The course is very straightforward but that doesn't prohibit Mr. Douek from making it a very enjoyable experience. His lectures are well structured and the way he cracks subtle but very well timed jokes make it a pleasure. Definitely take this course if you're interested in or studying political science! Also, he got mad nice kicks.

Douek is my favourite prof at McGill! His lectures are really enjoyable and clear, you will love going to class. I was never bored, he has great public speaking skills. It's important to summarize the theory, because the class is a little heavy, but totally managable!

Amazing lecturer! Would take Mr. Douek's class no matter what the subject matter is. Does assign a lot of readings which may be dense but he explains them very well. Makes lectures entertaining and interesting. Very clear. Recommend strongly!

Fair marking and clear assignments. He is funny and seems like he really cares about students. Very fatherly (in a good way not a creepy way).

Easy to understand and a genuinely nice guy. Was super helpful and friendly at office hours too. Cracks hilarious jokes and often begins class with some reggae music (final class featured some Wu Tang Clan). Readings are heavy but manageable. 8-12 page research paper due but you get a month and a half to write it. Midterm was straightforward.

Douek is amazing. The readings are dense, but every class he clarifies the important info and concepts. He's insanely smart. Doesn't even look at the slides or his notes. He just stands and talks. He's all about his students' success- dedicated an entire lecture to helping first-year students prep for the paper. He's also so funny! Fave prof ever!!

So this class is part Hist class, part Phil class, all Poli Sci. The readings are alright, I did like 2 of them (we had like 20). You have a 10 page scholarly research paper. It's pretty free reign. Attendance in conference worth 10pct. Exams are essays in-person. Not bad. Super nice, stays after, rocks fresh kicks w/ suit and did Tai Chi in final.

Douek is an amazing professor. His lectures are very interesting and he keeps them entertaining. You'll find yourself walking into class with reggae music playing or you'll spot his great shoe style from time to time, either way you gotta love this guy. The class is tough, but you'll be fine as long as you do the readings and attend lectures.

I expected to love this class but was unfortunately disappointed. Mind you, Douek is fine as a prof, but I had trouble engaging myself. The reading load was overly intense (and this was not my first POLI class). I am glad to have taken this course as it is a prerequisite for many IR courses and probably got a decent grade (haven't found out yet).

HILARIOUS!! People clapped for him after class, he's at that level.

Professor Douek is one of the most amazing lecturers. He is very engaging and does his best to make the content interesting. The occasional joke and his unique personality really make the class worth going to. Its pretty easy, but doing the readings is a must.

Great lecturer who is engaging and enthusiastic. He is also quite realistic in terms of quantity of readings and additional work.

Really kind, respected Prof who gets along well with everyone while being relatively clear. Not the type to give unfair exams - just know your info, pay attention to what he says, and you're set.

Excellent professor. He is a great orator, does not read off notes, he just talks to the class. One of my favourite professors I have had so far. Class was offered last minute and it has turned out to be one of my favourite classes at McGill so far. Super interesting material, you will learn a lot about the world. Overall, 9.5/10.

Douek's McGill's most amazing professors. His ability to not only deliver amazing lectures but to go beyond this and to take his time/use his platform as a professor to teach critical issues that curriculums usually ignore really demonstrates his excellence as an educator. His discussion of sexual assault on campus and privilege was great 10/10

Definitely my favorite prof at McGill. Academically, he is clear, accessible, very knowledgeable, incredibly smart, and gives great lectures, that are, by the way, very interesting especially given current events. As a person, he is caring and was one of the adults here that made me feel most at home as an international student. Would take again!!!

Prof. Douek is the best professor I have had since coming to McGill. His lectures are interesting as well as comprehensive and his overall presence makes for a very enjoyable class. He doesn't assign an unbearable amount of reading and makes excellent slides so even if you miss a class you will know everything that was discussed that day.

One of the best profs I've ever had, dedicated an entire class to awareness of sexual assault. Very knowledgeable on the topics discusses, chooses very insightful readings, and is fun to listen to.

