Jon Elster

Norwegian philosopher and political theorist

Person Human Q468043

Facts

23 properties

Instance of: human
Sex or gender: male^[37]
Date of birth: February 22, 1940
Place of birth: Oslo
Country of citizenship: Norway, United States^[11]^[12]
Occupation: philosopher, professor, sociologist, economist, political scientist, social scientist, university teacher, translator^[14]^[15]^[16]
Employer: Collège de France, Columbia University, University of Chicago^[19]^[20]^[21]
Field of work: political science^[17]
Position held: professor^[18]
Educated at: École Normale Supérieure, Oslo Cathedral School, Paris Descartes University, Paris Cité University^[22]^[23]^[24]^[25]
Award received: Guggenheim Fellowship, Fridtjof Nansen Award for outstanding research, historical-philosophical class, Prices of the Norwegian Association of Sociology, John von Neumann Award, Jean Nicod Prize, honorary doctor of the University of Valencia, Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science^[27]^[28]^[29]^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33]
Father: Torolf Elster^[8]
Mother: Magli Elster^[9]
Spouse: Claudine Frank^[10]
Doctoral advisor: Raymond Aron^[26]
Languages spoken, written or signed: English, Norwegian, French^[41]^[42]^[43]
Described by source: Hvem er Hvem? (2008)^[40]
Family name: Elster^[38]
Given name: Jon^[39]
Member of: Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Academia Europaea^[34]^[35]^[36]
Name in native language: Jon Elster^[44]
Native language: Norwegian^[13]
Subject has role: refugee^[45]

🏷️ Also known as

en Jon Elster ar جون إلستر ja ジョン・エルスター ja ヤン・エルスター ko 욘 엘스터 nl John Elster ru Эльстер, Юн ru Юн Эльстер sv Elster uk Юн Естлер zh 喬恩·埃爾斯特 zh 约恩·埃尔斯特

🔖 Identifiers · 91

ISNI: 0000000121178156
VIAF cluster ID: 2469842
Library of Congress Authorities ID: n79022962
GND ID: 121501167
Image (Wikimedia Commons): Jon Elster 12.2.10 (6100470902).jpg ↗
AE member ID: Elster_Jon
Academic Tree ID: 346953
American Academy in Rome ID: 12413420
Angelicum ID: 2885
Awards & Winners artist ID: 06r6ky
BAnQ authority ID: 0000049598
BHCL UUID: b5e4db40-e779-4adf-bb0c-3f28a7f7744d

Show all 91 identifiers +79

BIBSYS ID: 90071986
BNB person ID (OBSOLETE): ElsterJon1940-
Babelio author ID: 15536
Bibliothèque nationale de France ID: 11901701c
CANTIC ID: 981058526841706706
CBDB.cz author ID: 36680
CONOR.SI ID: 19783011
CONOR.SR ID: 34516071
Canadiana Name Authority ID: ncf12074017
Canal-U person ID: elster-jon-026850443
CiNii Research ID: 1140282266774453760
Cyprus University of Technology ID: 56939
DBC author ID: 87097968282411
DDB person (GND) ID: 121501167
Databazeknih.cz author ID: 55156
Deutsche Biographie (GND) ID: 121501167
Dimensions author ID: 01252430574.34, 016067226713.38
EGAXA ID: vtls003595774
FAST ID: 32039
FranceArchives agent ID: 301235033
Freebase ID: /m/06r6ky
Goodreads author ID: 49160
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: jon-elster
Great Norwegian Encyclopedia ID: Jon_Elster
Guggenheim fellows ID: jon-elster
IdRef ID: 026850443
InPhO ID: thinker/2964
IxTheo authority ID: 081349041
J9U entity ID: 987007260697705171
KBR person ID: 14757995
Kallías ID: PE00627326
LRB contributor ID: jon-elster
Lex ID: Jon_Elster
Libraries Australia ID: 35681695
Libris-URI: 0xbfkt9j4zzsz6x
NACSIS-CAT author ID: DA0052387X
NDL Authority ID: 00559336
NE.se ID: jon-elster
NL CR AUT ID: js20020805219
NLA Trove people ID: 1040158
NSK (VIAF) ID: 000059653
NSK ID: 981005683840309366
NUKAT ID: n96024276
National Library of Brazil ID: 000192763
National Library of Chile ID: 000058591
National Library of Greece ID: 82891
National Library of Korea ID: KAC199608095
National Library of Latvia ID: 000028243
National Library of Lithuania ID: LNB:K6+;=uY
National Library of Poland MMS ID: 9810611858005606
National Library of Spain SpMaBN ID: XX840051
National Virtual Library of India ID: 141126
Nationale Thesaurus voor Auteursnamen ID: 068423535
Norsk biografisk leksikon ID: Jon_Elster
Norwegian war refugees register ID: 23898
Open Library ID: OL228009A
OpenMLOL author ID: 361930
Oxford Reference overview ID: 20110803095748626
Parsifal cluster ID: 34224
Persée author ID: 279019
Pontificia Università della Santa Croce ID: 25314
RERO ID (legacy): A003215510
RILM ID: 94703
Runeberg author ID: elstejon
SBN author ID: CFIV018807
SELIBR ID: 305806
SHARE Catalogue author ID: 35657
SNAC ARK ID: w6z179jd
SVKKL authority ID: 0323836-Elster-Jon-1940
Scopus author ID: 7004281134
Tabakalera ID: 66801
Treccani ID: jon-elster
Treccani's Dizionario di Filosofia ID: jon-elster
UOM ID: 87000
University of Barcelona authority ID: 981058526841706706
University of Barcelona authority ID (former scheme): a1323397
Wellcome Collection concept ID: jzsgqtt7
WorldCat Entities ID: E39PBJht6QmfmbHmXpW6cTttKd
Yale LUX ID: person/c18144fc-9a7f-4c7b-8cec-823dd848ce18

