Democracy and its Critics · Political Science
WHERE IS HE? His Sabbatical has been stretching on for over a year and I'm about to graduate and want to take one more class with this fabulous professor. I took the Democracy class and it's all true what they say--he's simply mind-blowing, funny, and the smartest person I've ever met (and that's genius level, because I like to think I'm pretty smart myself!). His democracy class was the best class I've taken at BC-- the readings on public ignorance and human fallibility were so compelling that I can no longer read the NYT in the same complacent way I used to. Really, he should write a book and change the world. But I'm selfish and I've heard that his Liberalism class is amazing so if you can find out where he's hiding, tell him Barnard needs him (at least till I graduate).
3 Take Home Exams Readings for every class Spent about 4 hours a week
I appreciate the fact that I was made to read slowly and carefully in order to be able to be prepared for his socratic teaching style.
I really enjoyed this class. Urbinati is an engaging lecturer and the TAs were fair graders. Readings were reasonable. I learned a lot. Great to take in conjunction with CC. Urbinati's accent and way of phrasing things is a little difficult to understand sometimes but not prohibitory (although keep in mind I'm a native english speaker so if your not as used to english or have auditory processing issues this might not be great for you).
Professor Friedman is the best teacher I've had. He is brilliant (you may think you've had brilliant professors before but this experience will make you re-evaluate that), intellectually rigorous (what do you say about a teacher who is able to tie all the tangents together), challenging (you WON'T find anyone who thinks like him and he expects you to think for yourself as well) and compassionate (really listens to students and seems to care). I have also never taken a class with such devastating intellectual and political implications.
One paper (1200 words), one midterm, and one final
very fair - 1 in class midterm essay, 1-2 in class final essay(s), and steady but not overbearing readings that you really have to keep up with. No papers.
When she gives you the booklist, you will be shocked. It lists 20 books but don't despair. Most of the reading are short essays or sections from those books. I got by without buying any of the books because most of the assigned reading can be found online or through Columbia's e-books. The lectures are hard to understand at times because of her accent but if you go to each class, there is really no need to do all the reading because she gives a very comprehensive overview of each texts in class. She, or her TA, whoever grades, does not grade hard at all. She likes simple, straight to the point essays for the midterm and final and also for the one paper she assigns. It is a boring class but if you are really interested in the history of democracy, then this is the class for you.
This class was frustrating, boring at times, and competitive (in a weird way). He made people feel self-conscious about the quality of their comments in class. But, I will be forever grateful that I took this class because a) I got over my fear of public speaking (ie making a fool of myself) because participation is 20% and b) it really opened my mind and challenged me to think constantly during the class. He comes off as opinionated, but I think that's just because he knows he's right :). He really took the discussion to places I have never before nor since travelled to in any other class here. Always challenging us NOT to assume things, not to be lazy in thinking liberal ideology is always right, to read critically - to have our "bullshit detector" always on. This class made an enormous difference in how I analyze readings, and allows me to pull deeper meaning from a lot of what I read even today. If you like a challenge, and don't mind being a little harassed, I recommend this class and I would take it again.
Both classes - heavy reading load. Papers are expected to be short and to the point - make an argument and back it up by showing a strong command of the theory.