In today’s fast-paced geopolitical landscape, staying abreast of the ever-changing dynamics can be overwhelming. Recent events include President Donald Trump expressing interest in acquiring Greenland, imposing tariffs on allies, and Prime Minister Mark Carney delivering a thought-provoking speech on global order at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, all occurring within the week.
For university students specializing in politics, these constant shifts have brought their textbook lessons to life, challenging them to apply theories to the evolving world around them. Finlay McFarlane, a third-year international relations student at Western University in London, Ontario, shared his feelings of being overwhelmed by the unprecedented events unfolding each day, especially in light of the implications for the “New world order.”
McFarlane highlighted how the current political climate is shaping coursework and academic engagement for students. For instance, in a history of genocide course he is taking, the hypothetical scenario of the U.S. annexing Greenland sparked intense discussions, a scenario he never thought plausible in the past as a dual American and Canadian citizen. Similarly, his peer Maria Maia expressed concern over the rapid changes in the world order and the uncertainty it brings, emphasizing the challenge of predicting and adapting to such changes.
Maia viewed the structural changes as inevitable and emphasized the need for students to adapt to these evolving issues in international law and relations, which are fundamentally built on trust. She noted the difficulty in imagining how someone like Trump, with significant hegemonic power, could potentially alter the world’s structure.
In response to these shifts, educators like Blair Welsh, an assistant professor of political science at Western University, are adapting their teaching approaches to address the changing landscape of international relations. Welsh noted that students are raising concerns about Canada’s safety and discussing hypothetical war scenarios, reflecting the real-time impact of global events on academic discourse.
Welsh observed a surge in students from diverse disciplines enrolling in political science courses to gain a deeper understanding of geopolitics and their roles within it. This trend signifies a growing interest in political engagement among students, influenced by heightened awareness of global conflicts and the abundance of online information.
Maia and McFarlane also observed an increase in student political engagement, attributing it to the influence of ongoing global conflicts and the easy access to information online. They noted that even polarizing discussions are taking place on campus, with more individuals actively seeking to understand and participate in political dialogue due to the gravity of current world events.