Great lectures given by this great prof! You stay attentive thanks to his clear loud voice, and thanks to the really interesting content he teaches (full of examples). He devoted one lecture to speaking of sexual harassment in the university context, and received a standing ovation, and also continuously speaks of gender issues. He is respected.

He's a freaking gem, take this class.

Honestly, best teacher ever.

Daniel Douek is an amazing teacher, funny and very accessible outside class, I would definitively take this class again ! A lots of readings but they are all very interesting and the grading criteria are clear.

He's an awesome human.

I am smitten with this man. He is a wonderful lecturer, to the point where I enjoyed going to my 830. I had hims twice this semester: 227 and 360. Both classes were so informative and he really made them funny. There is a lot of reading for 360 but it is really interesting stuff. He also is super swole and is very stylish. Overall, best Poli Prof.

Prof. Douek is absolutely amazing. He genuinely cares about each and every one of his students however he could. He has a fantastic sense of humor and is able to make every lecture memorable in some way. He's again an absolutely phenomenal person and professor. I was extremely lucky to have stumbled upon this class!

This class is propaganda for democracy! But he's a good prof though!

Amazing lectures. People showed up to class although it was recorded. Lectures are very interesting. Highly recommended!

He is the perfect professor you could hope of getting, and by far the best one I have had at McGill yet. He is funny, incredibly interesting, and makes his class at the same time passionating, relaxing, and easy to learn. He does everything he can to help you, and that's how a prof is supposed to be !! In awe.

By far my favourite political science professor at McGill. I would take any course he teaches. His lectures are great and he is clearly passionate about both his students and the material!

One of the most hilarious, clear, and straightforward professors. Presents the material in a very clear and engaging way, though has a tendency to sometimes simplify it. Clear grading criteria and very interesting reading selection.

Douek is by far the best poli prof I have ever had. Completely fills Leacock 132 with love and knowledge. Completely hilarious and motivational. Strives to make all concepts incredibly interesting. Reading are good and help for the course. Douek makes his students passionate about what they are learning. Only downside: very hard to contact and see

Such an interesting class, on a topic that Douek constantly linked to current events. He discussed heavy subjects gracefully and in depth, managed to get quite consistent attendance on a 9AM class that was recorded. Lots of reading, but most of it was well selected and fun to read. He shared personal insights but didn't turn the lectures in a show.

This prof is the best prof i've had at McGill. Would 200% recommend and take again

The man! Professor Douek is one of the best profs I've had at McGill. He is extremely intelligent. Lectures are engaging and very well organized. He is respected among students for his humour and candor. Not an easy grader, but you will strive to do well in the class because the material is interesting. A great guy AND a great professor.

He's a Goat

The best prof that one can ever meet in McGill. He is knowledgeable, respected,and provides helps whenever you need. His lectures are interesting. Even though I never took any political science courses, I enjoyed the course with him. There are a lot of readings ,but if you do them all,it will be fine. His exams are fair.

Best prof I've ever had at McGill ! He is clear, funny and knows what he is talking about ! Very interesting lectures !

Amazing prof, wish he could teach all of my classes. He has definitely had the most positive impact on my education during my time at McGill

He's the best poli sci prof at McGill. Lots of readings but they are super interesting. Also he summarizes them really well in class. He's hilarious, extremely knowledgable and an amazing lecturer. 100% recommend you will learn so much without feeling overwhelmed. If I could take all my classes with him I would.

Douek is an amazing professor and an even more amazing person. Genuinely an incredible dude - so inspiring, caring, & funny. Made me motivated to come to class. I tend to hate lectures - I have ADHD and really struggle to focus in large classes. He made the material simple to understand and I always listened the whole way through. Do your readings!

Such a captivating prof! He understands his students and doesn't drown them in readings while still offering challenging but interesting material!

Best policsci prof at McGill. Readings are always interesting and well chosen, class is super captivating and he is just a real cool guy. Highly HIGHLY recommend

Prof Douek is passionate, knowledgable and hilarious! His lectures are interesting, clear (he speaks at the perfect pace to take notes), and filled with interesting examples. I had him for my first comparative politics class and would recommend him to anyone!

He's funny and try to give lectures in a way you don't get bored. First time I took a class with this prof, but I would take it again!

Daniel Douek is one of the best profs I've had at McGill so far. He balances out fun, clarity and consistency in his lectures and his lecture hall is always full, even though he records the lectures and provides class material online. He makes political science interesting and inspiring, while also engaging students with current global news!

Douek is a PHENOMENAL prof. If you have the chance to take any of his courses, grab it. You won't regret it. He's downright hilarious, knows his stuff, and structures evaluations fairly. Content is straight forward, interesting, and relevant. Can't say enough good things about him, seriously. This guy is the real deal.

Douek is the best prof I have had to date. He makes lectures interesting, even though lectures are recorded you will want to go to every one. Grading is fair, questions are not difficult but a lot of detail is expected. Do the work and you will do fine.

Good professor, easy material but not intellectually challenging. Good for first years but would not recommend after having taken a little bit more specific courses

Best political science prof at McGill without a doubt!

Classes are recorded and thats super helpful, lectures are clear and organized but the grading is tough and sometimes I would say unreasonable. What I honestly considered to be an A- or at least B+ paper turns into a B- paper. Same goes for midterms, graded very harshly. Overall though the quality of the class was incredible. An amazing teacher

Douek has a sweet instructor with very clear grading criteria. Took 319 and 341 with him, and got A's in both. Still, he's not a serious scholar by any means. The material is rather oversimplified and biased. Take if you are into easy material that gets you an easy A.

Very friendly, very funny. Seems like a genuinely decent guy. He's definitely a bit biased, but I'm not sure he ever tried to hide that fact. Information was a bit simplified, but that might just be the nature of the class rather than the professor teaching it. I do wish more of the readings were in the course pack, though.

AMAZING! Recommended for everyone! I took 4 other classes with him and I'm never disappointed. He's simply great, puts sometimes music before class starts, funny, incredibly knowledgable. He speaks truth to power and is a scholar slowly gaining reputation. TAKE HIS CLASSES!

The guy is a legend. You will love him 100% guaranteed.

Absolute beauty of a professor. Cannot say enough good things about this man. He's funny, personable and extremely knowledgeable. Teaches in a way that gives the theory and subject and then gives an example directly after to solidify what we are talking about. I cannot recommend him enough. The BEST political science professor at McGill, no doubt.

One of the best for freshmen. Very good professor for first few university classes. There are a lot of readings and they can be very dense. Exams are fair. He is very considerate.

Daniel Douek is a saint. He's one of the best profs I've had. He doesn't take himself too seriously, he's kind, very comprehensive, and super smart and helpful.

Douek is an amazing professor, and he really made POLI 227 his signature class. A huge emphasis is put on African politics, which I am not particularly keen on, but he made the material very interesting and accessible. Had an issue with the way my TA graded my paper and Douek was so kind as to regrade my paper himself. Would definitely recommend!

An amazing class on Middle Eastern politics, would definitely recommend for anyone who has an interest in the region. Lectures were recorded so attendance was not mandatory, but I made sure to show up every class because Douek makes sure his lectures are very interesting and interactive.

Tough topic (Arab-Israeli conflict) but Douek makes sure to remain very neutral and only use facts in his approach to the course material. More difficult than the usual classes taught by Douek but the content is still very interesting and in touch with current events. Douek makes a lot of fun comments, as always.

He's really nice, great at explaining the readings. Lectures are organized well, the midterm and final exams are fair and don't have many surprises. Grades reflect how much work you put into the course. Poli244 was really fun but poli200 was sort of boring

Absolutely love professor Douek, he has been my favourite prof at McGill since my first year and I have gone out of my way to take as many classes of his as I can (Poli 227, Poli 319, Poli 347) ! If you have the opportunity to take one of his classes DO IT

The best prof I've had at McGill. He's an amazing lecturer, he always keeps us updated with the latest news, and gives fair exams. I really recommend taking him.

one of my favourite profs at McGill, definitely would recommend

Prof. Douek is one of the best profs at McGill, if you can take one of his classes. Amazing lecturer and makes the content easy to understand. Ive so far taken 3 of his classes and honestly no one beats Prof. Douek. There's 2 mid terms, on research paper and a final. Powerpoint contain all the info and what he says, they are well done.

Excellent prof, super clear and includes many current-day examples to underscore relevant topics and themes discussed in lecture. Also appreciate his effort to incorporate a gendered perspective throughout the course in very thoughtful manner. Very clear how knowledgeable he is within the field.

The best prof I've ever had. Truly passionate about his courses and cares about each student even in a class of 700. Classes weren't mandatory but filled up in LEA132 every time just because of how amazing he is. Definitely recommend his classes for anyone interested in politics

I've now taken three classes with Prof. Douek and he's actually the greatest professor at McGill. His lectures are well-structured and interesting, his exams are fair and his questions are never aimed to catch you out. Since classes has moved online he's been very supportive and understands how difficult it's been for us. He's the best.

Professor Douek's lectures are always super interesting, he's very knowledgeable, & he has a great sense of humour. One thing that's exceptional about this prof is that he's super caring and understanding about his students especially during this time of online school. 11/10 would recommend he's the best!!

Cares for students. POLI 200 is a terrible class but POLI 227 was interesting. Exam format is kind of weird but easy enough to do well when you figure out what he is expecting. Attendance isnt mandatory because is slides are detailed and posted, but lectures are funny and he makes you want to see him.

Absolutely loved Douek. I wasn't that into politics before, but this class made me really interested. He speaks well and his lectures are fascinating. In this class, different profs gave lectures focusing on their areas of speciality - great if you want to sense profs for future years! Only thing is that Prof Douek isn't always on time :(

Knowledgeable, available, uses interesting case studies to make the theoretical material more interesting and has fair grading methods. Exams are usually "answer 4 questions out of the 6" type and you get loads of freedom when choosing paper topics. Recommend 100%, he also includes less mainstream approaches so it's always interesting!

The best prof at McGill. His lectures are clear and concise while explaining thing very well. I had Douek during the COVID era and he was my most considerate teacher by far; he really makes students feel cared for. He has this dry humor also which is hilarious and everyone loves, just a really amazing overall.

Professor Douek is the best man you will meet. He is the most caring, funny, and enjoyable prof i have ever had. He really makes going to class not feel like a chore. His classes are well organized which I like. There was significant readings to do but that's complete normal level for 300 level POLI class, most poli students are used to it.

I appreciated Prof. Douek's lectures. However, I found that the grading was unjust and varied a lot between different TAs. I would like him to make his grading criteria clearer both for us and the TAs. Moreover, although his COVID accommodations were appreciated, they were unjust for people that were consistent throughout the semester.

I found some of the material repetitive and self-explanatory. However, as a prof, Douek is amazing, funny, and engaging. You can tell he genuinely cares about his students and is very accomodating. Tests are very straightforward, don't waste money/time on textbook, the tests are only on what is covered in the book.

Amazing lectures. Funny and intelligent. All around nice guy.

Douek is a gem in McGill's political science department. Lectures are recorded but the class is always full. He has a dry sense of humour which keeps lectures fun and he will introduce you to topics that are often forgotten about in the department. Grading depends on the TA, unfortunately. Tests are fair and readings are covered in class. Take him!

Professor Douek is fricking amazing -- take him. Just. Take. His. Class. Seriously, he's a very clear professor who explains his material well. Clear grader (although depends on the TA), and straightforward in his lectures. Fun and informative: hands down one of the best profs at McGill.

