Riker WilliamH

American political scientist noted for applying game theory and mathematics to political science. Riker founded the now-mainstream field of positive political theory, which introduced game theory and the axiomatic method of social choice theory to political science. Riker is known for work on the theory and history of federalism and on what he called "heresthetics"—the art of changing political outcomes without changing peoples underlying preferences by manipulating the decision-making process, for example by changing the order in which decisions are made. He died on 26 June 1993 at age 72 in Rochester, New York. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less