W.J. Stankiewicz

W.J. Stankiewicz was a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC), serving from 1957 until his retirement in 1987. He contributed significantly to the academic community through his research and teaching, and was honored posthumously with the establishment of the W.J. Stankiewicz Memorial Graduate Prize in Political Theory by Professor Marketa Goetz-Stankiewicz, awarded annually for outstanding graduate work in political theory. A collection of essays in his honor, Holding One’s Time in Thought, was published in 1997 by Sam LaSelva and Bogdan Czaykowski. He passed away in 2006.

His research interests centered on Political Philosophy and Political Theory, with a broad engagement in the Social Sciences. Key areas included Democracy, Foreign Policy Analysis, and Institutional Change—particularly in the context of Poland—alongside Ideology Studies. He emphasized the importance of political theory in understanding governance and international relations, leaving a lasting legacy in these fields.

In terms of advising, while no specific students are listed, his influence extended to future generations through the memorial prize. No grants or ongoing research initiatives are explicitly mentioned in the text, but his tenure at UBC highlighted his dedication to advancing political science scholarship.