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International Politics Minor

Are you fascinated by global affairs, international politics, and our relationship with foreign nations? Do you want to better understand—and influence—the globalized social and political context of our present and future? If so, Dordt’s international politics minor is for you.

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Program Overview

At Dordt, we believe politics, like every other part of this world, belongs to God. Its role is to promote justice for all people. Politics touches all areas of social activity, including families, churches, government, education, and more.

Our international politics minor will equip you to better understand and influence policy and decision-making on a global scale. We do this through the lens of a Kingdom vision that promotes public justice in a multicultural and multi-faith society. Our faculty pours into students with personal attention and one-on-one advising. We provide opportunities for impactful internships. And we prepare students to put their minor to good use in whatever career path they pursue.

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What You'll Learn

As you study politics and government at Dordt, you will be challenged to understand and develop your role as a Christian citizen. You’ll study how governments and individuals relate to each other in the global political and economic systems. You’ll study and understand global affairs. You’ll learn to think critically in the world of politics. And you’ll do it all through a foundation firmly rooted in a biblical perspective. Classes include international relations, global security issues, global economic development, and more.

What You Can Do With An International Politics Minor

If you want to add depth to your major with a better understanding of the global political ecosystem, the international politics minor is for you. You’ll develop your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. You’ll be ready for a career in foreign affairs, international business, or other areas (depending on your major). Whatever you apply it to, an international politics minor can positively impact your career.

Economist

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Foreign Service Officer

Foreign Service Officers help manage the economic and political relations with a specific country.

Political Consultant

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Career Preparation

Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”

To earn an international politics minor, students will complete various political science, economics, theology, and history courses.

  • Introduction to Politics: An introduction to the political dimension of life from a biblically-oriented perspective. Laying the foundation for political thought and practice, the course will examine scripture, models of how the church relates to culture, and examples of Christian engagement with the political world. It will also provide a brief survey of each of the fields of political science and raise practical questions about political involvement.
  • International Relations: An introduction to the contemporary relations among states with a consideration of the issues of war and peace, international organizations, law, integration, political economy, interdependence, and relations among the superpowers.
  • Modern Political Thought: Major ideas and trends in political thought from the early modern era of the 1600s to the present will be examined. The first portion of the course will be a survey of major political philosophers. This will set the stage for understanding modern ideologies (populism, libertarianism, conservatism, liberalism, totalitarianism, and other -isms).
  • Global Security Issues: This seminar course examines the challenges facing world security in the twenty-first century, including arms proliferation, ecological threats, economic globalization, ethnic conflict, resource scarcity, political economy, and human rights.
  • Global Economic Development: A study of economic aspects of poverty and underdevelopment in the modern world. Specific topics include the dimensions and nature of poverty in the world, characteristics and types of developing nations, theories of development, and emerging issues in development. We will also consider the implications of biblical principles for policy to promote economic development and alleviate poverty.
  • Engaging World Religions: An exploration of how the major world religions function in human life. Major topics will include systems of religious belief and worldview, sacred literature, symbols, rituals, and practices. Students will explore diverse religious practices by bringing the biblical and theological perspective of the Reformed tradition into dialogue with different religious systems. The goal of this exploration is to use the tools of the Reformed tradition to gain a practical understanding of different religions in order to engage people of different faiths with the gospel.
  • War and Peace: 20th Century Europe: The history of Europe from the immediate pre-First World War period to the end of the post-Second World War period as marked by the reunification of Germany and the 1991 Maastricht Treaty on European Union. The primary emphasis will be on the cultural, political, social, and economic developments in this period, with particular reference to the destructiveness of nationalism, the cold war, and the processes of European integration.
  • Modern Middle East: An in-depth study focusing on developments in the Middle East during the 20th century. Topics include de-colonization; “modernization” and the tension between western ideologies and Islam; Palestine, Israel, and the peace process; regional and global relations during and UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC OFFERINGS: INDIVIDUAL STUDIES 120 after the Cold War; the impact of the oil economy; urbanization; gender and family relations; and contemporary issues like water resources, ethnic conflict, human rights, and leadership change.
  • Comparative Politics: This course will introduce the field of comparative politics. Nation-states will be compared to one another and to the United States. We will cover a range of topics including history, ethnic groups, political parties, and government structures. The diversity of nations and norms of human government will be examined from a Christian perspective. The course will focus on a specific region or continent of the world. Specific geographic focus to be announced.

See the course catalog for more information.

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Faculty

With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.

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