The Department of International Studies prepares you for the increasingly complex and interconnected world of the 21st century. Whether you are passionate about human rights, media, education, the environment, or public health, when you pursue an International Studies degree at IU you will learn how to analyze these global issues through a multidisciplinary context and acquire the skills required of tomorrow’s global leaders. Additionally, you will develop deep knowledge of at least one region outside the US, and fluency in another language. An integral part of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, the department offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees as well as graduate degrees. Our students go on to meaningful careers in government, NGOs, corporations, foundations, media outlets, and policy institutes; but most importantly, emerge from our department as ethical citizens of the world.
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Upcoming Events
There are no events at this time. See more eventsFeatured Courses - Spring 2020
Comparative Colonialism
This course explores the phenomenon of colonialism from the early 19th century through the present day. Focusing on both particular geographic locations and on thematic similarities between colonial regimes, this course serves as an overview of major features of colonial rule and colonial societies across much of the world. Particular attention will be paid to both Africa and Eurasia (i.e. the former Russian and Soviet empires), with forays into India, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. We will also consider questions of imperial ideologies, colonial violence, sex and intimacy, the relationship between socialism and anti-imperialism, decolonization, and the nature of postcolonialism.
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Global Giving and Philanthropy
Global Giving and Philanthropy introduces you to the study of U.S. global philanthropy. Students will gain an understanding of the roles played by various philanthropic actors and the impact of those actors on global challenges – from a billionaire philanthropist to a wealthiest charitable foundation to a Fortune 500 company. This course will examine the philanthropic impact on global foreign aid, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, impact investing, and future global challenges surrounding global giving and philanthropy. The class is intended to give students an understanding of the core philanthropic principles, questions, motives, and practices for international giving.
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Economic Globalization in the Modern World
The benefits of economic globalization have fallen increasingly under scrutiny. While the flow of capital, the spread of technology, and integration of national markets have accelerated global economic development, globalization has also aggravated inequality, depleted non-renewable natural resources, and contributed to climate change. In this course, we will examine the political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural effects of economic globalization during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. We will explore how policymakers grapple with the challenges of the economic order in a shrinking world as well as how accelerating interdependence is felt at the local level.
Learn moreRecent Faculty Achievements
Huss Banai recently made a number of media appearances discussing important current events. He appeared on NPR's On Point show, Public Seminar("On the meaning of Soleimani's death), Background Briefing podcast, BackStory Podcast("On the history of US-Iran relations), Deutsche Welle (airs on PBS before NewsHour), CBC("On what de-escalation means"), and on Vox("On possible implications").
In August, Amali Ibrahim published The Law and Religious Intolerance in Indonesia on the Baker Institute Blog.
Feisal Istrabadi's op-ed, "To Foster Trust, Genuine Federal Structures Must be Constructed," was published by the Iraq Energy Institute.
Sarah Bauerle Danzman published an article in The Monkey Cage titled "Why is the U.S. forcing a Chinese company to sell the gay dating app Grindr?".
Huss Banai participated in a roundtable discussion on Boston radio station WBUR. You can listen to the conversation at radioopensource.org.
Emma Gilligan is participating in an ongoing podcast series, My Smart Roomates. Episodes are available on iTunes, Pippa, and Podcast Republic.
Recent Publications by Faculty
Purnima Bose’s book
Intervention Narratives: Afghanistan, the United States, and the Global War on Terror, was published by Rutgers University Press. Her book is also featured on the Page 99 Test.
Bill Scheuerman’s book
The second, revised and expanded edition of Bill Scheuerman’s The End of Law: Carl Schmitt in The Twenty-First Century has been released by Rowman & Littlefield International (London).
Sarah Bauerle Danzman's book.
Merging Interests by Sarah Bauerle Danzman is now available through Cambridge University Press.
Nur Amali Ibrahim's book
Improvisational Islam: Indonesian Youth in a Time of Possibility, is now available through Cornell University Press.
Stephen Macekura’s book
The Development Century: A Global History (co-edited with Erez Manela of Harvard University), has just been published.
Jess Steinberg's book
Mines, Communities, and States: The Local Politics of Natural Resource Extraction in Africa, is now available through Cambridge University Press.
Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies