United States Government Information Sources

 

Locator Services, Search Engines, and Directories

Congressional Research Service Reports on the Internet– The non-partisan U.S. Congressional Research Service, based at the Library of Congress,  prepares thousands of unclassified reports a year on a vast range of topics at the request of members of Congress. Many CRS reports are on foreign affairs topics or U.S. foreign policy issues. Thousands of these first-rate reports are available in full-text PDF online, but they are scattered on the Internet and poorly indexed by regular search engines. The Open CRS collection is one searchable source to find these reports online. The Department of State posts many Congressional Research Service reports on international affairs, as does the American Embassy in Rome. The Federation of American Scientists also posts Congressional Research Service Reports on international security issues. The Library of the U.S. Air War College posts a large, selected collection. The National Library for the Environment posts CRS reports about environmental and related topics, extending quite broadly, even into international finance. The University of North Texas Libraries post a large searchable collection of CRS Reports. The DocuTicker reporting service offers a constantly updated archive of recently-available CRS Reports. Be sure to try the two very helpful limited area search engines at zFacts and the Internet Archive that search Congressional Research Service Reports online sites.

Data.gov– “Increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets. The data catalogs will continue to grow as datasets are added.”

DocuTicker– Excellent free librarian-run service that “offers a hand-picked [annotated] selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations.” Posts archives in many subjects, with daily updates, and sends free weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting recent posts. To access the full archives in any subject, click on the “Older Entries” link at the foot of each page.

FedStats– The purpose of this very useful site, from the Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, is to provide easy online access to the full range of statistics and information produced by scores of federal agencies for public use.

FedWorld– Huge central information network of the U.S. federal government, with searchable access to agencies and departments, documents, databases, etc.– a comprehensive site for searching for, locating, ordering, and acquiring government and business information.

Freedom of Information Act Website– From the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, facilitates access to U.S. government information in executive branch agency records, either through the Electronic Reading Room or by inquiry directly to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Google U.S. Government Search– Google “offers a single location for searching across U.S. government information, and for keeping up to date on government news… U.S. federal, state and local government.”

GovEngine.com– Directory for U.S. federal, state, and local websites, including courts.

GovFresh– Aggregated “live feed of official news from U.S. Government Twitter, YouTube, RSS, Facebook, Flickr accounts and more, all in one place.”

GovTrack.us– Free online service to “research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress [such as] the status of U.S. federal legislation, voting records in the Senate and House of Representatives, and information on Members of Congress, as well as congressional committees and the Congressional Record.”

GPO Access– From the U.S. Government Printing Office, identifies public information resources within the three branches of the federal government (including electronic information resources), describes the information available in these resources, and assists in obtaining the information. The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is “the finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online.”

MetaLib– From the U.S. Government Printing Office, a “federated search engine that searches multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online.”

SearchGov.com– Searches millions of Web pages of executive agencies, independent agencies, and state and local levels.

SearchMil.com– Searches over one million military (.mil) Web pages, indexed and ranked in order of popularity.

U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory– Searchable and by links, from Louisiana State University Libraries.

USA.gov– Large official United States government web portal offering easy access to all online U.S. federal, state, and local government resources, by various means of approach. Excellent source for such information, with tutorials. There is also a Defense and International Relations section for official information and services from the U.S. government. Note the U.S. Government RSS Library option.

United States Government Manual– Searchable information source about the agencies of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Department, Agency, Congressional, and Military Sources

NOTE: Also check the many other links under “U.S. and Canadian Government Sources” in the International Business and Economics section of this Web site.

• Agency for International Development– USAID is the government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance to advance U.S. economic and political interests overseas. Much information on USAID’s activities and on developing countries. Note the Development Experience Clearinghouse, “the largest online resource for USAID funded technical and program documentation, with over 90,300 documents available for [free] electronic download.”

• Census Bureau’s Foreign Trade Statistics show trade data and related information for the United States.

• Census Bureau’s International Data Base– A rich computerized data bank containing statistical tables of past, present, and projected demographic and socio-economic data for most countries and all areas of the world. Check the International Programs section. Note the World POPClock Projection. There is a helpful international Statistical Agencies page that links statistical agencies of many countries. The Census Bureau posts online the Statistical Abstract of the United States. Also see the Census Atlas of the United States, “the first comprehensive atlas of population and housing produced by the Census Bureau since the 1920s.”

• Central Intelligence Agency– Note the Center for the Study of Intelligence, which conducts research on intelligence and publishes classified and unclassified editions of the Studies in Intelligence journal, as well as books, monographs, and a quarterly newsletter. The CIA maintains a highly-regarded annual World Factbook and has many online publications.  The National Intelligence Council, “a center of strategic thinking within the U.S. Government,” posts numerous publications on global trends and issues. Especially interesting is the Global Trends 2025 project (with many unclassified papers online) that seeks “to provide U.S. policymakers with a view of how world developments could evolve, identifying opportunities and potentially negative developments that might warrant policy action,” with development of global and regional scenarios. Note the CIA and the War on Terrorism page. The Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room gives access to a searchable online database “to provide the public with an overview of access to CIA information, including electronic access to previously released documents.”

• Congress of the United States– United States House of Representatives– Official site of the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senate– Official site of the U.S. Senate. Note especially the following committees– House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs;  Senate Foreign Relations Committee; House of Representatives Armed Services Committee;  Senate Armed Services Committee. See Thomas, from the Library of Congress, a very large, searchable site with much detailed information about the Congress and its deliberations and legislation.

• Customs and Border Protection– “The single unified border agency of the United States.” Information on the agency’s border control and customs functions, with official statements, import, export, border security, and international travel information, regulations, statistics, and forms. Note the Customs Rulings Online Search System, a searchable database of CBP rulings, plus trade-related links.

• Department of Agriculture– The Foreign Agricultural Service maintains a Global Agricultural Information Network about the agricultural situation and agricultural trade overseas, by categories, countries, and posts. The Economic Research Service has a search facility and its Briefing Rooms post many international reports. The World Agricultural Outlook Board “serves as USDA’s focal point for economic intelligence and the commodity outlook for U.S. and world agriculture.”

• Department of Commerce– Economic news and statistics on international trade and the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Economic Analysis  supplies online data, articles, and surveys on U.S. international commercial transactions and the U.S. position in the world economy. Note the Showcase Europe site, with country market reports on Europe and the E.U. and other information on U.S.-Europe trade.

• Department of Defense– Department of Defense’s starting point for U.S. military information online. Check the Publications page for online documents, and the Annual Reports to the President and the Congress, a basic reference document. Note the major Quadrennial Defense Review. Check the Joint Electronic Library for access to official publications and research papers of the U.S. armed forces, through the Joint Chiefs of Staff site.

• Department of Homeland Security–  Charged with protecting the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks, this organization posts information about its mission, policies, regulations, and actions. The Office of Immigration Statistics posts statistics and reports on immigration matters.

• Department of Labor– Note especially the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, International Labor Comparisons, and the Monitoring International Labor Standards Database.

