John E. Turner was Regents’ Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota. He was born in Northumberland, emigrating to the U.S.A. as a boy, and was educated at Yankton College, South Dakota, and the University of Minnesota.

A specialist in comparative politics, Professor Turner made research trips to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. His research interest in British politics began in 1951 and he has made eight research visits to Britain.

He is the co-author of Political Parties in Action, The Political Basis of Economic Development, The Soviet Dictatorship, and The New Japan and co-editor of The Methodology of Comparative Research and The Soviet Union: Paradox and Change.

He held offices in the International Studies Association, the American Political Science Association, and the Midwest Conference of Political Scientists.