American political scientists : a dictionary /

This unique guide to prominent US political scientists illustrates the historical development of political science, an increasingly subdivided field involving various research methodologies. The essays, one to three pages long, written by 83 contributors, focus more on theory than biography. The first edition (CH, Nov'94) provided biographical essays concerning 171 persons who worked primarily in the US from the late 19th century to 1970. The new edition includes the previous essays but updates essays for 86 subjects who continued to contribute to the profession, and it adds 22 new persons who reflect more recent directions and controversies in research. Those chosen were based on reputation, an examination of recent journals, and the theoretical significance of their publications. The new edition includes presidents of the American Political Science Association and winners of APSA publishing awards since 1993. Recognizing the lack of women and minorities in the earlier edition, the editors attempt to demonstrate the demographic diversity that now exists in the field. Indexes include degree-granting institutions, subfields, subjects, names, and book titles. Each essay includes a bibliography, and the editors provide a brief, selected bibliography on the history and nature of political science. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. College, university, and public libraries. D. A. Lincove Ohio State University

Utter and Lockhart, two established political scientists in their own right, focus on the theoretical contributions of 171 political scientists who represent the origins and early years of the academic discipline, as well as the contemporary period. Extant reputational studies, citation studies, and expert advice contributed to the selection of scholars for inclusion. The contributors of the signed entries come from diverse universities. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order. Averaging approximately two to three pages in length, they focus on the main themes, theories, and major works by each scholar and list the most important publications by and about the individual. Appendixes list the political scientists by the universities where they got their Ph.D.s and by major field (comparative politics, electoral behavior and public opinion, formal or positive theory, etc.). A selected bibliography includes sources dealing with the history and nature of the discipline of political science. It should be noted that biographies are not complete. Personal information on a scholar's education or career, for example, is not included. Contributors emphasize the main ideas in each scholar's work and trace sustained research, scholarship, and public service. Utter and Lockhart have succeeded in providing a reliable and comprehensive overview of political scientists of record. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1993)