William Eugene Connolly, a towering figure in American political theory whose groundbreaking work reshaped understandings of democracy, pluralism, and capitalism, passed away peacefully at his home in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 25, 2026, at the age of 88. His passing marks the end of an era for political thought, leaving behind a profound legacy of intellectual inquiry and a generation of scholars inspired by his incisive critiques and innovative concepts.

Born on January 6, 1938, in Flint, Michigan, Connolly carried the lessons from his working-class roots throughout his distinguished career. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan at Flint before completing his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. These early experiences profoundly shaped his perspective, fostering a powerful moral and intellectual compass that guided his lifelong pursuit of justice and nuanced understanding.

Connolly began his academic journey with assistant professorships at Ohio University from 1965 to 1968, followed by a tenure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he rose through the ranks from assistant to full professor between 1968 and 1985. His intellectual prowess quickly became evident, laying the groundwork for his future contributions to the field.

In 1985, Connolly joined Johns Hopkins University, where he became the esteemed Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science. He served as the department chair for Political Science from 1996 to 2003, further solidifying his influence within the academic community. He remained a pivotal figure at Johns Hopkins until his retirement in 2024 at the age of 86.

His seminal 1974 work, "The Terms of Political Discourse," revolutionized the study of political language and was recognized with the prestigious Benjamin Lippincott Award in 1999, an honor reserved for works of exceptional and enduring significance. This book, among many others, established him as a leading voice in contemporary political theory.

Throughout his career, Connolly authored over 30 books, exploring complex themes such as agonistic democracy, immanent naturalism, new pluralism, and neuropolitics. Notable titles include "Why I Am Not a Secularist" (1999), "Neuropolitics" (2002), and "Pluralism" (2005), which challenged conventional thinking and offered fresh perspectives on societal structures and individual agency.

His contributions were widely recognized and celebrated. In a 2010 poll of American political theorists, he was ranked the fourth most influential theorist in the United States over the preceding two decades. He received the Fulbright Award in 2004 and the Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Studies Association in 2017 for his extensive body of work.

Further testament to his impact, the Western Political Science Association inaugurated the William E. Connolly Award in 2020, an annual honor for the best paper in political theory, recognizing his exemplary work. His 2022 memoir, "Resounding Events: Adventures of an Academic from the Working Class," co-won the American Political Science Association's David Easton Award in 2023, reflecting his ability to blend personal narrative with profound theoretical insights.

William E. Connolly's intellectual curiosity extended to contemporary issues, including the intersections of capitalism, inequality, climate change, and the rise of fascism. He was a founding member of the journal Theory & Event and a contributing writer to The Huffington Post, engaging with public discourse on critical global challenges. His legacy endures through his extensive writings, the countless students he mentored, and the enduring influence of his ideas on political thought worldwide.