William E.
Connolly, an American political theorist, died on February 25, 2026. Born William Eugene Connolly on January 6, 1938, in Flint, Michigan, he was known for his work on democracy, pluralism and capitalism.
Connolly was the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. His 1974 book, The Terms of Political Discourse, won the 1999 Benjamin Lippincott Award. He also taught at Ohio University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst before joining Johns Hopkins in 1985, where he later served as chair of the political science department.
William Eugene Connolly (January 6, 1938 – February 25, 2026) was an American political theorist known for his work on democracy, pluralism and capitalism. He was the Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. His 1974 work The Terms of Political Discourse won the 1999 Benjamin Lippincott Award.