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Philip Abbott (academic)

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For the actor, see Philip Abbott. For the mountaineer, see Philip Stanley Abbot.

Philip Abbott
Born
Philip Reading Abbott

(1944-10-18)October 18, 1944
Abington, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 23, 2019(2019-04-23) (aged 74)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OccupationProfessor
Years active1970-2015
Known forBooks on US presidents
SpousePatricia Abbott
ChildrenJosh, Megan
AwardsDistinguished University Professor
Academic background
EducationAmerican University (BA)
Rutgers University (PhD)
Doctoral advisorGordon Schochet
Academic work
DisciplinePolitical science
Sub-discipline20th-century US political science
InstitutionsWayne State University
Notable studentsBob Fitrakis
Notable worksPolitical Thought in America (1991)

Philip R. Abbott (October 18, 1944 – April 23, 2019) was a professor emeritus of political science at Wayne State University, where he taught for 45 years, and author of numerous books and articles including Political Thought in America (1991),[1][2][3] making him "one of the leading scholars in the discipline of political science" and "one of the nation's foremost political theorists".[4]

Background

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Philip Reading Abbott[5] was born in Abington, Pennsylvania, to William and Beryl Abbott and had a brother named William. In 1966, he obtained a BA in political science from American University and in 1971 a PhD (directed by Gordon Schochet[3][6]) from Rutgers University.[1][2]

Career

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In 1970, Abbott joined Wayne State University as assistant professor.[2] In 1980, he became full professor.[2] He taught at Wayne State University for 45 years (1970–2015).[1]

Abbott served on Wayne State University's governance of the department and college committees as well as assistant dean and graduate officer of the College of Liberal Arts. In 2001, the university named him president of its Liberal Arts Faculty Council and served as a member of the Academic Senate.[2][3]

Personal life and death

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Abbott and his wife Patricia, née Nase[6][7] (writer Patricia Abbott), had two children, Josh Abbott (prosecutor) and Megan Abbott (writer).[1][8]

Philip Abbott died aged 77 on April 23, 2019, in Detroit.[1][2]

Awards

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During his 45-year tenure, Abbott received "every major internal award for scholarship that Wayne State University confers".[2]

Major awards
  • 1977: American Fulbright Association appointment as Thomas Jefferson Chair in American Studies at the University of Amsterdam[1][2]
  • 1989: Gershenson Distinguished Faculty Fellowship[2][3]
  • 1991:
    • Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award[2][3][9]
    • Michigan Association of Governing Boards of Higher Education Award[2][3]
  • 1996: Wayne State University Academy of Scholars[1]
  • 2005: Distinguished University Professor by Wayne State University[2][3]
Other awards
  • Wayne State Board of Governors' Faculty Recognition Awards for Furious Fancies[2]
  • Wayne State Board of Governors' Faculty Recognition Awards for Seeking Many Inventions and States of Perfect Freedom[2]
  • Wayne State University's Graduate Mentor Award[2]
  • Wayne State University President's Award for Excellence in Teaching[2]
  • Wayne State Academy Member[10]

Legacy

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Academia

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Early in his career, Abbott began receiving recognition among his academic peers. For example, in 1974, Wilson Carey McWilliams wrote, "Philip Abbott's concern and ability make him the kind of critic that every author longs for and seldom finds."[11] Colleague Daniel S. Geller wrote in his remembrance that a principal reason for his joining Wayne State University was "the opportunity to work with a scholar of the stature of Philip Abbott."[2][3]

Students

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Abbott directed more than ten PhD students and 25 MA students.[2][12][13] Doctoral students include Bob Fitrakis.[14]

Works

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Abbot wrote more than a dozen books and more than 40 articles concerning American political science and political thought in journals including: Perspectives on Policy, Polity, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Political Theory, and Presidential Studies Quarterly.[1][2][3] His work received strong praise from academic reviewers. For example, Steven A. Shull wrote in 1997, "Strong Presidents is a strange but thoughtful and very well-written work incorporating the insights of literary criticism."[15]

Books written

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  • Shotgun Behind the Door (1976)[16]
  • Furious Fancies (1980)[17]
  • The Family on Trial (1981)[18]
  • Seeking Many Inventions (1987)[19]
  • States of Perfect Freedom (1987)[20]
  • Political Thought in America (1991, 1999, 2005)[21][22][23]
  • Leftward Ho!: V.F. Calverton and American Radicalism (1993)[24]
  • Strong Presidents (1996)[25]
  • Exceptional America (1999)[26]
  • Challenge of the American Presidency (2004)[27]
  • Accidental Presidents (2008)[28]
  • Challenge of the American Presidency: Washington to Obama (2011)[29]
  • Bad Presidents (2013)[30]

Books edited

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  • Reflections in American Political Thought with Michael P. Riccards (1973)[31]
  • Liberal Future in America with Michael B. Levy (1985)[32]
  • Critical Review of Studies On the Social and Economic Impacts of Vietnam's International Economic Integration (2006)[33]
  • Many Faces of Patriotism (2007)[34]