• Department of State– Very extensive site, for an official view of U.S. foreign policy. There is a handy page that lists the many major online State Department publications. The Media Center provides connections to Department products on social media and multimedia. Abundant information for world travelers is found at the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Background Notes and the Countries section provide facts about most countries. Declassifed documents are available at the Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room. There is an official blog and a video section. The Websites of U.S. Embassies and Other Diplomatic Missions page links to the Web sites of U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. America.gov “delivers information about current U.S. foreign policy and about American life and culture.” Also see the site of the American Foreign Service Association, the professional association of the U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA publishes the Foreign Service Journal for “an insider’s view on how U.S. foreign policy is made.” The Electronic Research Collection is a searchable archive of historical online materials from the Department of State Web site, as posted from 1993 to the present. An archive of Dispatch Magazine issues from 1993 to 1999 (with “key speeches and testimony by senior State Department officials as well as current U.S. treaty actions”) is available in full-text PDF files. The Overseas Security Advisory Council posts advisories on security-related issues around the world as “the focal point for the exchange of unclassified information between the U.S. Department of State and the private sector in the U.S. on security-related incidents and threats overseas.” The First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (2010) focuses on “civilian power,” for “directing and coordinating the resources of all America’s civilian agencies to prevent and resolve conflicts; help countries lift themselves out of poverty into prosperous, stable, and democratic states; and build global coalitions to address global problems.”

• Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy (International Section)– Large “International Energy Information at a Glance” site, searchable, with energy, GDP, and population statistics by country and region, plus country, regional, and world analysis reports. Note the comprehensive Country Analysis Briefs, International Energy Outlook,  International Energy Annual, and World Energy Balances, the latter two by country.

• Export-Import Bank of the United States– Information on U.S. export promotion and financing, plus foreign country data, from the official export credit agency of the U.S. government.

• Foreign Relations of the United States– From the Office of the Historian in the U.S. Department of State, a series of volumes in the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Recently-released volumes contain declassified records from all the foreign affairs agencies. Many volumes are online in full-text, from 1945 onward. The University of Wisconsin Digital Collections project maintains a searchable, freely-accessible archive of these volumes from 1861 to 1960.

• Library of Congress– Site has a wealth of useful online resources. The Global Gateway is a good place to start, with its Research Guides and Databases and Portals to the World, “selective links providing authoritative, in-depth information about the nations and other areas of the world.” Look through the Country Studies books and the Country Profiles series (“brief, summarized information on a country’s historical background, geography, society, economy, transportation and telecommunications, government and politics, and national security”). Try the Researchers page (particularly “International Collections“) and the Online Catalog. The Gateway to Library Catalogs allows access to and search of the Library of Congress catalog, plus links to many academic and national libraries.

• National Defense University– Publications, policy, and links from the top school of the U.S. military services, which includes the National War College,  Institute for National Strategic Studies, and the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, among others.

• Overseas Private Investment Corporation– An independent U.S. government agency that assists U.S. companies investing in some 150 emerging economies around the world.

• Peace Corps– Information about the “mission, history, and current endeavors” of this agency of the U.S. federal government for volunteer service overseas. The Digital Library “provides a searchable collection of electronic Peace Corps materials from 1961-present,” such as newsletters, stories, photos, posters, speeches, reports, audio, and video.

• United States Air University– At Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, the “intellectual and leadership center” of the U.S. Air Force. The Muir S. Fairchild Research Information Center posts many excellent bibiographies, studies, articles, and links about international topics, U.S. foreign policy issues, and the U.S. Air Force. Note the many resources in the Culture and Language Center.

• United States Army War College– The top school in the U.S. Army educational system, with many excellent international affairs and security studies accessible online through the Research and Publications page. The Library provides useful military and security resources, including topical bibliographies. Note the Parameters journal and the Strategic Studies Institute pages.

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services– Provides immigration and naturalization information, including laws, statistics, and  forms.

• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom– “Created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the Congress.” Site posts annual reports, regional and country assessments, policy briefs, newsletter, webcasts, and more.

• U.S. Mission to the United Nations– From the Office of Press and Public Affairs, U.S. Mission to the United Nations, New York City.

• United States Trade Representative– Responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and leading or directing negotiations with other countries on such matters. Note the searchable document library and the many full-text reports and trade agreements available, plus the issue, regional, and sector-specific sections, including U.S. trade policy.

• Voice of America News– The international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government, with online recordings and live audio in many languages.

• White House– Official statements from the Executive Office. The Briefing Room and a blog cover recent events, with an archive. The Compilation of Presidential Documents collection is composed of the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents and its predecessor, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (back to 1993). The searchable archives of the White House website during the George W. Bush administration are available online through the George W. Bush Presidential Library. The searchable archives of the White House website during the Bill Clinton administration are available online through the National Archives and Records Administration. The Public Papers of both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are available online through GPO Access.

Global Think Tank Guide

2009 Global Go To Think Tank Rankings– In PDF, by James McGann, Director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania, a thorough and “comprehensive ranking of the world’s top think tanks, based on a worldwide survey of hundreds of scholars and experts.” Discusses the goals, political tendencies, and influence levels of major think tanks.

Directories of Research Institutes, Papers, and Experts in International Affairs

Atlas’s Think Tank Directory– “Compiles information on nearly 500 think tanks worldwide that are sympathetic to the values of a free society,” accessible by institute name, country, region, or alphabetic directory.

Australian Policy Online– “Easy access to much of the best Australian social, economic, cultural and political research available online… a news service and library specialising in Australian public policy reports and articles from academic research centres, think tanks, government and non-government organisations.”

DocuTicker– Excellent free U.S. librarian-run service that “offers a hand-picked [annotated] selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations.” Posts archives in many subjects, with daily updates, and sends free weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting recent posts. To access the full archives in any subject, check the “Categories” column.

Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Think Tank Directory– “Lists think tanks devoted to security and international affairs research and education,” accessible by country or search term.

Global Information Access NeT (GIANT)– From the University of Pittsburgh, three projects: International Affairs Contact Network, a searchable directory of international affairs organizations and experts worldwide; Access International Education, a survey of international education opportunities for underrepresented populations; and the Peace and Security Studies Thesaurus, “to provide a standardized terminology in the field of peace and security studies.”

Policy Archive– “Universal, easy-to-use, free, and open digital archive” with “summaries and full texts, videos, reports, briefs, and multimedia material of think tank, university, government, and foundation-funded policy research.” From the Center for Governmental Studies and the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Library. Requires free registration.

Policypointers– “Online facility created to enable those involved in government, academe and the media to gain rapid access to the research and conclusions of think tanks, research institutes and government departments around the world.” Site posts report titles in many policy areas, descriptions, and links to the reports themselves.

Research Centers in International Relations on the Web– Very useful world list maintained by the United States Institute of Peace Library.

Some Major Research Institutes in International Affairs

• American Enterprise Institute– “Private, nonpartisan, not-for-profit [U.S.] institution dedicated to research and education on issues of government, politics, economics, and social welfare [whose] purposes are to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism–limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, political accountability, and open debate.”

• ARC Global Scan– Excellent site from Angus Reid Consultants, “a project devoted to providing the latest information on public opinion and democracy, featuring the world’s largest free-access online database of polls.” Charts “attitudes and perceptions of citizens around the world on the political, social and economic happenings that shape the future of humanity [with] daily information on worldwide public opinion, and follows democratic processes around the world.” Includes Polls & Research,  Election Tracker, and Trend Analysis sections, among others.

• Atlantic Council of the United States– “Promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century. The Council embodies a non-partisan network of leaders who aim to bring ideas to power and to give power to ideas.” Up to date news and analysis with policy papers, reports, and audio online. Note the policy blog New Atlanticist and online dialogue capabilities.

• British American Security Information Council– An independent research organization that  analyzes government policies in defense, disarmament, military strategy, and nuclear issues. Searchable, with online publications on security issues.

