Country Background Information

These sources will give you a general background on your country and help you frame the reset of your research and a broad social and political environment. Many will also give you general statistics and directory information about government officials. Print resources can give you the best and most concise picture of your country. Be sure to check the publishing dates to be sure you are getting the information you need.

Online Resources

• Background Notes
  Short (4-5 page) overviews of the government and politics of various countries. Prepared for U.S. Department of State personnel on diplomatic missions.
• Political Risk Yearbook
  lengthy analysis of a countries political and economic climate and risks, the Political Risk Yearbook is unique in that it provides forecasts on likely political and economic developments. Each Country Report focuses specifically on political and business information: finding developing markets, determining currency movements, preparing for capital investments, or making judgments about corporate security.
• Political Handbook of the World
  Annual survey of government, regional issues, and international organizations. Good source for background information on countries and organizations and for an overview of the year's political events. Includes some statistics.
• Political Parties of the World
  A country-by-country look at the major political parties. Lists web sites for parties if they are available.
  Also available in print in the Social Sciences Library Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno Library.
  
• Countries and their Cultures
  A four-volume encyclopedia that focuses on cultures and countries around the world, specifically what is and is not shared culturally by the people who live in a particular country. Entries contain descriptive summaries of the country in question, including demographic, historical, cultural, economic, religious, and political information.
  Other useful encyclopedias include:
  • Worldmark Encylcopedia of the Nations
  • Countries of the World and their Leaders yearbook
  • Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies
  • Cities of the World
  All of the titles above are included in the Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Armed Conflict Database
  Provides an interactive source of information on a wide range of conflicts including terrorism, refugees, and returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), weapons flows, fatalities, costs (U.S. Dollars), historical backgrounds, annual updates and timelines. Users can generate reports and download data as well as browse through year-by-year analyses and fact sheets online.
• Country Studies/Area Handbook Series (Library of Congress)
  Book-length works covering the history, politics, geography, and economy of individual countries. Some are dated and therefore most useful for getting an historical perspective.
  To locate the these resources, search the CAT using Area Handbook Series as your search term. Some are available on the Web at the Library of Congress' Country Studies site.
• Post Reports
  Designed for State Department personnel stationed at embassies and consulates, these can provide insight into a country, and are particularly helpful in that they describe some major cities as well as the country. Most recent versions are not available to the public, but previous versions are available via eDiplomate, a commerical web site.
• Embassies and Consulates -- embassies and consulates often provide country descriptions and/or data (often in English) as well as links to government sites in their home countries. Some sources for lists of embassies:
  • State Department embassy list
  • Embassy.org

Print Resources

• Europa World Year Book
  contains brief background discussion of countries and international organizations, including history, government, poltics, etc. Also provides brief statistical information.
• Political Handbook of the World
  Annual survey of government, regional issues, and international organizations. Good source for background information on countries and organizations and for an overview of the year's political events. Includes some statistics.
• Encyclopedia of World Political Systems
• World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties