Political Economy - Lewis & Clark College Quick Links Apply Visit Alumni Library Giving The Source Newsroom Majors Art (Studio) Art History Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Chemistry Classics Computer Science Computer Science and Mathematics Data Science Economics English Environmental Studies French Studies German Studies Hispanic Studies History International Affairs Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Sociology and Anthropology Student-Designed Major Theatre World Languages Minors Art and Art History Artificial Intelligence Asian Studies Chemistry Chinese Classics Computer Science Cybersecurity Dance Data Science Earth System Science Economics Education English Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies French Studies Gender Studies German Studies Health Studies Hispanic Studies History Japanese Latin American and Latino Studies Law and Policy Mathematics Middle East and North African Studies Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physics Political Economy Political Science Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Russian Theatre
Courses in the minor explore the political-economic dynamic from multiple disciplinary perspectives, historical angles, and conceptual approaches.
Home / Political Economy Political Economy We provide a rigorous, multidisciplinary approach to the study of political economy. You will gain strong analytical skills and a thorough knowledge of contemporary events—key attributes that employers and graduate programs alike seek in successful applicants. Majors Art (Studio) Art History Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Biology Chemistry Classics Computer Science Computer Science and Mathematics Data Science Economics English Environmental Studies French Studies German Studies Hispanic Studies History International Affairs Mathematics Music Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Sociology and Anthropology Student-Designed Major Theatre World Languages Minors Art and Art History Artificial Intelligence Asian Studies Chemistry Chinese Classics Computer Science Cybersecurity Dance Data Science Earth System Science Economics Education English Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation Environmental Studies Ethnic Studies French Studies Gender Studies German Studies Health Studies Hispanic Studies History Japanese Latin American and Latino Studies Law and Policy Mathematics Middle East and North African Studies Music Neuroscience Philosophy Physics Political Economy Political Science Religious Studies Rhetoric and Media Studies Russian Theatre Why Choose a Minor in Political Economy? Our innovative and interdisciplinary program consists of a diverse group of faculty and students who investigate the interaction between the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of a society. We help you make sense of a complex world in which a multitude of economic and political interests conflict at the local, national, and international levels. Apply Visit What You’ll Study Our program explores the political-economic dynamic from multiple disciplinary perspectives and historical angles, using a range of conceptual approaches. Core courses for the minor are taught by economics, international affairs, and sociology and anthropology faculty, and introduce you to various theories of political economy as well as their application to significant national and international patterns and developments. The remaining courses are on the topics of global dynamics, national structures and power, and cultural forces and social movements to best prepare you for your professional life outside Lewis & Clark. We believe in the value of hands-on experiential learning. Many political economy students get involved in collaborative research with faculty, available through classes and summer programs. We provide extensive guidance to help students find and secure these opportunities. Many of our students also earn course credit while on an overseas program . Outside the classroom, gatherings are organized throughout the year to discuss and debate contemporary social, political, and economic events. Each year, we also sponsor the Political Economy Program Best Paper Award, given to the best student paper on any topic related to the field. The author or authors receive a $50 gift certificate to a local independent bookstore. Curriculum Connect With Lewis & Clark! After you hit submit, we will follow up with information about L&C, and you will have the opportunity to share a bit more about yourself. Loading...
Favorite Class
Intro to Sociology
My favorite class is Intro to Sociology; Professor JaDee Carathers encourages me to think beyond the status quo and re-examine social structures and human interactions.
We used a number of different art forms (visual and literary) to discuss the importance of telling stories: why we tell them, who we tell them to, and everything in between. Joan Didion’s quote, “We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” was Megan’s inspiration for the class. I’d take it a thousand times more if I could, and I’d recommend it just as many times.
The class tackles various social issues globally, and as a student I got insight into some incredible activism that I have been applying to my own actions in my home town in Denmark. To be able to read, discuss, and learn about some inspiring activists has not only been informative, but the class itself has been one of my most engaging classes so far because I felt that every single student in my class wanted to learn from one another.
Political Economy with Professor Elizabeth Bennett
As an economics major, I was always drawn to the human side of economics; who’s impacted, who’s influencing policy, and how power operates behind the scenes.
Minor: Political Economy, Rhetoric and Media Studies
Favorite Class
Ancient Cities with Assistant Professor of History Joel Sweek
The class was demanding, but Professor Sweek is a true expert in his field. The class had the kind of academic rigor and seriousness that I’d hoped to find in college. Professor Sweek’s lectures were brilliantly engaging and pushed me to think like a historian. The class left me in awe of the ancient world and inspired me to fully commit to pursuing a history major at L&C.
Care, Healing, and Medical Anthropology with Professor Sepideh Bajracharya
I learned so much about our views on “care” and myself. One of my favorite ethnographies we read was “Life beside itself” by Lisa Stevenson and “Pastoral Clinic” by Angela Garcia. What I loved is that we read books and written pieces that were written by diverse authors - POC and from other parts of the world.
