Albert Bininachvili

By far the best political science course I have taken at Columbia. The Prof. earns the CULPA golden nugget for a simple reason: he is a hidden gem in the political science department. From the professor‘s extensive knowledge on energy, security and current events, to his first hand accounts of key historical events, Prof. Bininachvili is particularly incredible at conveying both the history and importance of energy in geopolitics and security. The course offers a very comprehensive and in-depth review of both the history of energy, and the current landscape of energy resources, including hydrocarbons, nuclear, and renewables. Throughout the course, you can clearly see that the professor not only has extensive academic knowledge, but is speaking from a position of even deeper knowledge through his network and prior work. One thing I particularly enjoyed, was being able to see the integration of current events into how the course was taught live. I feel like that contextualized what we were learning and offered an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the true implications in the real world. The readings are drawn from the preeminent expert on the energy, Daniel Yergin, so they offer one of the best overview of the energy landscape today. Overall, I would strongly recommend taking this course not only because it’s contents are particularly interesting and essential for a…

I entered this class with high expectations based on the professor’s stellar reputation and was not disappointed. Having had the privilege of taking Strategic Intelligence with him over the summer, I already knew of his immense real-world expertise as an intelligence officer during the USSR era. This background brings a unique depth and intricacy to the course material. His teaching style masterfully combines old-school rigor with fairness, and he is an exceptional orator who keeps the material both engaging and thought-provoking, enriched by behind-the-scenes insights into global energy security and geopolitical dynamics, peppered with personal anecdotes and often humorous questions. The course content is thoughtfully structured, emphasizing critical real-world applications. The oral exam, in particular, stands out—not just as a test but as an opportunity to explore and articulate what you’ve learned. While it’s clear that engaging with the (light) required reading is essential to excel, the workload remains both manageable and well-paced.

I took this class last year, which I think was the first time it was offered as a semester course rather than a summer. It was really incredibly interesting and you really do learn a lot about tradecraft, open source, and the more technical parts of intel. He definitely knows his stuff, but sometimes the class lacked structure. To be fair this was because most of us stopped reading and then didn't have much to say (the books are just background and you will DEFINITELY learn more from him so take good notes). He often told us to speak more, so maybe he wanted more of a free flowing conversation. All in all, though I really enjoyed the class. It gives you a new perspective on international affairs. Now for the final and only paper, which he wanted to be 25 pages though he didn't seem to mind a couple over/under, you can and should set up papers with him to explore topics. He will help you, but only so much so if you don't have much background knowledge be sure to really do your research. For the oral exam, I think I got lucky because he asked me like 3 questions if that. They were fairly easy too (names and functions of organizations) when I had prepared for so much more. However, I think this was because we were running short on time. Another person who took it earlier had a ~40 minute exam if I remember correctly, so definitely study hard and know your stuff. Reading every wee…

This man is truly fantastic! He knows more about these subjects than any other professor you are going to get here during the school year or the summer. He is especially knowledgeable about Russia, the Caucuses, and Central Asia, areas that I had little interest in before his class but now find myself reading about in the news all the time. I'm a polisci major, and I haven't had another class that compares. If you have any interest in energy, intelligence, or how the real international political world works, take this class. It is really eye-opening and in fact it will make you realize how little you really do know.

I can not stress enough how glad I am I took this class. Professor B is outstandingly knowledgeable and goes above and beyond what you would expect from such a broad range of topics. Prof has an unbelievable understanding of seemingly infinite topics and can speak in rich detail without ever needing to read off of a slide. For anyone considering a degree in Political Science - I urge you to take this course.

Professor Bininachvili is an interesting man, to say the least. His lectures are fascinating, and he is very knowledgeable. The course was long, but time passed quickly because of the interesting nature of the class. As others said, the work load is rather minimal --one paper and one oral EXAM, not just an interview (see later). Despite the greatness of the class and the prof himself, there are a few negative points. Prof B is cool when you chat with him outside of class on certain days, and on other days he is so rude and condescending that you feel like never talking to him again. It feels like he just looks at you and answers to you in a way because he really does not care about you have to say. I guess its just his character because there are other times where he is very nice and helpful... Just when you talk to him, I hope its on a good day because he can be very mean. He seems to have favorites The final paper and exam: There is one paper (10-12 pages) on pretty much any topic ( he must approve it). I do not think he has very high expectations for the papers and grades them almost overnight. The readings he assigns MUST be done, if not during the final oral exam you will be in trouble. The final exam was quite stressful and scary, as I said he is an imposing man who can be harsh at times. You have to know every important detail of the course and be ready to speak about i…

This class is interesting. You don't have to pay attention, as I'm not paying any right now. The B is a very interesting gentleman with a taste for snazzy suits; foppish but highly intelligent. Scatological lectures, but he does indeed know what he's talking about. He doesn't, however, let you eat in class. I like his accent, which is Azerbaijani, but sounds South African. I hear I'm going to get an A. Rock on.

Prof is incredibly knowledgeable, and the class itself is crucial for poli sci and energy, wow so glad I took it! However, because he solely relies on handwritten notes for his lectures, he can sometimes spinoff and even include his own personal bias towards certain people and cultures when going about global landscapes. Most of the class laughed along to his insensitive comments, but I imagine that many actually feel that they were irrelevant to understanding energy, security, and politics, and even unfounded. So take some of the "jokes" with a grain of salt, and try to challenge him on them, on a good day it'll be an interesting interaction.

STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE & POLITICAL DECISION MAKING The earlier reviews make Prof. Bininachvili’s class seem like a cake walk. Yes, it is true that there is only a final paper, but the paper must be interesting and well-written, and he does not give everyone A’s. I worked hard for my A and read all the materials so that I could actually converse at the round table and be able to incorporate concepts into the paper. I know someone who I thought would have had an A, but got a B. So, there you go-not everyone gets an A in the class. He will also take off points if you miss class. (You must have a valid excuse) There are not that many classes during the summer session, so he expects you to attend. Do the readings to understand concepts and vocabulary pertinent to the field of strategic intelligence. Trust me; he knows who does the readings and who doesn’t. It’s a small room and everyone sits at the table. He makes serious eye contact and gives everyone the floor when they have something to say. He is not one of the professors who goes on and on without pause. Prof. Bininachvili was always well prepared and used handwritten notes for his lectures that outlined the discussion points, but also knew how to keep the conversation fresh by inserting interesting case stories and personal anecdotes that only someone who has "been there" is able to do. The professor is highly knowledgeable i…

Bininachvili is an interesting guy. Clearly, he knows what he is talking about. He speaks 8, maybe 9 different languages. He used to work for the Soviet Foreign Office (i think, but no one really knows....) His lectures are usually pretty captivating, and his ability to convey the reality on the ground in both the middle east (his used to work in Tehran) and the former Soviet bloc (he's from Azerbaijan) countries really makes you feel like you're learning <i>how the world actually works</i>. Overall, you learn a lot. Sometimes, the material can be confusing, especially when you start talking about the different names of russian and arabic or persian organizations. Moreover, he is funny, and it is clear that he likes to have a good time in and outside of class. I reccommend.