IIPS 60200: Peacebuilding and Public Policy

Reference tools provide background information, the who, what, where and when -- and a bit of the how and why -- for any topic. They include subject and biographical dictionaries and encyclopedias, almanacs, chronologies, directories and atlases. Many, especially dictionaries and encyclopedias, are now available online. Many others, especially historical atlases and chronologies are still only available in print.

Peacebuilding, Policy and Politics

• Oxford International Encyclopedia of Peace
• CQ Press Political reference suite of online editions 
• CQ Researcher (domestic U.S.)
  
• CQ Global Researcher (international)
  
• Encyclopedia of American foreign policy
• Encyclopedia of U.S. political history
• Europa world
• CIA World Factbook
• IHS Jane's defense and security intelligence and analysis Security: Country risk

• PRINT
  • The Statesman's Yearbook.  HESB REF JA51 .ST29
  • Political Risk Yearbook.  (e.g. Vol. 8 Central & South Asia) HESB REFJQ 98 .A1 P64

General Sources

• Encyclopaedia Britannica online
  • access to the most reputable online general encyclopedia
    
• Oxford reference online Premium
  • access to dozens of Oxford University Press online reference tools
• Gale virtual reference library
  • access to dozens of Gale online reference tools
    
• Reference Universe
  • access to hundreds of print and online reference tools from various publishers
    
• Hesburgh Library Reference Collection
  • access to thousands of print and online reference tools in the Hesburgh Libraries
    
• Wikipedia:
  • Wikipedia can be a great quick help in identifying the "who, what, when and where" of any given issue especially relating to popular culture -- subject to later verification. Librarians use it all the time. However, it can be very suspect about "how and why" questions especially conflicts situations. Use it but use it with caution!

• Statistical Abstract (U.S. Census Bureau)
• LexisNexis Statistical Datasets (data sets & graphs)
• LexisNexis Statistical (charts & tables)
• Polling the Nations (public opinion)
• United Nations Statistics Division (demongraphics)
• UNESCO Institute for Statistics (cultural)
• International Financial Statistics Online Srvice (IMF financial)
• World Development Indicators (economic)
• Infonation Advanced (graphs)
• OECD iLibrary (economic)

• A to Z maps online (political, physical, outline & others)
• United Nations Cartographic Section (all regions but not all countries)
• All the Worlds Maps (detail and type vary)
• Atlapedia Online (regional)
• Blank & Outline Maps (outline only)
• Google Earth (no printing)

In addition there is a large collection of current and historical atlases in the Hesburgh Library Reference Collection (first floor -- non-circulating).