's nominee.
Bibiliography
- Poland Challenges a Divided World, Louisiana State University Press, 1988
- The Greens and the Politics of Transformation, Preface by Jay Walljasper R&E Miles Publishers, 1992
- Against All Odds, the Green Transformation of American Politics, foreword by Ralph NaderRalph NaderRalph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
, Leopold Press 1999. .