Jörgen Westerståhl Lectures
The Jörgen Westerståhl Lecture is an annual event at the Department since 2014. In the spirit of Jörgen Westerståhl, these lectures offer knowledge about the importance of democracy and politics for the development of society.
To the Jörgen Westerståhl Lectures, we invite internationally recognized guest lecturers to talk about questions of great international importance. The lectures are free of charge and open to the public. We advertise them on our calendar.
Jörgen Westerståhl
Jörgen Westerståhl was a renowned political scientist who held the August Röhss Professorship in Political Science at the University of Gothenburg from 1952 to 1982. He played a significant role in modernizing Swedish political science research by focusing on political behavior and quantitative studies.
Westerståhl was a pioneer in media research and opinion formation in Sweden. In 1954, he introduced large voter surveys that became the foundation of the Swedish National Election Studies Program. Today, Gothenburg University is known for its research on public opinion and democracy, and Westerståhl is often referred to as "the father of election research."
To honor his contributions, the Jörgen Westerståhl Lectures have been established.