Department of Political Science
Minor in World Political Systems
Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements WRPOLSYMIN
Requirements
The minor requires at least 18 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- International and Comparative Politics. Three (3) courses:
- POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
- POLS-P 303
- POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
- POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
- POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
- POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
- POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
- POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
- POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
- POLS-Y 338 African Politics
- POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
- POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
- POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
- POLS-Y 342
- POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
- POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
- POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
- POLS-Y 347 German Politics
- POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
- POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
- POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
- POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
- POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
- POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
- POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
- POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
- POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
- POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
- POLS-Y 367 International Law
- POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
- POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
- POLS-Y 374 International Organization
- POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
- POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
- POLS-Y 399
POLS-P 302 The Politics of Economic Crisis and Reform
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the politics of crisis and reform from a comparative and international political economy perspective. In addition to learning general theories of crisis and reform, students will study in-depth case studies of important crisis episodes in the era of industrial capitalism, and seek to understand both the causes and consequences of crisis events.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 107 Introduction to Comparative Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines countries around the world to investigate fundamental questions about politics. Topics include democratic development, promotion of economic prosperity, maintenance of security, and management of ethnic and religious conflict. Critical thinking skills encouraged. Cases for comparison include advanced industrialized democracies, communist and former communist countries, and developing countries.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of POLS-Y 107 and POLS-Y 217.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 109 Introduction to International Relations
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Causes of war, nature and attributes of the state, imperialism, international law, national sovereignty, arbitration, adjudication, international organization, major international issues.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of POLS-Y 109 or POLS-Y 219.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 332 Russian Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political process and government structure in the Russian state. Political institutions inherited from tsarist empire and the Soviet state (1917-1991), history of subsequent political reform. Political problems of ethnic conflict, creating democratic institutions, and of transition from socialism to market economy.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 333 Chinese Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores contemporary politics and policy issues in the People\'s Republic of China. Influence of revolutionary practice and ideology; analysis of contemporary economic, political and social organizations; examination of policy issues including social reforms, economic growth, and democratization and globalization.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 334 Japanese Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political development of Japan, with emphasis on changing attitudes toward modernization; cultural and sociological factors affecting the functioning of contemporary political institutions; and the implication of Japanese experience in modernization of other developing societies.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 335 Western European Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Development, structure, and functioning of political systems, primarily in France, Italy, and Germany. Political dynamics of European integration.
- Repeatability
- Credit given for only one of POLS-Y 335 or EURO-W 301.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 336 South East Asian Political Systems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Covers the governmental organization, and the political behavior and traditions, of countries in the South East Asian region. Addresses regional issues of political and economic development, and international issues regarding the relationship of the region to the rest of the world.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 337 Latin American Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative analysis of political change in major Latin American countries, emphasizing alternative explanations of national and international developments; examination of impact of political parties, the military, labor and peasant movements, Catholic Church, multinational corporations, regional organizations, and United States on politics; public policy processes in democratic and authoritarian regimes.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 338 African Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores politics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Examines relevance of "traditional" political systems; impact on colonialism; building new nations and states; authoritarian regimes; process of democratization; management of ethnic, regional, religious and class conflict; political challenges of economic development; role of international actors, including the United States, United Nations, World Bank, and non-governmental organizations; and globalization.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 339 Middle Eastern Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Political culture and change in selected Middle Eastern and North African countries. Topics include political elites, traditional cultures, modern political ideology, institutions of political control, conflict management, and social reform policies.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 340 East European Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Compares political change in the East European states, and emphasizes the legacies of authoritarianism and communism and the post-communist transition to democracy. Topics include the building of political institutions, the inclusion of citizens into the polity, the reform of the economy, the management of ethnic and social conflicts, and integration into the European Union.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 341 Authoritarian Regimes
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative study of Fascism, Nazism, and communism as institutional arrangements for governing modern societies. The political process in the one-party "movement regime."
POLS-Y 343 The Politics of International Development
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines the key debates and issues regarding how "poor" countries develop economically and socially. Analyzes the interactions between politics and economics in the development process at the global, national, and local levels. Cases for comparison will include countries from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 345 Comparative Revolutions
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of major modern revolutions. Focus on the social, economic, and political causes of revolutions; the rise of revolutionary movements; and the strategies for gaining and consolidating power.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 346 Politics in the Developing World
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Focuses on politics in the developing world (Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East). Comparison of political history; experiences of colonialism and post-colonial authoritarian systems; political economy; development and globalization; democratization and management of protest and conflict; and interactions with international actors and transnational social movements.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 347 German Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Survey of the German political system including governmental institutions, the origins and role of political parties, opportunities for citizens to participate in politics, and current political culture. Special attention is paid to the question of how well Germany's democracy functions after experiencing several regime changes.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 348 The Politics of Genocide
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Comparative study of major twentieth-century genocides. Examines the political conditions, ideologies, and movements leading up to mass murder, and the ethnic and global context of genocide. Focuses on the question of responsibility and accountability from the viewpoints of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders in the national and international communities.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 350 Politics of the European Union
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Study of the politics of the European Union (EU). Assesses past and present dynamics of economic and political integration in Europe, the structure and work of European Union institutions, and EU public policies such as the Single Market, the common currency, common foreign and security policy, and trade.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- May be taken alone or in conjunction with related political science courses
- Description
- A course tied to simulations of international organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations, or the Organization of American States.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
POLS-Y 352 The Holocaust and Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examination of the socioeconomic conditions and political ideologies leading up to the Holocaust, and the political, administrative, and social context for the genocide from the vantage of perpetrators, victims, and bystanders. Focus on the individual, national, and international responses to and responsibilities for the Holocaust. Consideration of the Holocaust's legacies for the postwar world.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Exploration of how different social, economic, and political practices have influenced the construction of gender and sexuality outside of the United States. Examines the interplay between gender relations and characteristics of public and private institutions.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 356 South Asian Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the legacy of British colonialism in South Asia, to the development and decay of political institutions, to questions of economic growth, to social movements, and to regional conflicts.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 360 United States Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of institutions and processes involved in the formation and implementation of American foreign policy. Emphasis is on post-World War II policies.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 361 Contemporary Theories of International Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Theories used in the study of international politics: systems theory, field theory, conflict theory, alliance and coalition theories, balance-of-power theories, and an introduction to game and bargaining theory.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 362 International Politics of Selected Regions
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- The region studied will vary with the instructor and the year. Current information may be obtained from the Department of Political Science.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated once for credit, with permission of the departmental undergraduate advisor.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 363 Comparative Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Compares factors that influence foreign policy and the foreign policy process. Focuses on domestic or internal sources of foreign policy behavior, including impact of individual leaders, group decision-making processes, bureaucratic politics, ideology and political culture, historical experience, and type of political system. Classroom simulations are central to the course.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 364 International Organization: Political and Security Aspects
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- International organizations as lateral extensions of the Western state system, exercising influence in accordance with a variety of strategies. Strategies employed by the United Nations in the political and security area.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 366 Current Foreign Policy Problems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Critique of foreign policy issues: communism, containment, imperialism, and others. Research papers and classroom presentation for critical discussion.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 367 International Law
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Sources and consequences of international law; relationship to international organizations and world order; issues of national sovereignty, human rights, conflict resolution, international property rights, world trade, environmental change, and other topics.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 368 Russian and Soviet Foreign Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: POLS-Y 332
- Description
