Following up on Finkelstein

In Reason, Cathy Young follows up on Norman Finkelstein’s tenure denial. Young’s conclusion: “one may legitimately ask if the real political bias lay not in the denial of tenure to Finkelstein, but in the political science department’s support for his tenure bid.” I’m not quite as sanguine about the case as Young, but she may ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

In Reason, Cathy Young follows up on Norman Finkelstein's tenure denial. Young's conclusion: "one may legitimately ask if the real political bias lay not in the denial of tenure to Finkelstein, but in the political science department's support for his tenure bid." I'm not quite as sanguine about the case as Young, but she may well have a point here. Meanwhile, Alan Dershowitz reports the following in FrontPage Magazine: According to a news story in today?s Chicago Sun-Times, a report filed against his tenure by three members of the Political Science faculty ?claims that Finkelstein allegedly called a female staff member a ?bitch.?? The report also claimed that Finkelstein ?shunned? colleagues who disagreed with him and that his boorish conduct extended to ?dramatically closing his office door when his colleague arrives.? In addition to describing his abusive sexist behavior toward a subordinate, the report characterized Finkelstein as ?mean spirit? and as ?unprofessional.? This negative report was suppressed by Finkelstein supporters who leaked other, more favorable assessments.I tried to find this story at the Sun-Times web site and couldn't find it. Props to anyone who can find this story. UPDATE: Ask and you will receive. Props to Martin.

In Reason, Cathy Young follows up on Norman Finkelstein’s tenure denial. Young’s conclusion: “one may legitimately ask if the real political bias lay not in the denial of tenure to Finkelstein, but in the political science department’s support for his tenure bid.” I’m not quite as sanguine about the case as Young, but she may well have a point here. Meanwhile, Alan Dershowitz reports the following in FrontPage Magazine:

According to a news story in today?s Chicago Sun-Times, a report filed against his tenure by three members of the Political Science faculty ?claims that Finkelstein allegedly called a female staff member a ?bitch.?? The report also claimed that Finkelstein ?shunned? colleagues who disagreed with him and that his boorish conduct extended to ?dramatically closing his office door when his colleague arrives.? In addition to describing his abusive sexist behavior toward a subordinate, the report characterized Finkelstein as ?mean spirit? and as ?unprofessional.? This negative report was suppressed by Finkelstein supporters who leaked other, more favorable assessments.

I tried to find this story at the Sun-Times web site and couldn’t find it. Props to anyone who can find this story. UPDATE: Ask and you will receive. Props to Martin.

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

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