Report an error or request removal Lineage (PROV-JSON)

🔗 Connections

Award received 7

Guggenheim Fellowship, Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science, Jean Nicod Prize, John von Neumann Award, Fridtjof Nansen Award for outstanding research, historical-philosophical class, honorary doctor of the University of Valencia, Prices of the Norwegian Association of Sociology

Occupation 5

philosopher, professor, economist, sociologist, political scientist

Educated at 4

École Normale Supérieure, Paris Cité University, Paris Descartes University, Oslo Cathedral School

Employer 3

Columbia University, University of Chicago, Collège de France

Languages spoken, written or signed 3

English, French, Norwegian

Member of 3

American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Academia Europaea, Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters

Country of citizenship 2

United States, Norway

Parent of 2

Magli Elster, Torolf Elster

Doctoral advisor 1

Raymond Aron

Doctoral advisors 1

Raymond Aron

Father 1

Torolf Elster

Field of work 1

political science

Given name 1

Jon

Instance of 1

human

Mother 1

Magli Elster

Native language 1

Norwegian

Place of birth 1

Oslo

Position held 1

professor

Sex or gender 1

male

Subject has role 1

refugee

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Summary

Jon Elster was born on February 22, 1940^[1], in Oslo^[2]. He has worked as a philosopher^[3], professor^[4], sociologist^[5], economist^[6], and political scientist^[7].

FAQs

Where was Jon Elster born?

Jon Elster's place of birth was Oslo^[2].

Who were Jon Elster's parents?

Jon Elster's father was Torolf Elster^[8]. Jon Elster's mother was Magli Elster^[9].

Who was Jon Elster married to?

Jon Elster's spouses include Claudine Frank^[10].

What did Jon Elster do for work?

Jon Elster worked as a philosopher^[3], professor^[4], sociologist^[5], economist^[6], and political scientist^[7].

Where did Jon Elster go to school?

Jon Elster was educated at École Normale Supérieure^[22], Oslo Cathedral School^[23], Paris Descartes University^[24], and Paris Cité University^[25].

What awards did Jon Elster receive?

Honors received include Guggenheim Fellowship^[27], Fridtjof Nansen Award for outstanding research, historical-philosophical class^[28], Prices of the Norwegian Association of Sociology^[29], and John von Neumann Award^[30].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

