“[The Middle East] is a region filled with remarkable people, with remarkable resilience, surviving in an often unforgiving neighbourhood of visceral conflict and deep-seated loyalties. If you want to understand the human condition, there’s no better place to study it.”
—Dr. Paul Rowe, Professor and Coordinator of Political and International Studies
From the time he first visited Egypt in the 1990s, TWU Professor of Political and International Studies Dr. Paul Rowe has been interested in the Coptic community, the indigenous Christian population of Egypt who date back to the first decades following the life of Jesus Christ.
With a population of about eight million, Egypt’s Copts represent one of the largest groups of Christians in the Middle East.
Recently, Dr. Rowe published an article in Manara Magazine, “Copts, Church and State in Contemporary Egypt,” where he discusses the tensions between Egyptian Christians, their Church, and the current regime. He writes, “Today, the Church stands in a strong position as a partner with the corporatist state to determine the future of Copts. But a variety of voices remain beneath the surface, demonstrating the vitality of associational life among Copts and providing a model for a future, more pluralistic Egyptian society.”
Given his deep knowledge of Egypt’s Christian population and their relationship to their society, we asked Dr. Rowe about lessons we could learn from the Copts, and the value of pursuing International Studies at TWU.
“International Studies majors get a handle on how we respond and manage global problems that affect our everyday life. These insights serve them well in business, government, development, charitable work, education, missions, or even just raising a family in a diverse and globalized community right here at home.”
1. Hi Dr. Rowe. What can Christians in Canada learn from the Coptic community in Egypt?
“Leaders of the Coptic Orthodox Church sometimes describe themselves as the Church of the Martyrs. Indeed for many Copts, literal martyrdom at the hands of extremists has come far too frequently in the past decade," Dr. Rowe began.
“But to truly be a church of martyrs requires believers to make their faith central to their everyday life. The church, its sanctuaries, its liturgy, and everyday devotions are far more integrated into the lives of Copts than they are into the lives of Canadian Christians. I think they have a good handle on what should be important to the Christian life – and what that might cost the believer," he said, alluding to the weight of Christian commitment.
In addition to research and publishing, Dr. Rowe teaches courses in Middle Eastern Politics, Religion and Politics, Developing World Politics, and International Politics at TWU.
Read Dr. Rowe’s comments on Egypt’s Copts featured in Manara Magazine and The Conversation Canada.
2. What are some good reasons why someone should consider studying Middle Eastern politics or International Studies?
“I’ve found that studying the Middle East in particular shines a light into the deepest concerns of humanity,” he commented. “It is a region filled with remarkable people, with remarkable resilience, surviving in an often unforgiving neighbourhood of visceral conflict and deep-seated loyalties. If you want to understand the human condition, there’s no better place to study it.”
International Studies provides a global perspective on business and politics
“What’s more, the Middle East is a strategic location for those in business and politics—an exciting emerging market and undiscovered frontier for so much of human endeavour,” Dr. Rowe continues. “And of course, it is the original home of many of our new neighbours fleeing conflict in places like Syria and Iraq.”
Dr. Rowe points out that for Christians, the Middle East’s geography has “a special place in our hearts” and understanding the current Middle East can contextualize our understanding of the Scriptures.
It’s only one of several regions that International Studies majors can study in preparation for making a difference at a global level—in politics, business, the charitable sector, or education, for example.
International Studies helps us understand our place in a connected world
Given today’s connected world, a global understanding is paramount. As Dr. Rowe explains, “Despite the best efforts of many around the world to reduce our issues to local concerns, we have no choice but to realize that we are part of a global system.”
“All of a sudden, a global pandemic, the rise of the global price of oil, or a war in far-off Ukraine can have a major impact on our own lives here in Canada or the United States,” he said to illustrate the point.
Knowledge gained in International Studies is broadly applicable to many areas
What’s more, knowledge gained in this field is broadly applicable to many industries.
“International Studies majors get a handle on how we respond and manage global problems that affect our everyday life,” Dr. Rowe comments. “These insights serve them well in business, government, development, charitable work, education, missions, or even just raising a family in a diverse and globalized community right here at home.”
3. How does Christian faith come into play when studying and teaching global politics?
Dr. Rowe shares, “A Christian faith forces me to live beyond my local environment and think globally, just as God does."
“Christ’s church is global: it encompasses cultures and peoples past, present, and future, all of whom are strangers to one another but by the grace of God. If the church is global, we must think beyond our local and national confines to understand that God is for all of humanity, both specifically and generally. Beyond the present and even existential concerns of the nations of the earth, God brings all to account. I think that gives us an ultimate background that helps us to deal with the present concerns of this and any age.”
Top 5 Reasons to Study International Studies
- Learn about the deepest concerns of humanity
- Gain a global perspective on business and politics
- Acquire a contextualized understanding of the Christian Scriptures by studying far-off societies and cultures
- Understand our place in a connected world
- Get a handle on how we respond and manage global problems that affect our everyday life
About International Studies at TWU
International Studies is an interdisciplinary program that combines courses in Political Studies, History, Economics, and several other disciplines. An International Studies degree helps you understand global context and work toward answers for some of the world’s most demanding questions. With four different streams to choose from you are sure to find your fit in International studies. Learn more at the International Studies program page.
About Dr. Paul Rowe
Paul Rowe is a native of London, Ontario. Rowe completed his undergraduate study at the University of Toronto where he studied International Relations and the history and literatures of the ancient Near East. He later completed a Master of Arts in Political Science at Dalhousie University, writing primarily on the political economy and related security issues of the Middle East. He finished a PhD at McGill University in 2003, where his dissertation focused upon the politics of Christian minority communities in Middle Eastern states. He has spent extended time in the Middle East and continues to study the politics of religious groups in developing countries and at the global level. He is willing to comment on a variety of issues in international politics, the developing world, the Middle East, and the politics of religion.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.