Social Justice in the Global Economy with Professor Elizabeth Bennett
Professor Bennett introduced to new concepts in social justice each week through real-world literature on various topics. Each class, we came together to talk through the challenges and more importantly, how to overcome them. This course taught me to be critical about some of the world’s most pressing issues while also being hopeful that there can be a solution.
Complement Your Education With One of These Majors The most popular majors for our political economy minors are environmental studies , international affairs , and political science . What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark I am minoring in political economics and intend to understand and prove that economics and politics go hand in hand together. Michèe Brika BA ’26 International Affairs | Political Economics | Upper Marlboro, Maryland More about Michèe Gaining a liberal arts education has allowed me to build a versatile and robust toolkit that I’m confident will help me navigate today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world. Mateo Kaiser BA ’23 History and international affairs (double) | Political economy | Mountain View, California More about Mateo There are a lot of opportunities to get involved and make the changes that you want to see on campus. If you have ideas on how to better the campus, there is a lot of support to help create those initiatives. Satya Austin-Opper BA ’22 Environmental Studies | Political Economy | Asheville, North Carolina More about Satya What Can You Do With a Minor in Political Economy? Our alumni use their minor in political economy in a wide variety of careers in academia, in industry, with nonprofits, and for local, state, and federal governments. Many alumni apply the skills they have acquired in problem solving, critical thinking, writing, and speaking in graduate and professional schools or through international Fulbright grants. Dedicated Faculty Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth. Political economy faculty rely on their students to be collaborative researchers, providing an opportunity that’s rarely available to undergraduates at other schools. Students are frequent coauthors on peer-reviewed faculty publications and professional presentations. Meet the Professors L&C is a place where people express care, extend support, and nurture one another. Inclusion, accommodation, diversity, and difference are valued here. Joseph M. Ha Associate Professor of International Affairs and Director of Political Economy Elizabeth Bennett More about Elizabeth L&C students are truly engaged in learning and intellectually curious, and they want to make a difference in the world. Professor of History Elliott Young More about Elliott 47 U.S. states represented in our undergraduate student body 52 nationalities represented in our undergraduate student body 12:1 Lewis & Clark College has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. 12% of our students are from countries other than the U.S. 16% first-generation students at Lewis & Clark College Invest in Yourself A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think . Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition . Find Your People Students can join a variety of student-run organizations that relate to their political economy minor. Don’t see what you’re looking for on the club list ? Start something new and build your own community of peers! Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You My cocurricular experiences helped me gain skills in organizational planning, project oversight, and program execution, which have proven to be invaluable skills that I use daily at my job. Tobias Varntoft BA ’21 Environmental Studies | Political Economy | Terslev, Denmark More about Tobias I truly couldn’t have asked for a better school than L&C to prepare me for the next chapter of my life. Now, while completing my postgraduate degree, I’ve never once felt unprepared or out of my depth. Henry Goodier BA ’23 Economics | Political Economy, Rhetoric and Media Studies | Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania More about Henry The most important thing I learned at L&C is that anything is possible if you work hard enough, but kindness is the ultimate superpower. Tuse Mahenya BA ’21 English | Political Economy | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania More about Tuse Past Events April 1, 2026 Holding on to Arid Land Arid Land: Film Screening and Discussion with Filmmaker 6:00-7:30 p.m. / JRHH 258 Just south of Oregon’s border, the government prohibits cannabis farming and attempts to cut off water. After a fire ignites, distrust spills into protest. Shot in 2024 , the documentary Holding on to Arid Land tells the story of Kim, who moved to Northern California for a new start and an acre of land. Over the last decade, local politicians have made it extremely difficult for Hmong families, like Kim’s, to live there. They face the looming challenges of a government that is working against them, wielding the legal system to push people out of the valley. April 3, 2025 US Diplomacy, International Political Economy, and This Week’s News US Diplomats aim to “make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.” How is their work informed by the context and events of international political economy? How does their work shape the international political economy context and events? “International political economy” (or “IPE”) is a term that refers to the ways in which politics impact economics and economics impact politic, both at the international level and across levels of analysis. How do political events impact the global economy? How do economics impact international politics? This week’s news includes discussions of US President’ Trump’s trade tariffs and China’s influence on the international economic system. September 9, 2024 “What We Can’t Burn” book talk and discussion with fossil fuel activist and author Eve Driver FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT ACTIVISM ON CAMPUS Book talk & discussion with author Eve Driver, “What We Can’t Burn” (Friendship and Friction in the Fight for Our Energy Future) Show 3 more... ( 14 total ) Featured News Exploring Global Trade: A Fulbright Year in Kenya Caroline Gray BA ’17 spent a transformative year in Nairobi as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar, forging academic partnerships and exploring the geopolitical forces shaping international trade. Now back in the U.S., she reflects on the experience that deepened her understanding of international relations. Read the story More Events → Elizabeth A. Bennett Joseph M. Ha Associate Professor of International Affairs and Program Director of Political Economy elizabethbennett@lclark.edu 503-768-7632 Admissions Academics Financial Aid Alumni
