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His major work was in the fields of comparative politics, Canadian studies, political sociology, trade union organization, social stratification, public opinion, and the sociology of intellectual life. He also wrote extensively about the conditions for democracy in comparative perspective.  His conservatism was reflected in his emphasis on the positive and distinctive aspects of American society.

His major work was in the fields of comparative politics, Canadian studies, political sociology, trade union organization, social stratification, public opinion, and the sociology of intellectual life. He also wrote extensively about the conditions for democracy in comparative perspective.  His conservatism was reflected in his emphasis on the positive and distinctive aspects of American society.

==Early life==

==Early life==

Lipset was born in New York City, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. His father, Max Lipset, was a typographer and had been one in Russia; as a member of the Kiev typographer's union, who once met Stalin. "I remember that he was different from the other Bolsheviks," said Max. "The others would come and talk about Marxist theory and the revolution. Stalin spoke about organization, efficiency and money."<ref> Velasco (2004);. Seymour wrote ''Union Democracy: the Internal Politics of the International Typographical Union (ITU)'' about his father';s union, one of the few with internal democracy.</ref>  He grew up in the Bronx among Irish, Italian and Jewish youth. "I was in that atmosphere where there was a lot of political talk," Lipset recalled, "but you never heard of Democrats or Republicans; the question was communists, socialists, Trotskyists, or anarchists. It was all sorts of different left wing groups." Seymour was active in the Young People's Socialist League, an organization of young Trotskyists.<ref> Velasco (2004)</ref>   

Lipset was born in New York City, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants. His father, Max Lipset, was a typographer and had been one in Russia; as a member of the Kiev typographer's union, who once met Stalin. "I remember that he was different from the other Bolsheviks," said Max. "The others would come and talk about Marxist theory and the revolution. Stalin spoke about organization, efficiency and money."<ref>Velasco (2004);. Seymour wrote ''Union Democracy: the Internal Politics of the International Typographical Union (ITU)'' about his father';s union, one of the few with internal democracy.</ref>  He grew up in the Bronx among Irish, Italian and Jewish youth. "I was in that atmosphere where there was a lot of political talk," Lipset recalled, "but you never heard of Democrats or Republicans; the question was communists, socialists, Trotskyists, or anarchists. It was all sorts of different left wing groups." Seymour was active in the Young People's Socialist League, an organization of young Trotskyists.<ref>Velasco (2004)</ref>   

He graduated from City College of New York, where he was an anti-Stalinist leftist and later became national chairman of the [[Young People's Socialist League]]. He left the Socialist Party in 1960 and described himself as a centrist.  

He graduated from City College of New York, where he was an anti-Stalinist leftist and later became national chairman of the [[Young People's Socialist League]]. He left the Socialist Party in 1960 and described himself as a centrist.  

Lipset was active in public affairs on a national non-partisan level. He was a director of the [[United States Institute of Peace]]. He has been a board member of the [[Albert Shanker Institute]], a member of the U.S. Board of Foreign Scholarships, co-chair of the Committee for Labor Law Reform, co-chair of the Committee for an Effective UNESCO, and consultant to the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]], the National Humanities Institute, the [[National Endowment for Democracy]], and the [[American Jewish Committee]].

Lipset was active in public affairs on a national non-partisan level. He was a director of the [[United States Institute of Peace]]. He has been a board member of the [[Albert Shanker Institute]], a member of the U.S. Board of Foreign Scholarships, co-chair of the Committee for Labor Law Reform, co-chair of the Committee for an Effective UNESCO, and consultant to the [[National Endowment for the Humanities]], the National Humanities Institute, the [[National Endowment for Democracy]], and the [[American Jewish Committee]].

He was president of the American Professors for Peace in the Middle East, chair of the National B'nai B'rith Hillel Commission and the Faculty Advisory Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal, and co-chair of the Executive Committee of the International Center for Peace in the Middle East. He worked for years on seeking solution for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This was part of his larger project of researching what factor allow societies to sustain stable and peaceful democracies. His work focused on the preconditions to democracy -- especially high socioeconomic development and the consequences of democracy for peace. <ref>Metta Spence, "Lipset's Gift to Peace Workers: On Getting and Keeping Democracy</ref>

He was president of the American Professors for Peace in the Middle East, chair of the National B'nai B'rith Hillel Commission and the Faculty Advisory Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal, and co-chair of the Executive Committee of the International Center for Peace in the Middle East. He worked for years on seeking solution for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This was part of his larger project of researching what factor allow societies to sustain stable and peaceful democracies. His work focused on the preconditions to democracy—especially high socioeconomic development and the consequences of democracy for peace.<ref>Metta Spence, "Lipset's Gift to Peace Workers: On Getting and Keeping Democracy</ref>

Lipset's first wife, Elsie, died in 1987. With her, he had three children: David, Daniel, and Cici. He is survived by his second wife, Sydnee, whom he married in 1990.

Lipset's first wife, Elsie, died in 1987. With her, he had three children: David, Daniel, and Cici. He is survived by his second wife, Sydnee, whom he married in 1990.

==About Lipset==

==About Lipset==

* Marks, Gary and Larry J. Diamond (eds) ''Reexamining Democracy: Essays in Honor of Seymour Martin Lipset,'' Sage Publications 1992  

* Marks, Gary and Larry J. Diamond (eds) ''Reexamining Democracy: Essays in Honor of Seymour Martin Lipset,'' Sage Publications 1992  

* Marx, Gary. "Travels with Marty: Seymour Martin Lipset as a Mentor," ''American Sociologist,'' vol. 37, no. 4. Winter 2006, pp. 76-83. [http://web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/lipset.html online edition]

* Marx, Gary. "Travels with Marty: Seymour Martin Lipset as a Mentor," ''American Sociologist,'' vol. 37, no. 4. Winter 2006, pp.&nbsp;76–83. [http://web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/lipset.html online edition]

*  Velasco, Jesus  G. "Seymour Martin Lipset: Life and Work." ''Canadian Journal of Sociology.'' 29#4 (2004) pp 583+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009444939 online edition]

*  Velasco, Jesus  G. "Seymour Martin Lipset: Life and Work." ''Canadian Journal of Sociology.'' 29#4 (2004) pp 583+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009444939 online edition]

* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467727938&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Obituary] in the Jerusalem Post.

* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467727938&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Obituary] in the Jerusalem Post.

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[http://www.peacemagazine.org]"Metta Spencer, "Lipset's Gift to Peace Workers: On Getting and Keeping Democracy." ''Peace Magazine,'' April 2007

* [http://www.peacemagazine.org]"Metta Spencer, "Lipset's Gift to Peace Workers: On Getting and Keeping Democracy." ''Peace Magazine,'' April 2007