- Behavior of Russia and U.S.S.R. in world affairs from 1945 to the present. Emphasis on impact of geographic assets and vulnerabilities, historical experience, domestic politics, and the changing international environment.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 372 The Analysis of International Politics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: POLS-Y 109 or equivalent
- Description
- Introduction to the systematic study of international politics, focusing on the major approaches of decision making (microanalysis) and the international system (macroanalysis) and on a number of specific methodologies, such as game theory, content analysis, simulation, and quantitative/ statistical techniques.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 374 International Organization
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Examines assumptions about the causes, functions, results, and structures of international (intergovernmental) organizations. Theory is combined with case study of the United Nations particularly. The European Community and regional organization examples provide a basis for understanding an evolving phenomenon.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- The nature of war. Theories and evidence on the causes of war. Discussion of the ways in which war has been conceived and perceived across time and of methods employed to study the phenomenon of war.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 376 International Political Economy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Theories about the interaction between the international economic and political systems are the subject of this course. Works from each of the main traditions -- liberal, Marxist, and statist -- will be assigned. Specific topics covered will include (among others): the politics of trade, aid, foreign investment, and international monetary affairs; theories of dependency and imperialism; the politics of international competition in specific industries; the stability/ instability of international economic regimes.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
- Political Theory and Policy. One (1) course:
- POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law
- POLS-Y 212 Making Democracy Work
- POLS-Y 243 Governance and Corruption across the World
- POLS-Y 249 Religion, Politics, and Public Policy
- POLS-Y 281 Modern Political Ideologies
- POLS-Y 349 Policy Making Around the Globe
- POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
- POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
- POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An introduction to law an aspect of government and politics, and as a means of dealing with major social problems. Students will study legal reasoning, procedures, and materials, and may compare other nation's legal systems. The course usually includes a moot court or other forms of simulation.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 212 Making Democracy Work
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Nature and justifications for democratic politics and the problems confronting democracy today. Demise of liberalism in America; rise of identity politics and its significance; racial inequality and the problems of deliberative democracy; problems of political alienation and participation.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 243 Governance and Corruption across the World
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Analysis of problems of governance and corruption in developing and/or more developed countries. Examines conditions for effective governance and challenges to economic growth and provision of public goods. Addresses political causes and consequences of corruption. Case studies will vary and may be drawn from Asia, Latin America, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and North America.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 249 Religion, Politics, and Public Policy
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduction to the effects of religious belief, behavior, and institutions on political processes and public policy. Implications of religion as an alternative source of public legitimacy in contemporary societies. Topics may include controversies or developments in American, comparative, or international politics.
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 281 Modern Political Ideologies
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Assesses leading political ideologies of the past two centuries, e.g., conservatism, liberalism, socialism, communism, fascism, feminism, environmentalism, anarchism, populism, and various forms of religious fundamentalism. Analyzes those ideologies as forms of thought and as motivators of political agency and organization that have shaped the contours of the modern political world.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 349 Policy Making Around the Globe
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Compares public policies and policy making among both advanced industrial democracies and the developing world. Surveys policy areas such as immigration, health care, education, and workers' rights.
- Spring 2025CASE GCCcourseFall 2024CASE GCCcourse
- Spring 2025CASE SHcourseFall 2024CASE SHcourse
POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- An exposition and critical analysis of the major political philosophers and philosophical schools from Machiavelli to the present.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 383 Foundations of American Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the evolution of American political ideas from colonization through ratification of the Constitution and its implementation.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
POLS-Y 384 Developments in American Political Thought
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Explores the evolution of American political ideas under the Constitution of the United States, and its promises and problems.
- Spring 2025CASE AHcourseFall 2024CASE AHcourse
- Electives. Two (2) courses:
- Additional course(s) from the International and Comparative Politics list.
- Additional course(s) from the Political Theory and Policy list.
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
POLS
subject area prefix—as well as any other subject areas that are deemed functionally equivalent - Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
- Any course at the 100–499 level with the
Restrictions
The following restrictions apply to the minimum credit hours required in the minor:
- No more than three credit hours may count toward the minor:
- POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
POLS-Y 351 Political Simulations
- Credits
- 1–3 credit hours
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- May be taken alone or in conjunction with related political science courses
- Description
- A course tied to simulations of international organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations, or the Organization of American States.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.