• Brookings Institution– The oldest think tank in the U.S., seeks to improve the performance of American institutions, the effectiveness of government programs, and the quality of U.S. public policies, including foreign policy. Note both the Foreign Policy and the World sections for international analysis and commentary.

• Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs– Fine large site from an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit U.S. organization dedicated to research and education in the areas of international ethics, war and peace, global social justice, and religion in politics. Posts a wide range of videos, “research papers, articles, and annotated collections of materials.”

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace– Conducts programs of research, discussion, publication, and education in international affairs and U.S. foreign policy, and publishes the quarterly journal Foreign Policy. Specialties are “particularly in the areas of Russia and Eurasia, China, the Indian subcontinent/South Asia, globalization, nonproliferation and security affairs.” Many publications are posted online, such as policy briefs, working papers, and reports. The excellent Non-Proliferation Project section presents news, information, and analysis on matters concerning weapons of mass destruction. Also note the “Arab Reform Bulletin” and other resources in the Middle East section. The Carnegie Endowment has other centers in Moscow, Beirut, and Brussels, the latter for the EU.

• Carter Center– A non-profit, nonpartisan U.S. public policy institute founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. The Center is dedicated to fighting disease, hunger, poverty, conflict, and oppression through collaborative initiatives in the areas of democratization and development, global health, and urban revitalization.

• Cato Institute– This libertarian U.S. think-tank features a large online library of free policy studies and briefings, some on international affairs, such those of the Center for Trade Policy Studies. Note the Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of the World report, free online, that ranks countries on dozens of measures of economic freedom.

• Center for European, Governance, and Economic Development Research– From the Georg August University of Göttingen, “deals with the investigation of European and global economic structures, with the effects of economic incentives on a national and international scale, as well as with processes of growth and development in developed and underdeveloped countries.” Posts discussion papers and reports on these topics.

• Center for International Policy– Promotes a U.S. foreign policy that reflects democratic values and a more sympathetic, farsighted, and non-militaristic approach to the developing world. Many studies available online.

• Center for International Security and Cooperation– Part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University and an “interdisciplinary university-based research and training center addressing some of the world’s most difficult security problems with policy-relevant solutions.” Posts results of its studies in nuclear security, terrorism and counterterrorism, conflict resolution, global governance, and international relations.

• Center for Strategic and International Studies– Excellent site from a major U.S. public policy research institution, with many online studies and multimedia resources on country and regional situations and key functional areas, such as international finance, U.S. domestic and economic policy, and U.S. foreign policy and national security issues. Note the publications page for online items.

• Centre for International Governance Innovation– “Independent, nonpartisan [Canadian] think tank that addresses international governance challenges… supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements.” Site posts blogs and CIGI’s research products in many forms. The excellent Library provides full-text “access to over 20,000 books, journals, and digital documents related to global governance, CIGI’s research themes, and Canadian foreign policy.”

• Chatham House– Home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, this is the UK’s foremost, world-class institute for international affairs research and is publisher of The World Today and International Affairs. Posts many briefing papers, reports, news, and press releases on global and regional matters.

• Council on Foreign Relations– The most influential private organization in U.S. foreign policy, whose ranks include nearly all past and present senior U.S. government officials who deal with international matters, renowned scholars, and leaders of business, media, human rights, humanitarian, and other nongovernmental groups. This excellent site posts Council studies, with much current and archived analytical material online about international relations and U.S. foreign policy, by region and topic. Note the section of the site on Terrorism. The Council’s prestigious journal Foreign Affairs has contents and some full-text articles and book reviews online, with archive, plus links to related online resources. The Global Governance Monitor is “a tool that shows how the international community is doing in addressing the most daunting threats that it faces.” Public Opinion on Global Issues is “a comprehensive digest of existing polling data on U.S. and global public attitudes on the world’s most pressing challenges… [that] consolidates global and U.S. public opinion across ten major issue areas: elements of world order, international institutions, violent conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change, energy security, the global economy, economic development, and human rights.”

• Faculty Club– Of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, a great source of free case studies  in international affairs for teaching use. Free registration required.

• Forum of Federations– Excellent site from an “international network that seeks to strengthen democratic governance by promoting dialogue on and understanding of the values, practices, principles, and possibilities of federalism.” Posts many online publications, key speeches, and news articles about federalism, plus the Federations bulletin.

• Freedom House– Many online studies ranking countries on measures of freedom, such as the annual Freedom of the Press, the annual Freedom in the World, informative backgrounders and other publications, are offered by this nonprofit, nonpartisan U.S. organization dedicated to promoting democracy around the world.

• Geneva Centre for Security Policy– “International foundation that was established in 1995 under Swiss law to ‘promote the building and maintenance of peace, security and stability.’” Produces and posts studies on a wide range of peace, security, conflict, and globalization issues and institutions around the world, plus news, seminars, and discussions.

• Henry L. Stimson Center– Nonprofit, nonpartisan U.S. institution “devoted to enhancing international peace and security through a unique combination of rigorous analysis and outreach.” Posts publications in the research areas of transnational threats, regional security, and effective institutions.

• Heritage Foundation– A conservative U.S. think tank aiming to spread the ideas of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Policy papers online. Note the Index of Economic Freedom, “a practical [searchable] reference guide to the world’s economies. It includes country-by-country analyses and the most up-to-date data available on foreign investment codes, taxes, tariffs, banking regulations, monetary policy, black markets, and more,”co-published with The Wall Street Journal.

• Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace– U.S. public policy research center at Stanford University, on domestic and international affairs, with ongoing programs of policy-oriented research in economics, political science, history, international relations, law, and other disciplines. Note the Hoover Digest, which “offers informative writing on politics, economics, and history by the scholars and researchers of the Hoover Institution…”

• Institute of Federalism– From the University of Fribourg, a documentation and research center on federal forms of government, with online publications, conference papers, and legal databases on that issue, plus a newsletter and annotated links database. 

• Institute for Security and Development Policy– From Stockholm, “dedicated to expanding understanding of international affairs, particularly the interrelationship between the issue areas of conflict, security and development. The Institute’s primary areas of geographic focus are Asia and Europe’s neighborhood,” with many publications online.

• International Centre For The Study of Radicalisation And Political Violence– Multi-university effort that addresses “the most pressing questions that can help to reduce the occurrence and impact of radicalisation and political violence. Ongoing projects look at how to reduce radicalisation online; improve de-radicalisation programmes in prison; and understand the differences between radicalisation in Europe and North America.” Posts papers, newsletters, and projects on this topic.

• Jamestown Foundation– Nonpartisan U.S. research institute aiming to “inform and educate policy makers and the broader policy community about events and trends in those societies which are strategically or tactically important to the United States.” Main emphasis is on terrorism and the Eurasian region. News items, many insightful publications by a global network of experts, and several free e-mail newsletters are available.

• National Democratic Institute for International Affairs– Nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide, with practical help to promote democratic values, practices, and institutions. Affiliated with the Democratic Party of the United States. Online information about the work of the Institute and problems of democracy worldwide. Note especially Access Democracy, “selected web sites and resource materials…to identify resources, share lessons and communicate best practices for promoting peaceful political change.”

• National Endowment for Democracy–  Private, nonprofit U.S. organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. The Journal of Democracy posts some articles online.