What a great guy! He's very understanding. You can tell teaching is his calling. His slides and lectures are very clear and easy to understand. He's hilarious, which keeps the lectures interesting. One of the very few teachers who can make an hour feel like 5 minutes. You'll learn a lot, enjoy yourself and have a good time. I would take him again.

Although I'm not going with Poli Sci as my major, I'm glad to have taken a course with Prof Douek. Not only is he incredibly funny, but I also learned a lot from his introductory class. Solid prof

Douek is very chill, it's hard managing such a big class and hopefully future classes become a little more interactive (though its tough w covid) but Douek's very knowledgeable and to the point during his lectures, and his power-points are also concise, I find. Best to read all the readings though and be on top of the lectures.

Daniel is by far the creme de la creme of the teaching crop at McGill. He is empathic, funny, and a teacher you can rely on at your worst. You have to work, and read, so be seriously passionate, but he sets the tone for the classes in the future very well. There is none like him. Daniel is a fan favorite throughout the whole university for a reason

My favourite prof at McGill, just the coolest person and so wised up on everything he teaches. Take his classssesss, he's the best.

Interesting lectures from entire department, but I wish that there had been conferences. The course was graded entirely on written work, and without conferences you had to get an A or really close to it on every single assignment in order to get an A for the class.

The man, the myth, the legend! A great prof who works for everyone. Clear grading criteria and straightforward, engaging lectures. All the assignments are written so make sure you get a lot out of the readings. Really generous with extensions and just seems to know that we're all stressed wrt pandemic. Thank you based Douek.

Prof Douek is one of the best professors you will meet at McGill. He is incredibly understanding and understands the pressures and challenges that online school has. He makes his content palatable and not difficult to understand. My favourite prof at McGill so far!

very information-rich class, would recommend to anyone (POLI major or not). professor douek is a kind, inspiring instructor and engaging lecturer who is also clearly well-versed and sensitive to the topics that the class covers. TAs are also great

Prof. Douek is caring, responsive, and was generous with extensions during covid. But grading criteria for the assignments was super vague and hard to understand. Lectures were clear and to the point, my TA was great as well

Prof Douek is the most amazing professor and human being overall. I urge you to take his class he is motivational and inspirational. He has been my main motivation to get through not only his class but my other courses as well. He is so caring, intelligent and can deliver complex concepts in simplistic ways. Douek is far more than a prof, take him!

I don't care what class it's for or what major you're in, if you don't take his class at least once you're missing out. I had him twice and I wish I could take him again. Best professor at McGill, without a doubt!

Daniel Douek is the best prof I've ever had in poli sci at McGill. He is really passionate about what he teaches and very understanding with students, especially with COVID. He is a really amazing person and professor and if you are in poli sci at McGill you NEED to take a class with him!

Douek is by far, the best prof Ive had at mcgill, he is so passionate about everything he teaches and is super accommodating, greatly recommend him

I was worried about this class because we initially had a sub, but now that Douek is back poli227 is my favorite class. He is so engaging and clearly passionate about the subject. Overall just a really cool dude. In regard to extensions delaying grades, I think the issue is more with students taking advantage of his generosity than it is with him.

Douek is simply one of the best professors at McGill. His lectures are organised and engaging. His grading is fair. He's very kind and considerate. A perfect professor

Prof Douek is one of my fave instructors of all time at mcgill. ive taken a bunch of his classes and hes funny, cares about his students and so clearly passionate about the material. it's not an easy A, but if you show up to lectures you'll do well. he's a mcgill favourite for a reason! :)

Loved this class, though I will second that the return time on assignments (and SUCH limited feedback) was hindered by extensions, though they were nice in the moment. Incredible lecturer, so so kind and understanding, and genuinely someone you just want to sit down and get to know better -- looking forward to more Douek courses in the future!

Douek was a great professor. Super accomodating and passionate. His lectures and the readings he assigned were really interesting and fairly easy to follow.

