Guillermo O'Donnell In Memoriam (1936-2011)

 

Guillermo O'Donnell In Memoriam (1936-2011)

We are saddened to announce the passing of a beloved friend, colleague, past IPSA president and scholar, Professor Guillermo O’Donnell.

Professor O’Donnell was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied law at the University of Buenos Aires and in 1958, at the age of 22, he became a lawyer. Mr. O’Donnell went on to earn his master’s degree (1971) and PhD in political science (1981) from Yale University.

Guillermo O'Donnell published extensively on authoritarianism, democratization, and democratic theory. His books include Modernization and Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism, Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism, A Democracia no Brasil, Transitions from Authoritarian Rule, Development and the Art of Tresspassing, Issues in Democratic Consolidation, and Poverty and Inequality in Latin America. In 1999 he published Counterpoints, Selected Essays on Authoritarianism and Democratization, and The (UN) Rule of Law and New Democracies in Latin America (co-edited). Both were published by the University of Notre Dame Press. At the same time he continued to work on a book he was preparing on new democratic theory and new democracies. Guillermo O’Donnell served as academic director of the University of Notre Dame’s Kellogg Institute for International Studies. He was also president of IPSA (1988-1991), a fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study, and a visiting professor at the University of California (Berkeley), the University Michigan (Ann Arbor) and the University of São Paulo. As well, he served as director of CEDES (Argentina) and senior researcher at IUPERJ and CEBRAP (Brazil). In 1995 he was named Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In 2003, Professor O’Donnell received the Kalman Silvert Award for lifetime contribution to the study of Latin America, the highest distinction awarded by the Latin American Studies Association. In 2006, Mr. O’Donnell became the first ever recipient of IPSA Prize for Lifetime Achievement (see photo: Lourdes Sola presents the Mattei Dogan Foundation Prize to Guillermo O’Donnell).

His most important theoretical contributions to political science include his work on the bureaucratic-authoritarian state and on theories of democracy and characteristics of democratic transition. By developing concepts such as “horizontal accountability,” “micro democracy,” and “delegative democracy,” Professor O’Donnell was able to bring a unique perspective to bear on these subjects.

Guillermo O’Donnell died in his hometown of Buenos Aires on November 29, 2011. He leaves behind a loving wife, Gabriela, and three children (Santiago, Julia and Maria) as well as many friends and admirers.

Selected Publications
The Quality of Democracy: Theory and Applications (2004)
Desarrollo Humano y Ciudadanía: Reflexiones sobre la Calidad de la Democracia en América Latina (2003)
 Counterpoints: Selected Essays on Authoritarianism and Democratization (1999)
 The (Un)Rule of Law and the Underprivileged in Latin America (1999)
A Democracia no Brasil (1988)
Bureaucratic Authoritarianism: Argentina 1966-1973 in Comparative Perspective (1986)
Transitions from Authoritarian Rule (1986)
 Poverty and Inequality in Latin America (1988)
 Development and the Art of Trespassing (1986)
 Issues in Democratic Consolidation (1982)

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