• Netherlands Institute for International Relations (“Clingendael”)– The leading Dutch international affairs research organization. “Special attention is devoted to European integration, transatlantic relations, international security, conflict studies, policy making on national and international energy markets, negotiations and diplomacy, and to the United Nations and other international organisations.” Posts many fine studies and online newsletter. Note their fine annotated weblinks section.

• Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics– A highly-regarded, private, nonprofit, nonpartisan American research institution devoted to the study of international economic policy, especially in anticipating emerging issues and offering “practical ideas, presented in user-friendly formats, to inform and shape public debate.” Many working papers, policy briefs, speeches, testimonies, and so forth are online.

• Population Reference Bureau– Excellent for authoritative data and analysis on world, regional, and national population and demographics trends. Features a large downloadable graphics bank of PowerPoint presentation graphics. Note their Annual Report and their annual World Population Data Sheet for “up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for all the countries and major regions of the world.” Search for data and analysis by topic, region, or country. The handy DataFinder has data on “133 population, health, and environment variables for more than 220 countries, 28 world regions and sub-regions, and the world as a whole.” The quarterly Population Bulletins on selected topics are very useful.

• Public Citizen– Ralph Nader’s U.S. consumer advocacy group with several international interests, especially at Global Trade Watch.

• RAND Corporation– A nonprofit U.S. institution providing research and analysis for policy and decisionmaking. Sign up for e-mail notices about the free online RAND Review, with articles and news about RAND research products. Numerous excellent international issues studies are online, so check the online publications page, among others. For a European issues perspective, check the website of RAND Europe, based in the UK.

• Stanley Foundation– U.S. research institute that is “focused on promoting and building support for principled multilateralism in addressing international issues.” Pursues policy initiatives on several major current issues and posts many conference reports and bulletins.

• Strategic Foresight Group– Based in India, a “think tank engaged in anticipating and influencing the future in uncertain times. It produces scenarios, creates policy concepts and facilitates political processes. It advises governments and business leaders and informs the public on future trends as well as discontinuities.” Posts studies on major world and Asian issues and trends.

• Terror Free Tomorrow– “Non-partisan, not-for-profit organization established in Washington, D.C… the only organization dedicated to a new strategic vision: leading the fight against terror by winning the popular support that empowers global terrorists.” Posts international public opinion polls, issue briefs, and news items.

• Transnational Crime and Corruption Center– “First center in the United States devoted to teaching, research, training and formulating policy advice in transnational crime, corruption and terrorism…under the auspices of American University’s  School of International Service.” Emphasis on the CIS. Many studies posted online, including access to the survey Russian Regional Report.

• Transparency International– Transparency International is the “leading global non-governmental organisation devoted to combating corruption.” Their many corruption surveys, indexes, and reports rank “the home countries of the payers of international bribes” and rank “countries in terms of the degree to which they are perceived to be the homes of bribe-takers– public officials who abuse their office for personal gain.”

• United States Institute of Peace– The mission of the USIP is to strengthen the nation’s capabilities to promote the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. Institute project reports, briefings, event summaries, and news items are available online, with archives and extensive links on conflict topics. Note the Resources & Tools section and the Research Centers in International Relations on the Web directory, by country.

• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars–  Offers fellowships for scholars in residence in Washington, D.C., and researches issues of concern to official policy, hosting seminars and conferences, and producing publications and broadcasts. Site has information about these programs and projects, and some of their publications.

• World Policy Institute– At the New School for Social Research, this U.S. think tank conducts policy research and advocacy on key world issues, from an internationalist perspective. Selections and abstracts from the World Policy Journal and papers from special projects are online, some full-text.

 

Directories, Clearinghouses, Networks, and Search Engine

Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations– “Independent, international, non-profit membership association of non-governmental organizations. It facilitates the participation of NGOs in United Nations debates and decision-making… to ensure that NGO voices be heard throughout the international arena.”

Connexions Online– From Connexions Information Sharing Services, a non-profit “organization working to connect individuals and organizations working for social change with each other, with information and ideas, and with the general public… features information about resources and organizations fostering democratization, economic justice, environmental responsibility, civil liberties, and the creation and preservation of community.”

Global Peacebuilders– “An international network of conflict resolution, conflict transformation and peacebuilding initiatives. By connecting organisations, researchers, academics and individual practitioners, we offer a solid platform for learning, exchange of best practice and development of international partnerships for reconciliation and peacebuilding.”

Google Non-governmental Organizations Search– Searches are limited to contents of major NGO websites.

Idealist– From Action Without Borders, the global clearinghouse of nonprofit and volunteering resources, listing over 50,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 countries, searchable by name, location or mission, with much information on volunteer opportunities. Also has a large Nonprofit Career Center, with hundreds of job and internship listings.

IGLOO– “Online network to facilitate and promote knowledge exchange among individuals and institutions working, studying or advising on global issues… now joining with other governance-related networks around the world to build a truly global network-of-networks… to create and promote innovative solutions to global challenges and advance effective policymaking through collaboration and sharing of knowledge, information and creative approaches.”

NGO Café– “Meeting place for NGOs to discuss, debate and disseminate information on their work, strategies and results,” that also serves as the WWW Virtual Library for NGOs. Provides an introduction to NGO work in many themes and spheres of activity, with suggestions and networks for success, from the Global Development Research Center.

One World– “Online media gateway for independently produced news on a host of issues that impact people worldwide… both a search engine and online community for organizations and individuals seeking in-depth information or guidance on how to become involved in addressing challenges facing people worldwide.”

UN and Civil Society– Information about the UN’s Non-Governmental Liaison Service and a directory of the thousands of NGOs and other civil society organizations affiliated as partners with the UN in national and global issues.

Union of International Associations– A large master index with a wealth of information about intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, by the Brussels group responsible for tracking them. You can search for specific IGOs and NGOs through the International Organizations and Civil Society page or the Link Directory. Research documents about international organization are also available online.

World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations– “International organization uniting NGOs worldwide in the cause of advancing peace and global well being… helps to provide the mechanism and support needed for NGOs to connect, partner, share, inspire, and multiply their contributions to solve humanity’s basic problems.” Note the searchable Worldwide NGO Directory.

Some Principal Organizations

• Amnesty International– The foremost NGO in the protection of human rights worldwide. Many publications online.

• Bretton Woods Project– NGO that works to monitor and reform the World Bank and IMF, tracking key policy statements and reports, and providing critiques and early warnings used by NGOs across the world. Issues analysis, glossary, briefings, reports, newsletter, links.

• Changemakers– Organization dedicated to “the rapidly growing world of social entrepreneurship. Its mission is to provide inspiration, resources, and opportunities for those interested in social change throughout the world.” Features journal, library, viewpoints, multimedia, and creative resourcing sections.

• Foreign Policy Association– Excellent searchable site from a leading non-profit, non-partisan organization in American foreign policy and world affairs education. Provides objective publications, programs, and forums to increase community-level awareness of international matters that shape the U.S.’s future, and promotes citizen involvement in those issues. Information on the Great Decisions community discussions program, online discussion forums, insightful foreign policy blogs, analytical articles, searchable documents library, issue guides, reference maps, video streams, free e-mail newsletters, educators and students sections, more.

• Global Governance Watch– “Joint project of the American Enterprise Institute and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies… to raise awareness of the growing global governance movement and to address issues of transparency and accountability at the United Nations, in NGOs, and related international organizations. In particular, the project monitors issues of national sovereignty and the ways in which the agendas of international organizations influence domestic politics.”

