William H. Riker

William Harrison Riker (September 22, 1920 – June 26, 1993) was an American political scientist who applied game theory and mathematics to policial science.

Related Topics:
September 22 - 1920 - June 26 - 1993 - Political scientist - Game theory - Mathematics

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Riker was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and received his PhD at Harvard University in 1948. He took on a professorship at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin (then Lawrence College), where he published The Theory of Political Coalitions. In 1962, he became the chair of the Political Science at the University of Rochester, where he remained chair until 1977, and remained active until his death.

Related Topics:
Des Moines, Iowa - Harvard University - 1948 - Lawrence University - Appleton, Wisconsin - 1962 - University of Rochester - 1977

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Among other contributions, he is known for work on the theory and history of federalism and on something he called "heresthetics" - the art politicians use when they change political outcomes without changing peoples' underlying preferences, for example by manipulating the order in which decisions are made.

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See also: Duverger's law

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