World Politics Research Guide

Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Our Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, a World Oceans map, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.

News, country profiles, forecasts, statistics and recent articles.
For further access to other Economist articles, see the library's subscription here: http://www.consuls.org/record=b1262285~S16 , or by searching for the journal name under our E-Journals search here: http://fn2by6ve6a.search.serialssolutions.com/

Contains the electronic versions of 80 books previously published in hard copy as part of the Country Studies Series by the Federal Research Division. Intended for a general audience, books in the series present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world.

From Georgetown University, Center for Latin American Studies, this site offers information about institutions and political processes, national constitutions, branches of government, elections, political constitutional studies and other subjects related to the strengthening of democracy in the region. Languages available: English, Español, Français & Português
Note: this database is not "searchable", but by following the hierarchy of links, there are worthwhile resources!

Previously also known as Background Notes, these publications include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty.

An African-led series of national public attitude surveys on democracy and governance in Africa

From Queen's University. Contains archival opinion information

The European Social Survey (ESS) is an academically driven cross-national survey that has been conducted every two years across Europe since 2001. Maps attitudinal and behavioral changes in Europe's social, political and moral climate.

Sponsored by the European Commission since 1973. Provides current and past summaries and full reports from the general and topical survey series as well as links to other European polls. Focuses on but is not exclusive to EU member states.

Searches a database of 700+ academic & research institutions to have "the world's largest archive of digital social science data."
Note: Member institutions have more access. Please ask your librarian if you cannot get the data set you require!

Surveys of political opinion taken every 2 years. Covers North, Central & South America, including the Caribbean.

From the University of Chicago. Objective social science research in academia, professional, and government organizations.

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. We conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other data-driven social science research. Recognized as a reliable source of neutral opinion polls.

The ACE Electoral Knowledge Network provides comprehensive and authoritative information on elections. The site includes an encyclopedia, comparative data and electoral materials. The Regions & Countries section contains a variety of election-related information and documentation on over 200 countries and territories in the world.

From the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), with a grant from USAID. Dedicated to "strengthening electoral democracy". (As of 20 Feb 2015, has information on 239 countries)

A list of online resources about global elections & electoral systems, with a focus on the United States and the United Kingdom.

An independent database of European electoral data from 1945-present. Search by date or geography. Also includes references to further resources.

From Georgetown University, Center for Latin American Studies. This portion of the website focuses on electoral information & country constitutions.

A resource that contains lists of heads of state and heads of government (and, in certain cases, de facto leaders not occupying either of those formal positions) of all countries and territories, going back to about 1700 in most cases.

Official website for the United Nations. The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

An Internet directory of over 2000 annotated links to high-quality English-language sources of information and analysis in a wide range of international affairs, international studies, and international relations topics. These sites are carefully selected for their long-term value, favoring those with cost-free, authoritative information and analysis online.

YaleGlobal Online is an open publication of the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale. Focuses on the discipline of globalization. Articles are browsable by region or topic.

Recognized as a well-respected Think Tank. The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a world-leading authority on global security, political risk and military conflict.

Worldpress.org’s alphabetical index of international think tanks and research organizations.

The mission of the UN University is to contribute, through collaborative research and education, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States.