Tribute from Eric Einhorn

Professor John A. Logue, 1947-2009

John Logue was truly a man for all seasons. He was an outstanding political scientist, a dedicated teacher, and skilled administrator, and a trusted colleague. He was never just a professional “contact,” but soon became a close friend, adviser, and confidant of those who knew him for any length of time. His family, friends, and colleagues know this, so I will not dwell at length. Let me try to put some perspective on John’s work and life beyond Kent.

I had the privilege of knowing John for just shy of 40 years. We met a reception for American Fulbright scholars in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1970. John had been awarded a prestigious George Marshall Fellowship for study and research in Denmark. Since I was also dedicated to Scandinavian studies with an emphasis on Denmark, it was natural that we shared many interests. Thus began four decades of friendship and joint research on many topics relating to European and Scandinavian studies and comparative politics and political economy.

We shared the insights of alternative ways of dealing with post-industrial societies but our particular common thread was democracy. If one had to sum up the motivation behind John Logue’s many professional achievements, one could do it with the word democracy. For John this concept started, of course, with a dedication to the politics of constitutional democracy, but it went far beyond. John understood that democracy had social, economic, and cultural dimensions that often were harder to attain than just competitive free elections. One of our first (of many) conversations, we discussed Rousseau’s quip that the English were only free on Election Day. Democracy requires much more. Typical was John’s frequent reference to the old slogan of the Scandinavian democratic left: the working class must move forward on two strong legs: the labor movement and the labor party.

At the time John did his graduate work and early writings, the “New Left” was a rising tide especially in Europe. Despite the horrors of Stalinism, the Soviet repression of Hungary and Czechoslovakia, young Europeans – and some Americans – believed that democratic socialism was not an oxymoron. John was one who believed that mass democracy required mass participation not only in politics but in the economy and in social change. His first major book, Socialism and Abundance, analyzes the rise and challenges facing democratic socialism in affluent societies during the last third of the 20th Century. It is still the standard work on the topic. John continued his interest in the Left in his research, teaching, and writing. He held visiting research positions in Sweden and Denmark and was for three years a Professor at Roskilde University in Denmark. Upon his return to Kent State, however, the next and most impressive phase of John’s career commenced, without any let up in his on-going research and writing in comparative and Scandinavian politics. There would follow seven other books and dozens of articles on an incredible range of topics.

Others can better summarize his immense work on behalf of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center. I must admit to occasional jealousy at John’s total dedication to the Center, but in truth it was yet another project that John propelled forward along with all the others. Our book Modern Welfare States finally appeared in 1989 and happily a revised and expanded edition was published in 2003. All of our work was so intensely collaborative that I rarely can remember which “chapters” were mine or his. This was not unique: John truly believed in collaboration and cooperation. Nearly all of his major projects brought together others with whom John gladly shared the work and achievements.

Yet let no one doubt that John was a “mighty oak” in the groves of academia and the world of economic reform and change. His energy, selflessness, and spirit carried all of us along. How much we will miss that soft Texan accent, those twinkling eyes and good humor. No less that dedication to a better university, community and world that was John Logue’s life goal. He can no longer lead us, but John can still inspire us to do more, to do better, and to do right. May that spirit never die.

Eric S. Einhorn
Professor Emeritus of Political Science
University of Massachusetts Amherst

13 December 2009