William Harrison Riker (1920–1993) "was a visionary scholar, institution builder, and intellect who developed methods for applying mathematical reasoning to the study of politics. By introducing the precepts of game theory and social choice theory to political science he constructed a theoretical base for political analysis. This theoretical foundation, which he called "positive political theory," proved crucial in the development of political theories based on axiomatic logic and amenable to predictive tests and experimental, historical, and statistical verification. Through his research, writing, and teaching he transformed important parts of political studies from civics and wisdom to science. Positive political theory now is a mainstream approach to political science. In no small measure this is because of Riker's research...." (from biographical information on NAP [National Academies Press] website)

"[He] was the most innovative political scientist of his generation. Founder of the 'Rochester school' of analytical political science informed by rational choice theory, he had extremely broad interests that belie the common characterization of 'ratchoicers' as narrow technocrats. He was fascinated by big questions....The big idea of Riker's career from 1982 until his death in 1993 was what he himself labelled as 'heresthetic(s).'" (from article "William H. Riker and the Invention of Heresthetic(s)," by Iain McLean, Nuffield College, Oxford University)

"He coined the term "heresthetic" in his book The Strategy of Rhetoric to refer to activities by which a person or group frames, primes, or sets the agenda for a decision-making process, and thus provides the context and interpretation for the decision." This concept has also been defined as "the framing of a debate or issue so that one is on the superior or winning side, or so that one’s choices are better-received by others." In other words, "structuring the world so you can win." (Compilation from several sources.)

He completed the PhD at Harvard in 1948. From 1948 to 1962, he taught at Lawrence University (then Lawrence College) in Appleton, Wisconsin. He left Lawrence for the University of Rochester, where he taught until his retirement. His publications include Democracy in the United States (1953), The Theory of Political Coalitions (1962), Liberalism against Populism (1982), The Art of Political Manipulation (1986), Agenda Formation (1993), and The Strategy of Rhetoric (1996), published posthumously.