Zachary R. Goldsmith

Zachary R. Goldsmith is an Assistant Professor at Purdue University, affiliated with the Department of Political Science. He also contributes to the Cornerstone program and Jewish Studies as an Adjunct/Visiting faculty member.

• Education
  • Ph.D. in Political Science from Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)
  • B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Goldsmith is a political theorist specializing in political ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, and socialism, with a focus on the philosophical roots of extremism and violence. His research intersects political theory, ethics, and historical philosophy.

He is the author of Fanaticism: A Political Philosophical History (University of Pennsylvania Press) and has written for prominent publications including Quillette, Law & Liberty, The Washington Post's Made by History, and NBC News. His teaching emphasizes transformative texts, with courses on happiness, justice, utopia/dystopia, and their modern applications.

Scientific Awards

• Fulbright Fellow
• Rumsfeld Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Goldsmith's office is located in BRNG 2299, and he actively engages in interdisciplinary academic work bridging political science, philosophy, and Jewish studies.