[2] ↑ Jon Elster — place of birth (P19): Oslo. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-10-17. dnva.no. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[37] ↑ Jon Elster — sex or gender (P21): male. Norwegian Authority File: Persons and Corporate Bodies. Retrieved 2014-04-04. wikidata.org.
[8] ↑ Jon Elster — father (P22): Torolf Elster. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-10-17. wikidata.org.
[9] ↑ Jon Elster — mother (P25): Magli Elster. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-10-17. wikidata.org.
[10] ↑ Jon Elster — spouse (P26): Claudine Frank. Great Norwegian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2026-10-17. wikidata.org.
[11] ↑ Jon Elster — country of citizenship (P27): Norway. wikidata.org.
[12] ↑ Jon Elster — country of citizenship (P27): United States. wikidata.org.
[18] ↑ Jon Elster — position held (P39): professor. wikidata.org.
[22] ↑ Jon Elster — educated at (P69): École Normale Supérieure. wikidata.org.
[23] ↑ Jon Elster — educated at (P69): Oslo Cathedral School. wikidata.org.
[24] ↑ Jon Elster — educated at (P69): Paris Descartes University. wikidata.org.
[25] ↑ Jon Elster — educated at (P69): Paris Cité University. wikidata.org.
[17] ↑ Jon Elster — field of work (P101): political science. wikidata.org.
[13] ↑ Jon Elster — native language (P103): Norwegian. wikidata.org.
[3] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): philosopher. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[4] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): professor. list of professors at Collège de France. wikidata.org.
[5] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): sociologist. wikidata.org.
[6] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): economist. wikidata.org.
[7] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): political scientist. Retrieved 2019-06-20. wikidata.org.
[14] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): social scientist. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[15] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): university teacher. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[16] ↑ Jon Elster — occupation (P106): translator. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2026-04-20. wikidata.org.
[19] ↑ Jon Elster — employer (P108): Collège de France. list of professors at Collège de France. wikidata.org.
[20] ↑ Jon Elster — employer (P108): Columbia University. wikidata.org.
[21] ↑ Jon Elster — employer (P108): University of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-07-03. wikidata.org.
[27] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): Guggenheim Fellowship. Guggenheim Fellows database. wikidata.org.
[28] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): Fridtjof Nansen Award for outstanding research, historical-philosophical class. wikidata.org.
[29] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): Prices of the Norwegian Association of Sociology. wikidata.org.
[30] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): John von Neumann Award. rajk.eu. rajk.eu. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[31] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): Jean Nicod Prize. institutnicod.org. institutnicod.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[32] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): honorary doctor of the University of Valencia. uv.es. uv.es. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[33] ↑ Jon Elster — award received (P166): Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. skytteprize.com. skytteprize.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
[26] ↑ Jon Elster — doctoral advisor (P184): Raymond Aron. wikidata.org.
[34] ↑ Jon Elster — member of (P463): Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. wikidata.org.
[35] ↑ Jon Elster — member of (P463): American Academy of Arts and Sciences. wikidata.org.
[36] ↑ Jon Elster — member of (P463): Academia Europaea. www.ae-info.org. wikidata.org.
[1] ↑ Jon Elster — date of birth (P569): February 22, 1940. Integrated Authority File. Retrieved 2014-04-29. wikidata.org.
[38] ↑ Jon Elster — family name (P734): Elster. wikidata.org.
[39] ↑ Jon Elster — given name (P735): Jon. wikidata.org.
[40] ↑ Jon Elster — described by source (P1343): Hvem er Hvem? (2008). wikidata.org.
[41] ↑ Jon Elster — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): English. BnF authorities. Retrieved 2015-10-10. wikidata.org.
[42] ↑ Jon Elster — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): Norwegian. CONOR.SI. wikidata.org.
[43] ↑ Jon Elster — languages spoken, written or signed (P1412): French. wikidata.org.
[44] ↑ Jon Elster — name in native language (P1559): Jon Elster. wikidata.org.
[45] ↑ Jon Elster — subject has role (P2868): refugee. wikidata.org.

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APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Jon Elster. Retrieved November 8, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-elster

MLA “Jon Elster.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 8 Nov. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-elster.

BibTeX

@misc{4ortxyz_jon-elster_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Jon Elster}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-elster}, note = {Accessed: 2026-11-08}}

LLM prompt

According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Jon Elster — https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-elster (retrieved 2026-11-08)

Canonical URL: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jon-elster · Last refreshed: November 8, 2026

Edit History

Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

26d ago · OKA bot bot · 2026-10-17 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Spouse → Claudine Frank

"source for place of birth, source for occupation, source for father, source for mother, spouse, source for date of birth from Store norske"
5w ago · Medol · 2026-10-04 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID → jon-elster

"Created claim: Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: jon-elster, Matched to Jon Elster (#327067909) in GEC — Biografies…"
13w ago · Ajarmund · 2026-08-09 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Described by source → Hvem er Hvem? (2008)

"Created claim: Described by source: Hvem er Hvem? (2008), hvem er hvem 2008 (details)"
21w ago · Jindřich Rubeš · 2026-06-11 view diff on Wikidata ↗

SVKKL authority ID → 0323836-Elster-Jon-1940

"Created claim: SVKKL authority ID: 0323836-Elster-Jon-1940, batch #259496"
25w ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗

Occupation → philosopher, professor, sociologist +1

"Changed the item: QuickStatements 3.0 batch #32086: import P21 and P106 from GND (28)"

Live feed via Wikidata EventStreams. New edits appear within minutes of being made on Wikidata.