[4] Following his doctoral studies, Goodwin began his academic career as an assistant professor of political science and sociology at Northwestern University from 1989 to 1991.
[6] Goodwin has written and edited a number of works with his friend and former NYU colleague James M. Jasper.
They wrote a famous critique of the political-opportunity theory developed by Charles Tilly and Doug McAdam, republished in Rethinking Social Movements, which Goodwin and Jasper edited.
Goodwin has long been a critic of U.S. support for governments and other actors engaged in gross human rights abuses, from apartheid South Africa to Central America to Israel.
[7] In October 2011, Goodwin was one of 132 New York University (NYU) faculty and staff members who signed a statement calling for disinvestment in several American companies that do business in Israel.