• Institute for Cultural Diplomacy– “With headquarters in the United States and Germany… one of Europe’s leading organisations in the field of cultural exchange… [whose] research and programmes in the area of cultural communication and rapprochement offer viable alternatives to enhance traditional diplomatic policy.” Posts information, studies, and opportunities for “inter- and intra- cultural dialogue between different cultures.”

• InterAction– The American Council for Voluntary International Action is a coalition of more than 180 U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working worldwide. This site links to many other international sites, and has press releases, situation reports on hot spots, archives of the magazine Monday Developments, and updates on legislative issues that impact international development and humanitarian work.

• International Foundation for Election Systems– Private, nonprofit U.S. organization supporting electoral and other democratic institutions in emerging, evolving, and experienced democracies–”one of the world’s premier democracy and governance assistance organizations.” Excellent electoral information and analysis. See the Election Guide for election news and analysis worldwide.

• International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance– Aims to promote and advance sustainable democracy, improve and consolidate electoral processes world-wide, and provide a forum for discussions and action among individuals and organizations involved in democracy promotion. This excellent site from Sweden offers news, analyses, and databases. Note especially Women in Politics and the Voter Turnout Website. Also check out the several partner projects, such as the Administration and Cost of Elections (ACE) Project.

• International Trade Union Confederation– “The ITUC’s primary mission is the promotion and defence of workers’ rights and interests, through international cooperation between trade unions, global campaigning and advocacy within the major global institutions.” Posts news and analysis of a wide variety of labor-related issues around the world and the Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights.

• LaborNet–  An independent network that seeks to build up labor communication for all working people. News and resources relating to national and global labor issues.

• National Peace Corps Association– Non-profit U.S. organization dedicated to building a network of returned Peace Corps volunteers, former staff, and friends of the Peace Corps, to teach Americans about other cultures through their Peace Corps experience.

• Partners of the Americas– A network of citizens from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States, who volunteer to work together to improve the lives of people across the region, through nonpolitical, community-based activities.

• Population Reference Bureau– Excellent for authoritative data and analysis on world, regional, and national population and demographics trends. Features a large downloadable graphics bank of PowerPoint presentation graphics. Note their Annual Report and their annual World Population Data Sheet for “up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for all the countries and major regions of the world.” Search for data and analysis by topic, region, or country. The handy DataFinder has data on “133 population, health, and environment variables for more than 220 countries, 28 world regions and sub-regions, and the world as a whole.” The quarterly Population Bulletins on selected topics are very useful.

• Third World Network– Reports and angles on development issues from the perspectives of the developing countries, from an independent non-profit international network of organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World, and North- South issues. Fine site covering many issues, with numerous publications online and links to others off-site.

• Trade Observatory– From the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (USA), “dedicated to gathering information about international trade and making it free to the public, a true repository of as much information about global trade as we can find.” Monitors and analyzes globalization, global trade policy, inequities in the global trade system (particularly in the World Trade Organization), and sustainable development issues. Hundreds of free documents, treaties, and several newsletters are available here.

 

Searches within the United Nations System

Global Issues on the UN Agenda– Directory page that locates and links to UN system programs and activities by global theme or issue, plus events, documents, learning tools, NGO partners, and key speeches (all by issue).

Libraries, Catalogues and Publications of the UN System– “The premier web site which provides a Web interface to the electronic resources of the libraries of [the] UN system of organizations, and offers powerful search and retrieval functionality… provides a single point of access to library catalogs, indexes and abstract databases, library holdings, links to full-text resources, and archives.” Excellent central database to search for U.N. studies and holdings by country, topic, or other terms.

Structure and Organization of the United Nations– Explanatory page to access the principal organs, committees, commissions, agencies, institutes, and other entities of the United Nations.

United Nations Bibliographic Information System– “Catalogue of United Nations documents and publications indexed by the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the Library of the UN Office at Geneva… [plus] commercial publications and other non-UN sources held in the collection of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.” Also “provides instant access to a growing number of full text resources in the six official languages of the UN.” Use the BISNET Index to Speeches search engine to find official addresses given at the U.N.

United Nations Internet Resources– Directory from the Library of the University of California at Berkeley.

United Nations Official Document System– Search facility for online access to “all types of official United Nations documentation, beginning in 1993,” plus “resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council from 1946 onwards,” with online training guides and expanding coverage. See the United Nations Documentation: Research Guide, “designed for researchers and information professionals with an interest in United Nations documentation. It presents an overview of the various types of documents and publications issued by the Organization (e.g, reports, resolutions, meeting records, sales publications, press releases) and gives guidance on how to work with them.”

United Nations System– Official Web site locator for the United Nations system of organizations, searchable and organized in a user-friendly way.

UNdata– “Data access system to UN databases… a single entry point from which users can now search and download a variety of statistical resources of the UN System.” Very helpful, searches scores of millions of UN records. From the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

UN Pulse– Weblog that “alerts you to selected just-released UN online information, major reports, publications and documents. Created and maintained by a team of reference librarians at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York, UN Pulse is updated as new information is published and received.”

Yearbook of the United Nations– “The Yearbook is the principal reference work of the United Nations and provides a detailed overview of the Organization’s activities. Each Yearbook is fully indexed and includes all major General Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council resolutions. The complete collection (1946-2005) is available here.”

 

Some Key United Nations Web Sites

•  United Nations Home Page– From the U.N. Department of Public Information, organized by topics and general information. Databases are online.

•  Dag Hammarskjöld Library– From the United Nations Department of Public Information, with material available online. Of particular note is the United Nations Documentation Research Guide, for an overview of the various types of U.N. documents and publications. Also consult the United Nations System Pathfinder, to identify major publications of the organizations comprising the United Nations system, and UN-I-QUE: United Nations Info Quest, for quick access to document symbols/sales numbers for U.N. materials since 1946.

•  Food and Agriculture Organization– Includes a World Food Situation section. The Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture has reports and databases for information on the world food and agriculture situation. At FAO’s searchable Document Repository you can access and view full-text documents from FAO and related IGOs. FAOStat Databases give you time-series food and forestry-related statistics by commodity or country. “The State of…” publications series provides the “most recent world-wide information and analyses on major topics of [FAO's] competence – food and agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forests, food insecurity.”

•  Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme– This annual Report is a comprehensive guide to global human development, with analyses of major issues, updated Human Development Indicators to compare the relative levels of human development in over 175 countries, and an agenda to help transform development priorities. Portions are available online, Occasional Papers, and links to national HDRs.

• Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva– Site allows access to information on Library holdings (searchable online catalog), recent acquisitions, archives, bibliographies, publications,  e-resources, U.N. system resources, special events, and more.

•  Millennium Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations– In full-text, released April 2000, “the most comprehensive presentation of the UN’s mission in its fifty-five year history, containing numerous specific goals and programme initiatives.”

•  United Nations Children’s Fund– Statistics and publications online about the situation and rights of children worldwide, including the annual report State of the World’s Children.

•  United Nations Chronicle– Selected articles and special features from this official publication on “information, ideas and debate about the U.N. system,” with archive.

•  United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)– Describes UNIFEM’s work, and that of others, to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality by providing “financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women’s human rights, political participation and economic security.” Offers online publications on women’s issues around the world.

•  United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)– “The United Nations agency for human settlements… mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.” Posts many UN-HABITAT publications, news, statistics, and partnerships, both globally and by country.

•  United Nations News Centre–  From the U.N. Department of Public Information, “A world of news from the world organization,” with searchable global and U.N. news sources, press briefings, and analysis, with archives. A webcast site shows U.N. news, events, and documentary videos.

