Jean Laponce in Memoriam (1925-2016)

The entire IPSA family was saddened to learn that Jean Laponce has passed away. Jean Laponce was a true pillar of IPSA/AISP.

Atop his long list of contributions and achievements is the development of the International Political Science Review (IPSR), our increasingly influential publication.

Those who had the privilege of getting to know him personally will remember his warm personality, modesty, and tireless energy in carrying the IPSA flag forward. Those who did not will recognize his name as a scholar whose contribution to IPSA resulted in the creation of the Meisel-Laponce Award in 2012. This distinction was initially intended to recognize the instrumental role both he and John Meisel played in establishing the IPSR. Mr. Laponce also served admirably as IPSA President from 1973 to 1976, making an indelible mark on the association, and he founded Research Committee 15 on Political and Cultural Geography as well as Research Committee 50 on Language and Politics.

On behalf of IPSA and the global political science community, our deepest condolences go out to his family and colleagues. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.

İlter Turan
IPSA President

Jean Laponce Biography

Born in Decize sur Loire, Jean Laponce studied at the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris and at the University of California, Los Angeles. He went on to teach at the University of British Columbia, where he was an Emeritus Professor. He also taught at the University of Ottawa and the University Aiki Shukutoku in Nagoya. A member of the IPSA Executive Committee from 1966 to 1972, he served as IPSA President from 1973 to 1976. In 1985 he joined John Meisel as co-editor of the journal IPSR. He is the author of several publications: The Protection of Minorities (1961); The Government of France under the Fifth Republic (1962); People vs Politics (1970); Left and Right (1981); Languages and Their Territories (1984); Loi de Babel et autres régularités des rapports entre langue et politique (2006); and Le Référendum de Souveraineté (2010). Together with Jean Gottmann, he established IPSA Research Committee 15 on Political and Cultural Geography as well as IPSA Research Committee 50 on Language and Politics.