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International Relations

Subject specialist
Dr. Robert V. Labaree
labaree@usc.edu
(213)-740-5824

Research Help

  • Research consultation
    • Dr. Robert Labaree, (213)-740-5824
    • Reference Desk, (213)-740-1768
  • To make an appointment with Dr. Labaree, email him at labaree@usc.edu
  • Electronic research assistance: Ask-A-Librarian

Research Guides

Key Databases

Below are links to databases and electronic resources that support the study of international relations and its sub-disciplines. For a more comprehensive list of library databases, go here.

  • AccessUN -- indexes the majority of United Nations documents and publications. Articles appearing in UN periodicals are individually indexed as well as bilateral and multilateral treaties in the UN Treaty Series.
  • Columbia International Affairs Online [CIAO] -- provides the full text of a wide range of scholarship books, working papers from universities and research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences.
  • Economist Intelligence Unit [EIU] Country Reports -- a source of business intelligence on political and economic trends in 180 countries. An overall profile of each country is provided annually and a current report is produced quarterly. Both include current detailed statistics.
  • Public Affairs Information Services [PAIS] -- indexes selective subjects and bibliographic access to periodicals, books, hearings, reports, gray literature, government publications, Internet resources, and other publications from 120 countries. Coverage from 1972 to the present with an archival version going back to 1915.
  • SourceOECD -- publications portal of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and consists of three sections that include books and reports by theme, periodicals, and statistics. Access is available for titles published from January 1998 onwards.
  • World Development Indicators [WDI] -- contains statistical data for over 550 development indicators and time series data from 1960 to the present for over 200 countries and 18 country groups.
  • World News Connection -- an online news service that offers an extensive array of translated and English-language news and information from around the world compiled by the U.S. government.

Scholarly Web Sites

Below is a selective list of web sites that support the study of international relations and its sub-disciplines. Emphasis is placed on linking to directories and resource guides that direct you to additional scholarly sources.

Country Information

  • Country Studies -- each study provides a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world. At present, 101 countries and regions are covered spanning the decade 1988-98. Search engine can be used to find information across all countries or any combination of countries.
  • Foreign Information by Country -- compiled by the University of Colorado Libraries, this site provides links to government agencies, background information, diplomatic relations, and other resources by topic for all of the countries of the world.
  • Portals to the World -- contains links providing authoritative, in-depth information about the nations and other areas of the world. They are arranged by country or area with the links for each sorted into a wide range of broad categories. Sites are selected by subject specialists at the Library of Congress.
  • Worldwide Governments on the WWW -- one of the most extensive lists of international, national, regional, and local governmental and government-related Web servers. It covers governmental institutions on the Web, including parliaments, ministries, offices, law courts, embassies, city councils, public broadcasting corporations, central banks, multinational organizations, and political parties. Arranged in a hierarchical index organized by continent, country, and smaller divisions with thematic groupings such as heads of states, parliaments, political parties, elections, and currency.

Directories and Resource Guides

  • Countryrisk.com -- provides links to sites giving country background information, statistics, and country analysis resources that rate everything from levels of corruption to investment risks in countries worldwide.
  • International Relations and Security Network -- provides a wide range of comprehensive, balanced, and timely publications and resources to encourage the exchange of information among international relations and security professionals throughout the world who are working in think tanks, universities, governmental agencies, NGOs, and within the private sector.
  • RadioStationWorld -- a worldwide directory of local radio stations on the web, radio station that offer streaming webcast services, and in depth listings of local radio broadcast.
  • University of Michigan International Relations Resources -- comprehensive directory of resources arranged under broad subject categories covering all aspects of international relations and related subjects.
  • WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources -- annotated guide to a broad variety of digital resources in international studies. Intended for use by college students, the site also includes starter tips for research.

