Nelson W. Polsby
Encyclopedia
Nelson Woolf Polsby was an American political scientist
. He specialized in the study of the United States presidency
and United States Congress
. He was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley
, and former editor of the American Political Science Review
from 1971-77.
Polsby was born in Norwich, Connecticut
, and grew up in the state. He earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University
. He earned a master's and a doctoral degree from Yale University
. He also earned a master's degree from Brown University and was awarded an Honorary masters degree from Oxford University. He taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and Wesleyan University
before moving to Berkeley in 1967; from 1988 to 1999, he was director of Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.
Polsby was the author of numerous articles on American politics and 15 books, including "Political Innovation in America" (1984), "Congress and the Presidency" (1986), and "How Congress Evolves" (2004). He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
He died February 6, 2007, in Berkeley, California
, from heart disease.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He specialized in the study of the United States presidency
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
and United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He was a professor at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and former editor of the American Political Science Review
American Political Science Review
The American Political Science Review is the flagship publication of the American Political Science Association and is the most prestigious journal in political science according to the ISI 2004 Journal Citation Report...
from 1971-77.
Polsby was born in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, and grew up in the state. He earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
. He earned a master's and a doctoral degree from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He also earned a master's degree from Brown University and was awarded an Honorary masters degree from Oxford University. He taught at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
before moving to Berkeley in 1967; from 1988 to 1999, he was director of Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies.
Institute of Governmental Studies
The Institute of Governmental Studies is an interdisciplinary organized research unit at UC Berkeley, located in Moses Hall. Founded in 1919, IGS and its affiliated centers spearhead and promote research, programs, seminars and colloquia, training, educational activities and public service in the...
Polsby was the author of numerous articles on American politics and 15 books, including "Political Innovation in America" (1984), "Congress and the Presidency" (1986), and "How Congress Evolves" (2004). He was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
He died February 6, 2007, in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, from heart disease.
External links
- New York Times obituary, Feb. 9, 2007
- Interview with Nelson Polsby, Sep. 4, 2002