Douek is both overrated and great. Class is not easy to get an A in, you have to do a lot of work and talk to your TA a lot. Not the most accessible prof, and readings are hit or miss. But his lectures are great, workload fair, and he's just a great guy (gives lots of extensions). But he's slightly biased towards leftwing politics, so watch out.

I have nothing negative to say about this teacher. Although his lecture content is heavy material, his classes are amazing. He is very knowledgeable.

Douek was great. He had varied material, like a documentary, and was willing to take questions whenever the class wanted to participate, keeping the class entertaining. The class isn't hard, but without a sustained level of effort, the A will be hard to get. Also, for this semester at least, he gave an online midterm and final over the weekends.

His lectures are very detailed and there is a lot of content in the slides, and he is very good at controlling the pace and focus of his lectures. He doesn't have a lot of reading material and it's all very useful. He is a very good professor.

Douek is a very caring prof! His lecture style was easy to follow if you like classes with clear powerpoints. Grading criteria for the research essay was clear and it was easy to get at an A- or higher. However, guidelines for the midterm and final could be clearer as his rubric is quite tough. Definitely take this class if you have the chance

Really funny guy who gives interesting lectures. Worst part of the class is the discrepancy between TAs

Douek is a very nice professor. His lectures are straightforward and easy to follow. The content is very basic. However, I don't understand the crazy hype around him. Sure, he's sweet, but not the most captivating nor the most interesting prof. TAs are tough graders.

Douek was everything and more than I had expected. He is clear, concise and keeps you on your toes with his sarcasm. Take this class for an introduction to parts of the world that other Poli sci classes don't really touch on. Very essay heavy though! If you know how to write a good essay this class is a great choice.

Clear laid out lectures, although slides can take a while to get posted. Textbook not needed, but helpful for further understanding. Notes on top of slides is helpful as his slides already contain information. Easy to listen to and take notes in class, slides are posted and recordings are too, class goes by fast and he starts off with music.

great but overrated imo. he gave the option to opt out of the final which was appreciated but made the paper worth 50+% (insane). TAs were great but conferences felt a little useless and readings as well. make sure to keep up with lectures as the case studies presented are quite important. not the worst poli sci class at all

Very good professor and is clear about what he wants. the recordings are available, making it easier if you miss a class or want to go back to some explanations. the content is so interesting, that I recommend taking the class. it is a demanding class, but as long as you reach out to your TA or him directly when needed, you'll be fine!

took 227 in winter 23, and it remains one of my favorite courses so far. Douek is great and a good person overall. to get a good grade, you need to refer to the textbook and the readings he gives + the study cases are important to support your answers. definitely not one of the hardest courses in poli sci. reach out to him if you need help!

Really good professor

One of the best profs in the poli sci department, very clear lectures and keeps students engaged really well

Douek's lectures are engaging and the course content is interesting, if a bit essay-heavy. Make use of the textbook and study aids like unstuckstudy to stay on top of the material. The TAs can be tough graders, but the class is manageable with dedication.

Took 227 with Douek & hated it but rly enjoyed 341 with him. Grading was less harsh than 227 & content was more interesting. I appreciate that he genuinely cares what students think of the course &the content was inline with current events not recycled material. He has higher expectations than most poli profs & alot of material but you learn alot.

He's amazing!

hes an icon.

I LOVED Prof. Douek!! He is hilarious and an amazing lecturer, I learned so much from him this term. Bit of a tough grader, but its not hard to do well in the course if you pay attention in class and do the readings. 1000% recommend!!

I learned alot in this class, highly recommend the prof, he was great, very funny and really good lectures. I enjoyed learning it. But my TA was pretty harsh and with few assignments its hard to take feedback and improve. The exam was the easiest out of all the assignments, the research paper was fun but a big % and very long so start that early!!

Douek is an amazing lecturer — both clear and funny. He can make anything interesting and truly wants us to succeed. Your grade depends on your TA, so be sure to ask for their guidelines. You can do well without doing the readings if you keep up, pay attention in class and write clear, analytical essays. Not too hard if you put in the work