Articles

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  • "Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation, and Democratic Succession", Presidential Studies Quarterly (2005)[35]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Obituary for Philip Abbott". Sullivan & Son. 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Geller, Daniel S. (2019). "In Memoriam: Philip Abbott". PS: Political Science & Politics. 53 (2). Sullivan & Son: 383–395. doi:10.1017/S1049096520000062. S2CID 233343561.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Geller, Daniel S. (June 12, 2019). "Distinguished Professor Philip Abbott to Retire" (PDF). Wayne State University: 2. Retrieved August 28, 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Geller, Daniel S. (June 12, 2019). "In memoriam: Distinguished university Professor of Political Science Emeritus Philip Abbott". Wayne State University. Retrieved August 28, 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ "WSU Honors G.P. Residents". Wayne State University. February 2, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Friday's 'Forgotten' Books and More". Sweet Freedom. April 26, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Home page". Patricia Abbott. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "Megan Abbott: By the Book". New York Times. July 21, 2016.
  9. ^ "Faculty award recipients". Wayne State University. March 14, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Academy Members". Wayne State University. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  11. ^ McWilliams, Wilson Carey (August 1974). "Fraternity and Nature: A Response to Philip Abbott". Political Theory. 2 (3). Sage: 321–329. doi:10.1177/009059177400200305. JSTOR 190783. S2CID 144890751.
  12. ^ Balkwill, Frederick (1999). "Henry David Thoreau and the anti-democratic nature of five American institutions". Wayne State University Dissertations. Wayne State University. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  13. ^ Ladd, Mark (2011). "Slavery and abortion: the paradox of american liberalism". Wayne State University Dissertations. Wayne State University. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "Obituary for Philip Abbott - Tributes". Sullivan & Son. 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  15. ^ Shull, Steven A. (1997). "Reviewed Works: Strong Presidents: A Theory of Leadership. by Philip Abbott". The Journal of Politics. 59 (4). University of Chicago Press: 1279–1282. doi:10.2307/2998603. JSTOR 2998603.
  16. ^ Abbott, Philip (1976). Shotgun Behind the Door: Liberalism and the Problem of Political Obligation. University of Georgia Press. ISBN 978-0-8203-0359-8. LCCN 74084590. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Abbott, Philip (1980). Furious Fancies: American political Thought in the Post-Liberal Era. Contributions in political science. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313209451. LCCN 79007469. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Abbott, Philip (1981). The Family on Trial: Special Relationships in Modern Political Thought. Pennsylvania State University Press. ISBN 9780271002828. LCCN 80026964. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  19. ^ Abbott, Philip (1987). Seeking Many Inventions: The Idea of Community in America. University of Tennessee Press. ISBN 9780870495144. LCCN 86011338. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  20. ^ Abbott, Philip (1987). States of Perfect Freedom: Autobiography and American Political Thought. University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 978-0-87023-542-9. LCCN 86016248. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  21. ^ Abbott, Philip (1991). Political Thought in America: Conversations & Debates. F.E. Peacock Press. ISBN 9780875813547. LCCN 90063374. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  22. ^ Abbott, Philip (1999). Political Thought in America: Conversations & Debates. Waveland Press. LCCN 99197252. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  23. ^ Abbott, Philip (2005). Political Thought in America: Conversations & Debates. Waveland Press. ISBN 9781577663607. LCCN 2005283753. OCLC 56400937. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  24. ^ Abbott, Philip (1993). Leftward Ho!: V.F. Calverton and American Radicalism. Contributions in political science. Greenwood Press. ISBN 978-0-313-28568-4. LCCN 92021363. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  25. ^ Abbott, Philip (1996). Strong Presidents: A Theory of Leadership. University of Tennessee Press. LCCN 95041758. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  26. ^ Abbott, Philip (1999). Exceptional America: Newness and National Identity. P. Lang. LCCN 98049947. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  27. ^ Abbott, Philip (2004). Challenge of the American Presidency. Waveland Press. LCCN 2004300127. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  28. ^ Abbott, Philip (2008). Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation, and Democratic Succession. Palgrave Macmillan. LCCN 2007048029. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  29. ^ Abbott, Philip (2011). Challenge of the American Presidency: Washington to Obama. Lexington Books. LCCN 2011020625. OCLC 724673539. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  30. ^ Abbott, Philip (2013). Bad Presidents: Failure in the White House. Palgrave Macmillan. LCCN 2012037740. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  31. ^ Abbott, Philip; Riccards, Michael P., eds. (1973). Reflections in American Political Thought: Readings from Past and Present. Chandler. ISBN 9780810204690. LCCN 72013666. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  32. ^ Abbott, Philip; Levy, Michael B., eds. (1985). Liberal Future in America: Essays in Renewal. Contributions in political science. Chandler. ISBN 978-0-313-23761-4. LCCN 84012834. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  33. ^ Philip Abbott, ed. (2006). Critical review of studies on the social and economic impacts of Vietnam's international economic integration. CIEM, Danida Project. LCCN 2008333541. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  34. ^ Philip Abbott, ed. (2007). Many Faces of Patriotism. Rowman & Littlefield. LCCN 2006029614. OCLC 71348638. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  35. ^ Abbott, Philip (2005). "Accidental Presidents: Death, Assassination, Resignation, and Democratic Succession". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 35 (4). Wiley: 627–645. doi:10.1111/j.1741-5705.2005.00269.x. ISSN 0360-4918. JSTOR 27552721.

External sources

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