Course Requirements

In the course of the semester, you will be expected to participate in two pre-arranged debates in which you should take a clear-cut position against an opponent who will take the opposite position.

In addition to the formal and informal participation in debates, you will be expected to write a research paper or a review essay of approximately 20 pages, which may or may not be the outcome of the oral presentations you prepared during the semester. We shall discuss all projects in detail during the semester.

General readings are relatively short. For your specialized readings, you will have to consult the catalogues or the list of sources that the oral presenters or myself will hand out from time to time.

Please note that familiarity with German and/or an East European language is most useful but not necessary. There are good English-language sources on a significant number of exciting topics.

All the books listed on the bibliography and syllabus pages are paperbacks and in print, or at least were in print in June when I prepared this syllabus. The books should be available at Labyrinth Bookstore in 112th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway. They are also on reserve in the Columbia College Reading Room in Butler Hall. Articles marked with an asterisk will be distributed in class or will be made available to you on the course web page.