Professor Emeritus of the Department of Political Science at the University of Montreal, André Blais became the first non-American scholar to receive the prestigious Warren E. Miller Prize, awarded by the American Political Science Association.
This distinction, awarded every two years to recognize an exceptional career in the field of elections, public opinion and electoral behavior, marks the culmination of a remarkable career.
From Drummondville to UdeM via Toronto
Hesitating between mathematics and political science, André Blais was far from suspecting that he would lead a career as a professor and researcher that would make him internationally known. Before being admitted to the bachelor’s degree in political science at Université Laval in 1966, he was rather destined to teach at the college level.
“I finally chose political science because at the time, social sciences were in the air,” he recalls, referring to the context of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. “There were collective choices that were imposed on the welfare state and that’s what interested me.”
This choice would shape not only his career, but the entire field of study of electoral behavior.
André Blais’ path to international recognition was not linear. After his bachelor’s degree, he headed to York University in Toronto to complete his master’s and doctorate.
His studies led him to explore topics as varied as agricultural policy and election results. “I was trying to reconcile two interests: elections and public policies related to the agricultural world,” he explains. This innovative approach, combining seemingly disparate fields, would become his trademark.
After his doctorate, he taught for two years at the University of Ottawa, then for one year at Laval University, before obtaining a professorship at the University of Montreal.
Major contributions to political science
Over the years, André Blais has left an indelible mark on several branches of political science. His book To Vote or Not to Votewritten solo and published in January 2000, questions the theory of rational choices, very popular at the time in economics. It will be cited by nearly 1000 scientific authors thereafter.
“I have shown that this theory is imperfect in explaining the decision to vote or not to vote,” says André Blais. By emphasizing the moral position of the duty to vote, he thus opens new perspectives in the study of electoral participation.
His work on strategic voting also challenges preconceptions: by clarifying the concept and developing methods to measure it precisely, Professor Blais demonstrates that, contrary to popular belief, strategic voting is less frequent than one might think in Canada.
Constant engagement in public debates
Far from remaining confined to his ivory tower, André Blais engages in numerous national and international debates on voting methods. His research reveals that the consequences of different electoral systems are often overestimated, particularly for voters.
“All voting methods have their advantages and disadvantages and I am critical of the proponents of full proportional representation, who see too many virtues in it,” he emphasizes. “At best, it improves the participation rate by two to three points, no more.”
He continues: “In Canada, if we decided to keep the current voting system, it is because the parties find it in their interest – which is not a good reason! Since there are dozens of other voting systems, it is difficult to believe that our voting system is the best.”
Although he has slowed down, André Blais remains driven by the same curiosity that led him to pursue higher education. He is currently working on an ambitious project in Germany, exploring the crucial question of the acceptability of election results.
In particular, he presented 5,000 people with different election outcome scenarios and asked them how likely they would be to take part in a demonstration to contest the proposed election outcomes.
“The idea for this research came from the refusal of Donald Trump and his supporters to recognize the 2021 presidential election, which raises the question of the legitimacy of the electoral process,” observes André Blais. “Because what is important in a democracy is that we accept losing… Conceding victory legitimizes the electoral process.”
A well-deserved recognition
As democracy faces new challenges around the world, André Blais’ work highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms of voting and citizen participation.
In this regard, the Warren E. Miller Prize crowns an inspiring career that embodies the ideal of the committed researcher, capable of reconciling academic rigor and social relevance.
And while he says he is proud and honored by this “very special” award, he admits that he was greatly surprised to win it. “I didn’t know I was in the running, these are people who submitted my application without me knowing and I can’t wait to find out who it is!” he exclaims.