•  United Nations Publications– Learn about and order United Nations and other international publications and gift items, plus the United Nations Documents on Demand service.

•  United Nations Statistics Division– Provides a wide range of statistics, with some free databases online, and some by subscription only, plus links to other sources of national and international statistics.

•  Women Watch– Gateway to U.N. information and data on women worldwide and a forum on global women’s issues, to provide up to date information on the U.N.’s work on behalf of the women of the world, track the global agenda for improving the status of women, and constitute an electronic space for exchange of information and ideas on women’s issues.

 

About the United Nations

•  Global Governance Watch– “Joint project of the American Enterprise Institute and the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies… to raise awareness of the growing global governance movement and to address issues of transparency and accountability at the United Nations, in NGOs, and related international organizations. In particular, the project monitors issues of national sovereignty and the ways in which the agendas of international organizations influence domestic politics.”

•  Global Policy Forum– Independent NGO “to monitor policy making at the United Nations, promote accountability of global decisions, educate and mobilize for global citizen participation, and advocate on vital issues of international peace and justice,” with much information and analysis online. Note their section on NGOs and the United Nations.

•  ReformtheUN.org– “Project started by the World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy, a global membership organization headquartered in New York City. WFM-IGP is dedicated to bringing about a just world order through a strengthened and more democratized United Nations.” This website tracks and analyzes the U.N. reform process from that perspective.

•  U.N. Wire– Free daily independent news summary by e-mail covering the United Nations, global affairs, and key international issues from the United Nations Foundation and SmartBrief.

•  United Nations Association of the United States of America–  Dedicated to promoting U.S. participation in the United Nations system and to strengthening the U.N. system. Online forums, materials on education and public research, substantive policy analysis, policy advocacy, U.S.-U.N. relations, and links.

•  United Nations Intellectual History Project– From the Graduate Center of The City University of New York, materials from a project analyzing the U.N. “as the creator and nurturer of ideas and concepts that have permeated international public policy discourse and sometimes won support and been implemented.”

•  United Nations Scholars’ Workstation– Developed by the Yale University Library and the Social Science Statistical Laboratory, this is a rich “collection of texts, finding aids, data sets, maps, and pointers to print and electronic information. Subject coverage includes disarmament, economic and social development, environment, human rights, international relations, international trade, peacekeeping, and population and demography.”

•  United States Mission to the United Nations– Official website of the US delegation with information about the mission, press releases, fact sheets, official speeches, US policy positions on major issues, and so forth. Also note the annual reports of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs on U.S. participation in the U.N. and the voting practices of each of the members of the U.N.

•  World Federation of United Nations Associations– Seeks to “inform, sustain and energize a global network of United Nations Associations to support the principles and programs of the United Nations and to help shape its agenda.” Information on the United Nations and WFUNA, and links to the Federation’s national affiliates worldwide.

 

Sources for News about the EU

• EU Business– Business news generally and by business sector or country of the European Union. Note especially the EU Guides page with “background information and web links about key EU issues.”

• eufeeds– From the European Journalism Centre, posts links to current news from over 1000 newspapers from over a score of European countries, constantly updated and with a page on European news.

• EUobserver.com– “Independent website published in cooperation with the Group for a Europe of Democracies and Diversities in the European Parliament” for “all the latest news from the EU,” with links to European news sources for most topics, e-mail news option, and debate section.

• EurActiv– Excellent searchable portal site and directory, with a lot of solid content of news (with archives), analysis, country profiles, policy positions, online guide to thousands of EU actors, more.

• euronews– Leading European news video channel, with international news, weather, features, and topic directories in several languages, from a European perspective.

• European Voice– Web version of a Brussels-based weekly newspaper published by the Economist Group and devoted entirely to European Union affairs.

• Google’s European Union news search page– Excellent and focused search engine to retrieve news about the European Union. Offers an e-mail news alert service.

• Inside Europe– The BBC’s website on EU news, opinions, and analysis.

• New Europe– “The European weekly, published since 1993, is a unique product carrying news and analyses from 49 countries with a particular emphasis on the EU institutions and EU-World relations.”

• the Euros– News, analysis, and blogs, “to explain European politics in an understandable fashion… the latest news from Brussels and the member states, background reports and interviews.”

• The Parliament– “Dods’ EU political news and information website, providing comprehensive real time news and analysis of the key issues and debates within the EU institutions.”

 

Web Directories for the European Union

The EU Delegation to the USA’s A to Z Index of European Union Websites is a good place to find information on all the websites of the European Union’s institutions and specialized agencies.

European Information– Offers “pointers to resources of interest to those researching and studying the European Union and to research sponsored by the European Community,” from the University of Exeter.

European Union Internet Resources– Directory from the Library of the University of California at Berkeley.

EuroStudies: European Union– From Intute, a service created by a network of UK universities and partners, a fine searchable directory for access to high quality Internet resources about the European Union in the social sciences.

Official European Union Sources

• EU Delegation to the USA– This large site, by the European Commission’s Offices of Press and Public Affairs in Washington D.C. and New York, is a fine link to information about the EU and its  member states, and the EU-US relationship. Of particular interest are The European Union: a Guide for Americans, the EU News Page, and the  Publications page.

• EUROPA-- The massive EU server, covering the Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, and other bodies of the European Union. There is a huge amount of information on this site. The Bulletin of the European Union “gives an account… of the activities of the Commission and the other Community institutions.” Basic information about the European Union is found at The European Union at a Glance and a history at The History of the European Union. A Key Facts and Figures page is available and a page explaining ‘eurojargon’. A glossary contains over 200 “terms relating to European integration and the institutions and activities of the EU.” The Enlargement section of the European Commission site examines issues of EU enlargement. A portal to all available information on EUROPA about the EU’s foreign policies/external relations is found at European Union in the World. The Your Europe portal provides “detailed practical information on citizen rights and opportunities in the EU” and business-oriented information. The European Youth Portal aims “to give as many young people as possible quick and easy access to relevant youth related information on Europe.”

• EU Bookshop– Handy interactive site “giving access to publications from the EU institutions, agencies and other bodies. In addition to the online bookshop, this service will offer an online catalogue and archive of all EU publications. EU Bookshop will allow users to search for EU publications, order them and where possible, download [often free] copies.”

• EUR-Lex– The searchable portal of the European Union for European Union Law, including the Official Journal of the European Union.

• European Commission Central Library– Central locator site maintained by the European Commission’s unit responsible for libraries and European Documentation Centres, “an essential tool for librarians, documentalists and researchers working on European material.” Here is the European Commission Libraries Catalogue of bibliographical references for hundreds of thousands of publications on European affairs, but without document delivery or copy service.

• European Commission Online Press Room– Latest news and press releases on the EU, with searchable archive at RAPID.

• European Convention– Web site of the European Convention, which ended in July 2003, posting the proceedings and documents of the meetings and the Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe.

• European Documentation Centre– At the University of Mannheim, part of a network set up by the European Commission to offer “access to official documents and publications of the EU institutions in printed or electronic version.” Much information about the EU and many of its full-text electronic documents are accessible on or through this site.

• European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters– Managed by the European Commission, this website “contains a large quantity of information about the Member States, Community law, European law and various aspects of civil and commercial law.”

• European Union: Institute for Security Studies– An autonomous agency of the European Union, this institute conducts studies and posts them online, and offers a newsletter about security issues of interest to the EU.

