Guillermo O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Guillermo O'Donnell was a prominent Argentine political scientist, named the Helen Kellogg Professor of Government and International Studies at the University of Notre Dame
in the United States. His brother, Pacho O'Donnell
, is a well-known politician and writer.
. He studied law at the University of Buenos Aires
and became a lawyer in 1958, aged 22. He went on to earn his master's degree (1971) and Ph.D in political science (1981) from Yale University
. He later served as president of the International Political Science Association
from 1988 to 1991. O'Donnell became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1995. He was a member of the scientific committee of Fundación IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think-tank.
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in the United States. His brother, Pacho O'Donnell
Pacho O'Donnell
Mario O'Donnell , best known as Pacho O'Donnell, is an Argentine writer, politician and physician who specializes in psychoanalysis....
, is a well-known politician and writer.
Biography
O'Donnell was born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He studied law at the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
and became a lawyer in 1958, aged 22. He went on to earn his master's degree (1971) and Ph.D in political science (1981) 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 later served as president of the International Political Science Association
International Political Science Association
The International Political Science Association , founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1949, is an international scholarly association. IPSA is devoted to the advancement of political science in all parts of the world...
from 1988 to 1991. O'Donnell became a member 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...
in 1995. He was a member of the scientific committee of Fundación IDEAS, Spain's Socialist Party's think-tank.
Academic Work
Most important among his theoretical contributions to political science is his work on the 'bureaucratic-authoritarian state' and on theories of democracy and the characteristics of the process of democratic transition, through the development of concepts such as "horizontal accountability", "micro democracy" and "delegative democracy".Death
He died in his native Buenos Aires at the age of 75 on 29 November 2011 after a four month battle with cancer.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)
Awards
- In 2006, O'Donnell was the first ever recipient of the Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the International Political Science AssociationInternational Political Science AssociationThe International Political Science Association , founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1949, is an international scholarly association. IPSA is devoted to the advancement of political science in all parts of the world...
(IPSA). - In 2003, O'Donnell received the Kalman Silvert Award for lifetime contribution to the study of Latin America, the highest honor of the Latin American Studies AssociationLatin American Studies AssociationThe Latin American Studies Association is the largest association for scholars of Latin American studies. Founded in 1966, it has over 6,000 members, forty-five percent of whom reside outside the United States, LASA brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse...
.