Josép Colomer
Encyclopedia
Josep Maria Colomer is a Catalan-Spanish Professor of political science
. He has published theoretical and comparative studies of voting
and elections, political institutions and institutional change, in which he has used game theory
and social choice theory
for applied analyses. He is currently a Research Professor at the Higher Council for Scientific Research CSIC
, in Barcelona, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, in Washington, DC.
, forms of government, voting systems, the Spanish transition to democracy
. Colomer is author or editor of 33 books in six languages and about 200 academic articles and book chapters, including in The American Political Science Review, Electoral Studies, European Journal of Political Science, European Political Science, Journal of Theoretical Politics, Political Studies, PS: Political Science & Politics, Public Choice, Rationality and Society, as well as in the Oxford Handbook of Political Science and all major encyclopedias in the field.
Colomer is a founding member of the Spanish Political Science Association (AECPA), a life member of the American Political Science Association
(APSA) and an elected member of the Academia Europaea
. He has obtained the APSA’s Leon Weaver Award for the best paper on representation
and electoral systems; the Prat de la Riba Award of the Catalan Academy for the best book in philosophy and the social sciences in a period of five years for Great Empires, Small Nations, which was also short-listed for the first Europe Book Prize
given at the European Parliament; the biannual prize to the best book of the AECPA for Political Institutions; and the Anagrama Award for essays for Game Theory and the Transition to Democracy.
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 has published theoretical and comparative studies of voting
Voting system
A voting system or electoral system is a method by which voters make a choice between options, often in an election or on a policy referendum....
and elections, political institutions and institutional change, in which he has used game theory
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
and social choice theory
Social choice theory
Social choice theory is a theoretical framework for measuring individual interests, values, or welfares as an aggregate towards collective decision. A non-theoretical example of a collective decision is passing a set of laws under a constitution. Social choice theory dates from Condorcet's...
for applied analyses. He is currently a Research Professor at the Higher Council for Scientific Research CSIC
CSIC
The Spanish National Research Council is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe...
, in Barcelona, and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University, in Washington, DC.
Background
Josep Colomer's areas of expertise include democratizationDemocratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
, forms of government, voting systems, the Spanish transition to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
. Colomer is author or editor of 33 books in six languages and about 200 academic articles and book chapters, including in The American Political Science Review, Electoral Studies, European Journal of Political Science, European Political Science, Journal of Theoretical Politics, Political Studies, PS: Political Science & Politics, Public Choice, Rationality and Society, as well as in the Oxford Handbook of Political Science and all major encyclopedias in the field.
Colomer is a founding member of the Spanish Political Science Association (AECPA), a life member of the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
(APSA) and an elected member of the Academia Europaea
Academia Europaea
Academia Europæa is a European non-governmental scientific academy founded in 1988. Its members are scientists and scholars who collectively aim to promote learning, education and research. It publishes European Review through Cambridge Journals....
. He has obtained the APSA’s Leon Weaver Award for the best paper on representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
and electoral systems; the Prat de la Riba Award of the Catalan Academy for the best book in philosophy and the social sciences in a period of five years for Great Empires, Small Nations, which was also short-listed for the first Europe Book Prize
Europe Book Prize
The European Book Prize is a European Union literary award established in 2007, organized by the association Esprit d'Europe. It seeks to promote European values, and to contribute to European citizens' better understanding of the European Union as a cultural entity. Eligible books must have been...
given at the European Parliament; the biannual prize to the best book of the AECPA for Political Institutions; and the Anagrama Award for essays for Game Theory and the Transition to Democracy.