• Eurostat– “Offers a comprehensive range of printed and electronic publications and datasets that, collectively, cover all areas of European statistics, and at every level of detail.” Many statistics, guides, and analytical reports available free online, as well as the Eurostat yearbook. Statistics Explained presents “all possible statistical topics in an easily understandable way… [an] encyclopedia of European statistics, completed by a statistical glossary clarifying all terms used and by numerous links to further information and the very latest data and metadata…”

• European Central Bank– Chief financial institution of the European Union.

• European Commission Trade Site– From the European Commission, much information on EU trade matters.

• Fact Sheets on the European Union– From the European Parliament, scores of sheets “to provide those new to the subject with an overview of the process of European integration and the European Parliament’s role in this development… one of the best sources of information about the Union’s institutions and policies.”

• Office for Official Publications of the European Communities– The official publishing house of the European Union “offers a number of online services giving free access to information on EU law, EU publications, EU public procurement, and EU research and development,” as well as to the Official Journal of the European Union.

• Public Opinion Analysis–  From the Public Opinion Analysis sector of the European Commission, the searchable central site for EU public opinion surveys, with results and data online, as well as archives. Includes Standard Eurobarometer, Special Eurobarometer, Candidate Countries Eurobarometer, Flash Eurobarometer, and qualitative studies.

• SCAD Plus– “Clear and concise summaries of EU legislation in all policy areas… [in] user-friendly fact sheets which summarise EU legislation… not only summaries of existing measures, but also a follow-up of legislative proposals…”

 

Other Sources on the European Union

• Archive of European Integration– Excellent site from the Library System of the University of Pittsburgh– “an electronic repository and archive for research materials on the topic of European integration and unification. The AEI collects two types of materials: certain types of independently-produced research materials and official European Community/European Union documents.” Many documents and research papers for free download.

• Britain in the European Union– From the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, a guide to the EU for citizens of the UK, but useful for a more general audience.

• Centre for European Policy Studies– From Brussels, one of Europe’s leading think tanks, with the motto of “Thinking ahead for Europe.” Excellent and numerous online publications, full-text and abstracts, and commentary index, largely on the European Union.

• Centre for European Reform– From London, “a think-tank devoted to improving the quality of the debate on the future of the European Union,” pro-European cooperation but with a critical eye to promote “new ideas and policies for reforming the European Union.” Favors a “competitive, outward-looking Europe that has strong links to North America.” Numerous publications online.

• Cicero Foundation– Non-profit Dutch organization and think tank that actively supports the integration of the Central and Eastern European countries into the EU. Lectures from seminars are available online.

• EU-Russia Centre– “Independent information and expertise resource for anyone interested in modern Russia, its democratic status and the future of EU-Russia relations. It seeks to promote closer ties between the EU and Russia, to develop ideas about the future of the relationship, and to ensure that both sides adhere to international standards concerning the key elements of a civil society…” Posts news, newsletters, and studies about this topic.

• Eurointernet– Excellent collection of information resources related to European integration on the Internet, including many full text papers online. Serves as the World Wide Web Virtual Library for European Integration.

• Euromoney Online– A sophisticated source of business and financial information, this site includes extended research and surveys, capital markets league tables from Euromoney’s proprietary databases, and dates of forthcoming industry summits, conferences and seminars.  Requires free registration.

• Europages– Searchable European business directory that provides 2.3 million company addresses from 35 European countries, key business information, links to yellow pages throughout Europe and to world business sites.

• Europe 2020– “Website dedicated to European political anticipation. Developed in partnership with many different organisations including research centres and individual researchers, Europe 2020 website aims at promoting research in the field of European political anticipation…” (i.e., forecasting and trend analysis).

• Europe’s World– From the journal Europe’s World, “designed to further promote debate on the policy challenges facing Europe. It spans articles and reactions to articles published in Europe’s World, but is not limited to the journal since it also features studies and reports from think tanks throughout Europe.” Site posts cost-free copies of Europe’s World.

• European Anti-Poverty Network– “An independent coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and groups involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Member States of the European Union,” supported by the European Commission.

• European Citizen Action Service– NGO “independent of political parties, commercial interests and the EU Institutions. The association’s mission is to enable NGOs and individuals to make their voice heard with the EU.” Site features news, documents, publications, and more about EU citizenship and civil society, rights, transparency.

• European Institute– From the London School of Economics and Political Science, an outstanding “primary focus for the inter-disciplinary study of processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe.” Posts many papers in its priority areas of research: governance of the European Union, European ideas and identities, and European political economy. The “Europe in Question” series explores “the future development and governance of Europe… new lines of reflection and analysis, and… research across cognate disciplines.” Note the Research Resources on Europe page.

• European Integration History Index– “Provides Internet resources on the History of Europe after WWII in all languages. European Integration is here understood as the process of political, economic and cultural integration and co-operation between various European countries in the 20th century – mainly in the period after 1945.”

• European Movement– “International organisation open to all political, economic, social and cultural trends in civil society. Its objective is to contribute to the establishment of a united, federal Europe founded on the principles of peace, democracy, liberty, solidarity, and respect for basic human rights.” Posts publications, news items, and a newsletter on integration issues.

• European NAvigator– “Provides high quality [multimedia] research and educational material on the history of European integration… contains more than 15,000 documents on the historical and institutional development of a united Europe from 1945 to the present day.” From the Virtual Resource Centre for Knowledge about Europe.

• European Parliament Research Group– From the London School of Economics and Political Science, the website for scholars on the EU Parliament. Posts papers, data, links to member scholars, and ongoing projects.

• European Policy Centre– Excellent, innovative, society-wide think-tank in Brussels for debate of European Union policy issues, with many documents, studies, and articles online.

• European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN)– “Network of dynamic think tanks and policy institutes focusing on current EU and European political and policy debates… with almost 40 member think tanks in 28 countries… EPIN aims to contribute to the debate on the Future of Europe through up to the minute, expert analysis and commentary and through providing easy access to understanding the different national debates.” Many studies posted online.

• European Research Papers Archive– Excellent site allows a broad database search of hundreds of online working papers about European integration, from several research centers.

• European Union History Site– From the History Department of Leiden University: “On this site you will find all sorts of information regarding the history of the European Union.”

• European Union Law: An Integrated Guide to Electronic and Print Research– By Marylin J. Raisch, and from the Law Library Resource Xchange, a fine bibliographic essay about online and print sources on EU law.

• European Union Studies Association– “The premier scholarly and professional association, worldwide, focusing on the European Union,” with “information on EUSA’s programs and activities, such as the Forum essays from our quarterly EUSA Review, ideas and syllabi for teaching the EU, updates on our next international conference, an annotated list of valuable EU-related Web links, and more.”

• European Values Study– “Large-scale, cross-national, and longitudinal survey research program on basic human values [in Europe], [carried on by] the European Values Study group…  aimed at exploring the moral and social values underlying European social and political institutions and governing conduct.” Site posts surveys and results, newsletters, link to data, and more.

• Exploring EU Foreign Policy– From the Catholic University of Leuven, “this online resource guide for researchers, practitioners and students is a comprehensive guide through the maze of information sources on EU foreign policy… This website is a Jean Monnet Action and has received funding from the European Community.”

• Federal Trust– From the UK, Europe’s oldest think-tank on European integration, focused on good governance and “the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government.” Online studies.

