Thomas Nossiter
Encyclopedia
Thomas Johnson Nossiter (Tom Nossiter) (December 24, 1937 in Stockton-on-Tees
– January 12, 2004) was Professor of Government at the London School of Economics
from 1989 until 1994.
He was educated at Stockton Grammar School.
He did National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals
between 1956-58.
Nossiter completed his higher education at the University of Oxford
, as an undergraduate at Exeter College
and a graduate at Nuffield
. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Arts
, Master of Arts
, and Doctor of Philosophy
. His thesis, completed under the auspices of the Faculty of Modern History and submitted in 1968, was entitled, Elections and political behaviour in County Durham
and Newcastle
, 1832-74.
.
In 1964 he was appointed Lecturer in Social Studies
at the University of Leeds
. He continued to live in Leeds
throughout the time during which he was working in London
.
He was first appointed to the London School of Economics
in 1973 and for more than twenty years he taught an entire generation of students in the Government
department.
He went on to hold the positions of
In 1991 he was appointed an Honorary Citizen of Trá Lí (Tralee), Contae Chiarraí (County Kerry)
in recognition of his endeavours in the field.
His obituary noted notes that "he had touched thousands of lives in rural India
".
In 1999 he was elected a Councillor on Leeds City Council
for the Liberal Democrats
, although he resigned after only six months in office.
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
– January 12, 2004) was Professor of Government at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1989 until 1994.
Early life
Nossiter was the son of Alfred and Margaret (née Hume) Nossiter.He was educated at Stockton Grammar School.
He did National Service in the Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
between 1956-58.
Nossiter completed his higher education at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, as an undergraduate at Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
and a graduate at Nuffield
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
, and Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
. His thesis, completed under the auspices of the Faculty of Modern History and submitted in 1968, was entitled, Elections and political behaviour in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, 1832-74.
Academic career
For the rest of his life Nossiter studied and lectured in political sociologyPolitical sociology
Contemporary political sociology involves much more than the study of the relations between state and society . Where a typical research question in political sociology might have been: "Why do so few American citizens choose to vote?" or even, "What difference does it make if women get elected?" ...
.
In 1964 he was appointed Lecturer in Social Studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. He continued to live in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
throughout the time during which he was working in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He was first appointed to the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1973 and for more than twenty years he taught an entire generation of students in the Government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
department.
He went on to hold the positions of
- Senior Lecturer (1977-83)
- Chairman of Examiners University of London External ProgrammeUniversity of London External ProgrammeThe University of London International Programmes is a division of the University of London that manages external study programmes.Several colleges and institutes of the University of London offer degrees through the programme, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of...
BScBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(1980) - Chairman of the Working Party on Revision of the ExternalUniversity of London External ProgrammeThe University of London International Programmes is a division of the University of London that manages external study programmes.Several colleges and institutes of the University of London offer degrees through the programme, including Birkbeck, Goldsmiths, Heythrop College, Institute of...
BScBachelor of ScienceA Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(1983) - ReaderReader (academic rank)The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
(1983-87), Chairman of the Board of Studies in Economics (1984-85) - Dean of the Graduate School (1986-89), Academic Governor (1988-92)
- Professor of Government (1989-94)
- Professor Emeritus (appointed for life in 1996)
Other aspects of his life
Nossiter was a passionate advocate of adult education, both at home and further afield.In 1991 he was appointed an Honorary Citizen of Trá Lí (Tralee), Contae Chiarraí (County Kerry)
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
in recognition of his endeavours in the field.
His obituary noted notes that "he had touched thousands of lives in rural India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
".
In 1999 he was elected a Councillor on Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council
Leeds City Council is the local authority for the City of Leeds metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England.-History:The city council was established in 1974, with the first elections being held in advance in 1973...
for the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
, although he resigned after only six months in office.
On own
- Influence, opinion and political idioms in reformed England: case studies from the north-east, 1832-74 (Hassocks, 1975)
- Communism in Kerala: A Study in Political Adaptation (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1982)
- Marxist state governments in India: politics, economics and society (London: Pinter, 1988)
Administrative guide
- BSc (Economics) Degree. Government, parts I/II (University of London External Advisory Service Subject Guide, London: University of London, 1989)
Edited
- Broadcasting Finance in Transition with Blumler, Jay G. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991)
- The letters of Alastair HetheringtonAlastair HetheringtonHector Alastair Hetherington was a British journalist, newspaper editor and academic. For nearly twenty years he was the editor of The Guardian, and is regarded as one of the leading editors of the second half of the twentieth century.-Early years:Hetherington was the son of Sir Hector...
(Editor of The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
1958-75) British Library of Economic and Political Science 1997. - Imagination and precision in the social sciences: essays in memory of Peter Nettl with A. H. Hanson,A.H and Stein R. (London: Faber, 1972)
Sources and external Links
- Debrett's People of Today (12th edn, London: Debrett's Peerage, 1999), pp. 1455-6