Political Science Subject Guide
Encyclopedias & Handbooks
21 resources available
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- Open Access
Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Institutions
JA 61 .B56 1987 (Ref)
Provides concise information on the central concepts used in the study of political institutions; focus is on leading organizations, movements, and individuals found in advanced industrial nations, and it includes bibliographies.
Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought
Ranging in length from one paragraph to several pages, the entries focus on the major ideas and doctrines that have influenced political theorists and politics currently and in the past; includes bibliographies.
This Web site contains the on-line versions of books previously published in hard copy by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Army. This series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors. Currently, there are just over 100 country studies available online. NOTE: The site focuses on lesser-known nations so a number of West European countries are not included.
Current World Leaders
CT 100 .C822x (Ref)
Issued three times a year, this source offers an up-to-date snapshot of over 193 countries and 30 colonies, giving brief statistical information about the nation, the names of key officials and ministers, and the address, telephone number, and FAX number for the country's embassy in the U.S.
Dictionary of 20th Century World Politics
JA 61 .S53 1993 (Ref)
An alphabetic listing of the history, people, theories, and ideas that have influenced and transformed international politics in the 20th century; this comprehensive work includes over 4,000 entries, most of them fairly brief, with many photographs and illustrations.
Dictionary of Political Analysis
JA 61 .P57 1982 (Ref)
This reference book concentrates on terms that relate to the contemporary behavioral approach to political study and research. There are over 200 entries and terms dealing with the analysis of data, especially statistical analysis.
Encyclopedia of Government and Politics
JA 61 .C66 2004 (Ref)
Written by experts in the field, this 2-volume set includes long essays on a variety of topics in politics and government, including political theory; contemporary ideologies and political systems; political institutions and processes; policy making; international relations; and major issues in contemporary world politics. Entries are all signed and include bibliographical references.
Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right
JA 61 .E54 2005 (Ref)
The essays in this 2-volume set will help researchers understand better the political meaning of "left" and "right." There are over "450 articles on individuals, movements, political parties, and ideological principles, with those usually thought of a left in the left-hand volume and those considered right, in the right-hand volume." --Introduction.
Encyclopedia of Revolutions and Revolutionaries: From Anarchism to Zhou Enlai
D 21.3 .E33 1996 (Ref)
Contains almost 1,300 articles about the most important revolutions in all of history, the people and organizations who made them, and the ideologies in whose name they were carried out. Includes many photographs and illustrations.
Encyclopedia of the European Union
JN 30 .E52 1998 (Ref)
Contains in-depth, authoritative discussions of more than 700 concepts, issues, developments, institutions, events, negotiations, treaties, national interests, and personalities related to European integration. Specialized articles are signed and include bibliographic references.
Encyclopedia of World Constitutions
K 3157 .E5 E53 2007 (Ref)
Arranged alphabetically by country, this 3-volume set provides the following information about each nation: constitutional history, basic organizational structure, leading constitutional principles, constitutional bodies (e.g., president, prime minister, legislature, judiciary, etc.), the election process, political parties, fundamental rights, and much more. Each entry inlcludes Web links to online versions of the contstitutions, and some additional references.
Governments on the World Wide Web
Provides quick links to national, regional, and international government Web pages, including institutions such as parliaments, ministries, law courts, embassies, public broadcasting corporations, national banks, and much more.
International Year Book and Statesmen's Who's Who
JA 51 .I57 (Ref Desk Coll)
This source contains information on international organizations, extensive political and economic data arranged by country, and biographical sketches of world leaders. The country sections contain directory and statistical information on government officials, political life, and the economy.
Legal Systems of the World: A Political, Social, and Cultural Encyclopedia
K 48 .L44 2002 (Ref)
This 4-volume set explores the structure, operation and history of judicial and legal systems in every country around the globe, every state in the Union, and every province in Canada. Includes illustrations, maps, 275 legal diagrams, a bibliography, glossary and index.
This guide from the Law Library of Congress, contains a lengthy list of resources for each nation. Most of the items are links to statistical, legal or legislative information on the country available on the Web.
Oxford Companion to Politics of the World
JA 61 .O95 2001 (Ref) This book consists of encyclopedic-type entries on topics relating to politics and on countries and people. Each article includes cross-references, a bibliography, and is written by an expert in the field. Subject coverage is broad, covering such topics as ethnicity, disinvestments, the New Right, development and underdevelopment, and German Reunification.
Political Handbook of the World: Governments and Intergovernmental Organizations
JF 37 .P6 (Ref Desk Coll)
This book examines, in alphabetical order, the governmental organization and politics of each country in the world. Among the topics covered are political background, constitution and government, foreign relations, political parties, political movements, the legislature and cabinet, and the media.
Political Theories for Students
JA 81 .P617 2002 (Ref)
This one-volume work provides detailed essays on political theories such as anarchism, Communism, imperialism, pacifism, socialism, etc. In addition, it has brief biographies of key individuals along with photographs and chronologies.
Statesman's Yearbook: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World
JA 51 .S7 (Ref Desk Coll)
Offers up-to-date snapshots of the countries of the world, including key historical events, population, climate, social statistics, constitution, government, recent elections, current administration, international relations, economy, industry, trade, and more.
Survey of Social Science: Government and Politics Series
JA 61 .S88 1995 (Ref)
This 5-volume set provides introductory essays, with accompanying bibliographies, on a range of topics in politics and government. While the main focus is on the U.S., there are also entries on comparative, international, and theoretical politics.
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
G 63 .W67 1998 (Ref) The first volume gives a detailed overview of the United Nations and its agencies. The remaining four volumes focus on individual countries, offering details on such things as location, climate, languages, religions, local government, economy, trade, industries, economic development, health, media, housing, transportation, and other topics.