Document Collections and Digital Archives

  • Constitution Finder -- a database that offers constitutions, charters, amendments, and other related documents. Nations of the world are linked to their constitutional text posted somewhere on the Internet.
  • Eldis -- an online clearinghouse from the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex that aims to share the best research in development, policy, practice, and research. Site includes access to a growing collection of editorially selected, full-text documents on global development and policy, resource guides that provide structured access to research and policy documents, and country profiles that link to country briefing services on other websites.
  • Foreign Relations of the United States -- digital archive of the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions that have been declassified and edited for publication by the State Department's Office of the Historian.
  • IGLOO Library -- an online repository containing over 20,000 electronic documents covering a broad range of topics within the field of International Governance and built on the contributions of over 150 academic institutions, research centres, governmental departments and non-governmental organizations from around the world.
  • World Bank Publications & Documents -- provides access to the World Bank's formal publications. Holds over 15,000 free, downloadable documents, including operational documents (project documents, analytical and advisory work, and evaluations), formal and informal research papers, and most Bank publications. Also provides archival access to official records of the Bank's work from 1946 to the present, including country files, project files, correspondence, film, videos and photos.

Search Engines

  • Electronic Information System for International Law -- a database for searching primary materials, authoritative web sites, and helpful research guides to international law on the Internet. Comprehensive and updated frequently.
  • Europa: Gateway to the European Union -- provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. Users can consult all legislation currently in force or under discussion, access the websites of each of the EU institutions, and find out about the policies administered by the European Union under the powers devolved to it by the Treaties.
  • Foreign Affairs Online -- this web site directory has been specifically designed to assist students and researchers interested in international relations, international law, and U.S. foreign policy. It has an extensive group of links to general reference, map, and media resources, U.S. and foreign government websites, and websites related to human rights and international organizations. An excellent place to begin your search for scholarly resources on the Internet.

Statistics

  • Facts on International Relations and Security Trends (FIRST) -- integrated database containing information from research institutes around the world. Coverage includes data on armed conflicts and peace keeping, arms production and trade, military expenditure, armed forces and conventional weapons holding, nuclear weapons, chronology, statistics and other reference data.
  • Gapminder -- a non-profit venture promoting sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The site includes moving graphics that display development trends by the countries, time periods, and indicators you choose.
  • International Data Base (IDB) -- maintained by the Bureau of the Census, this database provides demographic data for selected indicators, countries and user-selected regions, and years, population statistics, and summary data, population pyramids and access to more data for a single country.
  • NationMaster -- designed by a web publishing company in Australia, this site gathers statistics from a variety of sources, mostly international agencies, and presents them in an easy-to-use and interesting graphical formats. Links to ads are present but are generally unobtrusive.
  • OFFSTATS: Official Statistics on the Web -- comprehensive directory of links to official government statistics throughout the world. Site is searchable by country, region, or by topic. Many data are downloadable as text or spreadsheet files.
  • Terrorism and Preparedness Data Resource Center -- TPDRC archives and distributes data collected by government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and researchers about the nature of intra-domestic and international terrorism incidents, organizations, perpetrators, and victims; governmental and nongovernmental responses to terror, including primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions; and citizen's attitudes towards terrorism, terror incidents, and the response to terror.
  • Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) -- reports aggregate and individual governance indicators for 212 countries and territories over the period 1996–2006, for six dimensions of governance: Voice and Accountability, Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Government Effectiveness, Regulatory Quality, Rule of Law , and Control of Corruption.

Profile of the Collection

The primary location for all research resources on international relations is the Von KleinSmid Center Library. The library collects in the major areas of emphasis theory and methodology of international relations, international political economy, international security studies, foreign policy analysis, comparative politics and diplomacy, and regional studies. Additional emphasis is given to issues of globalization, non-governmental organizations [in support of the international documents collection], sustainable development, peace and conflict studies, and emerging economies. There are no geographical limitations regarding what is acquired, but particular interest is placed on European countries in support of the European Union regional depository collection. With the exception of international relations theory and ideology, only late twentieth century and current material is covered in the collection development policy. With the general exception of course textbooks, scholarly materials of all types, including multimedia resources, are collected. The collecting efforts emphasize material either published in or translated into English. Materials in other languages are acquired selectively based on curricular needs. For a more comprehensive overview and analysis of the current collection policy, GO HERE [pdf].

Instruction Services for Faculty

To schedule a class on how to effectively use the library's services and resources and/or to schedule tours of the Von KleinSmid Center Library, e-mail Dr. Labaree at labaree@usc.edu or use the link below:

Last updated: 6/6/08