Norman Gary Finkelstein, an American political scientist and author, was born on December 8, 1953. He is a renowned expert in the fields of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust. Finkelstein earned his undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Political Science from the prestigious Princeton University.
Throughout his academic career, Finkelstein has held faculty positions at several esteemed institutions, including Brooklyn College, Rutgers University, Hunter College, New York University, and DePaul University, where he served as an assistant professor from 2001 to 2007. During his tenure at DePaul, Finkelstein was a prolific scholar and outstanding teacher, earning a reputation for his exceptional teaching skills and his groundbreaking research.
However, in 2007, Finkelstein's tenure bid was denied after a highly publicized controversy with his opponent, Alan Dershowitz. Following the denial, Finkelstein was placed on administrative leave for the 2007-2008 academic year and subsequently announced his resignation from DePaul University. The university issued a statement defending its decision, stating that outside influence played no role in the denial of Finkelstein's tenure and praising him for his contributions to the academic community.
Despite the controversy surrounding his tenure bid, Finkelstein remains a respected figure in the academic community, known for his expertise on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust. His work continues to be widely read and respected, and he remains a prominent voice in the ongoing debate about these critical issues.
