Donna Goldstein

Donna Goldstein is a Professor of Anthropology with a focus on political anthropology, race, gender, and corruption in Latin America. Her work critically examines the intersection of power, violence, and cultural practices, particularly in Brazil and Hungary.

• Fields of Interest: Political Anthropology, Race and Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality, Science and Technology Studies, Medical Anthropology.

Goldstein’s research spans topics like illiberal politics during the Trump era, corruption in governance, and the cultural politics of childhood and violence. She has contributed to debates on nuclear expertise, pharmaceutical crime, and the historical reconstruction of ethnic identities.

Her publications highlight the role of gesture and spectacle in politics, the ethical challenges of scientific research, and the structural violence embedded in health and social policies. She has engaged with comparative studies of environmental and health crises across regions.

Goldstein is associated with the California Series in Public Anthropology and has reviewed works on sleep disorders, addiction, and beauty standards, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach.

• Notable Themes: Political Spectacle, Ethnographic Methodology, Structural Violence, Bioethics, Environmental Risk, Post-Truth Politics.