1955
James K. Pollock
University of Michigan, United States
(1955-1958)
James Kerr Pollock (1898 –1968) was an American political scientist and Professor at the University of Michigan, where he served from 1925 until his retirement in 1968. He began his academic career at the University of Michigan, earning his B.A. degree in 1920 and an M.A. in 1921. He then pursued his Ph.D. at Harvard University (1921-1925) while teaching at Geneva College in Pennsylvania and Ohio State University. In 1925, he returned to the University of Michigan as an instructor in political science, marking the beginning of his lifelong association with the institution. He was promoted to Full Professor in 1934 and served as Department Chair from 1947 to 1961. He was honored with the University of Michigan’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1959. His archive, including correspondence, speeches and writings, and visual materials, is .
Pollock’s influence extended far beyond academia. After World War II, Prof. Pollock played a key role in shaping U.S. policy toward Germany. As an expert on German affairs, he advised the U.S. government on the country’s postwar reconstruction. In 1945, he was appointed special adviser to General Lucius D. Clay, helping establish democratic governance in the American zone. His efforts contributed to the rapid political revival of the American-occupied zone, laying the groundwork for Germany’s future democratic government. Pollock continued his involvement through fact-finding missions in the late 1940s and was later honored with the U.S. Medal of Merit and Germany’s Grand Cross Order of Merit for his contributions.
His major books include Germany in Power and Eclipse: The Background of German Development (1952); The Government of Greater Germany (1947); Change and Crisis in European Government (1947); What shall we do with Germany? (1942); The Government of Greater Germany (1938); and Money and Politics Abroad (1932).
Prof. Pollock served as 5XÉçÇøVice-President from 1952 to 1955 before being elected 5XÉçÇøPresident, a position he held from 1955 to 1958. He also served as President of the American Political Science Association (APSA) from 1949 to 1950.
