Kevin B. MacDonald (born January 24, 1944) is an American retired professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach. He is known for his controversial theories on Judaism, which he characterizes as a "group evolutionary strategy."
Early Life and Education
MacDonald received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1966, an M.A. in biology from the University of Connecticut in 1972, and a Ph.D. in biobehavioral sciences from the University of Connecticut in 1976. He joined the faculty of California State University, Long Beach, in 1981, and retired in 2014.
Theories and Publications
MacDonald's most prominent work is a three-volume series analyzing Judaism:
- A People That Shall Dwell Alone: Judaism as a Group Evolutionary Strategy, with Emphasis on Ashkenazi Intellectual Superiority (1994): Explores Judaism as a strategy to enhance the survival and reproduction of the Jewish ethnic group.
- Separation and Its Discontents: Toward an Evolutionary Theory of Anti-Semitism (1998): Posits that antisemitism arises as a defensive reaction from non-Jews against this perceived Jewish group evolutionary strategy.
- The Culture of Critique: An Evolutionary Analysis of Jewish Involvement in Twentieth-Century Intellectual and Political Movements (1998): Argues that certain intellectual and political movements of the 20th century (e.g., Freudian psychoanalysis, Boasian anthropology, left-wing politics) were largely Jewish-led efforts to dismantle the gentile societies they inhabited.
His theories generally propose that Jews have evolved a unique set of psychological and behavioral traits, including high ethnocentrism and intelligence, that enable them to compete effectively for resources and influence within host societies, often at the expense of non-Jewish populations.
Controversy and Criticism
MacDonald's work has been widely condemned by mainstream academics, human rights organizations, and Jewish advocacy groups. Critics across various fields—including history, sociology, psychology, and religious studies—have labeled his theories as antisemitic, pseudoscientific, and racist.
- Antisemitism: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) have extensively documented MacDonald's ties to white nationalist and antisemitic movements, stating that his work is a primary intellectual foundation for contemporary antisemitism.
- Pseudoscience: Scholars argue that his theories cherry-pick evidence, misinterpret evolutionary biology, and rely on unsubstantiated assumptions about Jewish group behavior and motivation. He is accused of starting with a conclusion (that Jews are engaged in a conspiratorial group strategy) and then selectively fitting evidence to support it.
- Academic Isolation: His views are not accepted by the mainstream academic community. While he was a tenured professor, his specific theories on Judaism are considered outside the bounds of legitimate scholarship in evolutionary psychology or any other academic discipline.
- Association with Far-Right: MacDonald has been a speaker at conferences organized by white nationalist and Holocaust denial groups. His writings are frequently cited by figures and organizations associated with the alt-right and white supremacist movements, who use his work to rationalize their antisemitic views.
Despite his academic background, his specific research and conclusions regarding Judaism are almost universally rejected by the academic community as unscientific and ideologically driven.