• Foreign Policy Centre– From the UK, “The European Think Tank with a Global Outlook,” a major progressive “think tank launched under the patronage of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to develop a vision of a fair and rule-based world order.” Topics of online publications include the future of Europe and Europe’s role in the world.

• Jean Monnet Program– At  the New York University School of Law, publishes online the excellent Jean Monnet Working Papers on topics of European integration. Many online resources on European integration are available at or through this site. Note the European Integration Current Contents, which provides searchable access to the tables of contents, and some abstracts, of scores of journals covering European integration research, in various languages.

• Migrant Integration Policy Index– “Measures policies to integrate migrants in 25 EU Member States and 3 non-EU countries. It uses over 100 policy indicators to create a rich, multi-dimensional picture of migrants’ opportunities to participate in European societies… [and] covers six policy areas which shape a migrant’s journey to full citizenship.” Posts key findings, country profiles, maps and charts. From the British Council and the Migration Policy Group.

• Notre Europe– With the slogan “Think a United Europe,” this think tank “organises seminars and conferences, directs studies, consultations, and publications, launches information campaigns, and carries out other types of work of European interest in collaboration with institutions or press organisations.” Online are many papers, seminar reports, debates, and sources of information off-site.

• Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies– From the European University Institute, promotes research on the major issues confronting European society, principally the construction of Europe. Hundreds of excellent studies are available online. Note the EUI’s database Historical Archives of the European Union, with some online access to the European Communities’ files and “papers of European politicians or officials, or archives of European associations, parties and organisations that have played a significant part in the march towards European integration.”

• Statewatch– From London, a non-profit group of “lawyers, academics, journalists, researchers and community activists” that “encourages the publication of investigative journalism and critical research in the fields of the state, civil liberties and openness” in the European Union and its members. News, bulletin, documents, and analytical papers online or linked.

• Transatlantic Information Exchange System (TIESWeb)– A joint European and American organization with a “Civil Society Agenda” to “strengthen the transatlantic partnership by promoting dialogue between individuals on a people-to-people level…not only to link citizens across the Atlantic but also to address key issues at the core of future EU/US relations.” Promotes education and posts information and analysis on the topic.

• Trans European Policy Studies Association– “The first transeuropean research network, comprises leading research institutes in the field of European affairs throughout Europe, with an office in Brussels… [whose] aim is to provide high quality research on European integration in order to stimulate discussion on policies and political options for Europe… by interaction between the European and national institutions as well as the academic and research community.” Posts publications and a newsletter on integration issues.

Directories

International Governmental Organizations– Extensive guide to intergovernmental organizations from the Northwestern University Library.

Union of International Associations– A large master index with a wealth of information about intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, by the Brussels group responsible for tracking them. You can search for specific IGOs and NGOs through the International Organizations and Civil Society page or the Links page. Research documents about international organization are also available online.

Some Principal Organizations and Sources

• African Union– The international organization for all African countries, with information about the AU and its member countries.

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)– “The premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.” Information about APEC, the international economics and trade of the region, latest news, official statements, agreements, and more. Hundreds of free publications for download.

• Group of 8 Information Centre– From the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto, “G7/G8 background information, all documentation arising from G7 summit meetings, available documentation from G7 ministerial and other meetings,” and “scholarly articles and bibliographies about the G7 process.”

• Group of 20 Information Centre– From the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto, G20 background information, documentation arising from G20 summit meetings, available documentation from G20 ministerial and other meetings, and scholarly articles and bibliographies about the G20 process.

• Inter-American Development Bank– The IDB finances economic and social development studies and projects in Latin America and the Caribbean and posts plentiful and excellent online news, analysis, and development reports about the region.

• International Atomic Energy Agency– Independent international organization related to the United Nations system, with the mission of working with “Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies.” Posts much information and analysis on “nuclear knowledge and information resources, including associated legal and official documentation… scientific and technical documents, websites and databases.”

• International Energy Agency– “Intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens.” Posts statistics and much analysis of global and country energy issues.

• International Finance Cooporation– Part of the World Bank Group, IFC is “the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world,” with special interest in sustainable private sector development. The site posts many papers and reports on global and regional aspects of sustainable private sector development.

• International Labour Organization– Much information about international labor standards and conditions. Note the following databases– NATLEX: Database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights;  ILOLEX: Database of International Labour Standards; and LABORSTA: Labour Statistics Database operated by the ILO Bureau of Statistics. Labordoc has “references to a wide range of print and electronic publications, including journal articles, from countries around the world, on all aspects of work and sustainable livelihoods, and the work-related aspects of economic and social development and human rights.” Also see Key Indicators of the Labour Market, a monitor of employment trends.

• International Monetary Fund– The IMF oversees a wide range of international economic and financial issues. Numerous publications on economic and financial issues, including country information and World Economic Outlook, are available and searchable online. The Data Mapper presents World Economic Outlook data in map, graphic, and bubble chart form, such as GDP, inflation, and current account balance, from 1980 to the present, plus five-year projections. The Financial Soundness Indicators database is “aimed at supporting macroprudential analysis—the surveillance and assessment of the strengths and vulnerabilities of financial systems.” The Quarterly Public Sector Debt Database “offers access to public sector debt statistics for 30 emerging market and developing countries and will be updated every three months.” Also see the quarterly journal Finance and Development.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization– NATO is attempting to participate in the development of cooperative security structures for the whole of Europe. This site has a complete archive of all official documents and both general and specific NATO publications. Note the NATO Integrated Data Service that gives access to NATO documentation, and the NATO Review magazine. The free e-mail publications service “can keep you up-to-date with the latest news and views from NATO.”

• Organization of American States– The principal international organization of the Western Hemisphere, with searchable information on many issues in the Hemisphere.

• Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation– The international organization of the industrialized, market-economy countries, to exchange information and harmonize policy to maximize economic growth within member countries and assist non-member countries to develop more rapidly. OECD statistics and many data sets are posted online. The searchable Publications and Documents section is a good place to start. OECD resources focusing on a particular country (OECD member or not) can be found  at the Country Portal. Note the Economics Department, with many publications online. The very useful yearly OECD Factbook is “an essential tool providing a global overview of world economic, social and environmental trends.” An interactive eXplorer feature allows Factbook time-series data manipulation on a world map and a scatter plot screen. The Factblog uses graphs, charts, and videos to comment on and analyze major policy debates and current global trends. Read the online version of the OECD Observer magazine for a topical approach to the latest interests of OECD research.

• Organization for Security and Co-operation  in Europe– Publications and newsletters are available from this international organization, which is “the largest regional security organization in the world with 55 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.”

• World Bank Group– A huge number of online publications is available here. Good access points for economic research reports online are Data and Research and Documents and Reports. Publications and databases are available on the Development Data and Statistics page.  Also see the data and analysis available at the Countries and Regions page. The Key Development Data and Statistics page presents “the most widely-used, official-source development data from the World Bank and other international agencies.” Data by Topic presents country data on many variables. Note the searchable World Bank Journals page. Also see Gender and Development, about projects, programs, publications, policy, news, and events concerning women’s issues. Many additional annotated World Bank links are available on the International Development page of this WWW Virtual Library.

• World Trade Organization– The only global body dealing with the rules of trade among nations, whose agreements are the legal ground-rules for international commerce and for trade policy. Large amount of online resources for a range of users, from the general public to students, academics, and trade specialists. Note the Resources Gateway for statistics, research, publications and other services of the WTO, the Trade Statistics page, and the Official Documents page for searchable access to all online official WTO documents.