Maurice Duverger (1917-2014): Evaluating the Contributions of a Political Science Giant

Abstract

Maurice Duverger died at age 97 in 2014. One of the major figures in twentieth century political science, he made seminal contributions in areas such as the structure of party organization, the impact of electoral laws, and the analysis of forms of constitutional structure, especially the nature of the executive, as well as contributing to the scientific study of legal systems. His work is critical in the development of the art and science of political engineering. While many scholars whose most important work was done decades ago have found their visibility and reputation fading, Duverger internationally has experienced a renaissance, with Duverger's Law of electoral systems now widely recognized as one of the handful of findings about politics that has demonstrated both continued empirical applicability and strong theoretical underpinnings, earning its labeling as a "law." In this panel we mainly look at one aspect of the Duverger's work, the electoral systems and their effects, to better understand his ideas and their lasting influence, while also appreciating the way in which newer scholarship has led to significant amendments to his original formulations.

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