Henry Buhl Library: POLS 277: Research Methods: Background Reading

Political Science (General)

The Encyclopedia of Political Science
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Call Number: Call Number: Ref JA 61 .E513 2011 v.1-5
Includes information on a wide-variety of political science topics, including American and international politics, political ethics, public policy, religion and politics, terrorism, and more.
Encyclopedia of Government and Politics
Call Number: JA 61 .C66 1991 v.1-2
Includes a collection of essays on topics in political theory, contemporary ideologies, contemporary political systems, political institutions, political forces, policy making, international relations, and more.
Encyclopedia of Politics: the Left and the Right
Call Number: Ref JA 61 .E54 2005 v.1-2
Includes articles on people, countries, "isms," political issues, laws, political parties, and political movements from both the right and left perspectives. Volume 1 covers The Left ; Volume 2 addresses The Right
Encyclopedia of Social and Political Movements
"Covers a broad range of historical and modern topics to create an understanding of many of the most significant social and political developments and changes throughout much of human history."
Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics
Call Number: Ref JF 799 .H38 2014 v. 1-3
According to the publisher, "the Encyclopedia of Social Media and Politics explores how the rise of social media is altering politics both in the United States and in key moments, movements, and places around the world."

Oxford Reference Online Database - Politics & Social Sciences
Search the political science collection for quick and authoritative information from numerous dictionaries and encyclopedias.
The SAGE Handbook of Political Sociology
Offers a comprehensive and contemporary look at the evolving field of political sociology.

Federal Government Resources

The 21st-Century Voter: Who Votes, How they Vote, and Why they Vote
Call Number: Ref JK 1967 .A17 2016 v. 1-2
This comprehensive reference covers all aspects of politics and voting from elections and campaigns, to major political figures and parties, to the role of media and major activist groups. * Traces the changing population of the United States and its impact on voting.
American Political Culture: an Encyclopedia
Call Number: Ref E 169.12 .A428 2015 v. 1-3
This all-encompassing encyclopedia provides a broad perspective on U.S. politics, culture, and society, but also goes beyond the facts to consider the myths, ideals, and values that help shape and define the nation.
Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History
Call Number: Ref E 183 .E53 2009 v.1-7
Encyclopedia of U.S. Political History explores the events, policies, activities, institutions, groups, people, and movements that have created and shaped political life in the United States.
Gale Encyclopedia of American Law
Covers leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, and primary documents.
Religion and Politics in America: An Encyclopedia of Church and State in American Life
Call Number: Ref BL 2525 .R46125 2016 v. 1-2
This encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of the interrelation of religion and politics from colonial days to the present.
Voting and Political Representation in America
Call Number: Ref KF 4891 .V68 2020 v.1-2
Examines voting trends and political representation in the United States today--with a special focus on debates over voting rights, voter fraud, and voter suppression--and election rules and regulations, including those related to gerrymandering, campaign fundraising, and other controversies.
Voting in America by Morgan E. Felchner (Editor)
Call Number: Ref JK1976 .V69 2008
Publication Date: 2008-06-30
Covers issues and topics related to the voting process in America, including voter participation, interest groups, the media, and how voting is changing.

CQ Press Library & individual titles

CQ Press Library
Access to current American and World political information through a variety of resources, including the Political Handbook of the World, Congress and the Nation, Politics in America, as well as Supreme Court Yearbook, CQ Researcher, Historic Documents Series, and four quality political science encyclopedias.
Congress and the Nation
Considered the most authoritative reference on congressional trends, actions, political and policy controversies. Organized by policy area, each chapter contains informative summaries of legislative activity.

CQ Voting & Elections Collection
National and state election coverage, voter demographics and campaign finance.

CQ Researcher
Covers today's most important issues and controversial subjects. Each weekly issue is an in-depth, single topic report featuring current status, outlook of the issue, timelines and extensive bibliographies.

CQ Magazine (formerly CQ Weekly)
Weekly news magazine featuring in-depth reporting on public policy, politics, congressional legislation, and elections, including: a complete wrap-up of news on Congress, the status of bills in play, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, committee and floor activity, debates, and all roll-call votes. Coverage is from 1983-2017.

International Politics

Foreign Policy
Terrorism

Border Disputes by Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly (Editor)
Call Number: Ref JC 323 .B643 2015 v.1-3
An ideal resource for anyone studying current events, social studies, geopolitics, conflict resolution, and political science, this three-volume set provides broad coverage of approximately 80 current international border disputes and conflicts.

Contemporary Middle East
Contains primary source documents from 1917 to the present day.

Country Watch
Provides country-specific data including demographic, political, economic, business, and cultural information.
Global Road Warrior
Cultural, social, travel and business information about countries around the world.
Oxford Islamic Studies Online
Offers information on the religion and culture of Islam.
Passport GMID
Contains market research reports and company profiles. Most reports cover consumer goods and services. (previously called Euromonitor)
World at War: Conflict and Society
Provides background information, timelines, primary documents and more related to wars beginning in medieval Europe and continuing to the 21st century Middle East conflict (replaced United States at War: Understanding Conflict Society).

Worldmark Conflict and Diplomacy by Gale Editors (Editor)
Call Number: Ref D 443 .W675 2014 v.1-2
Worldmark Modern Conflict and Diplomacy is a two-volume set that explores specific modern-day conflicts that have had a truly global impact, as well as the efforts and organizations focused on solving these conflicts.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
"Presents easy-to-understand information on 194 countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics. Also includes biographical essays on national leaders."

TRAC Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium
A comprehensive resource for the study of political violence of all kinds.
TRAC provides researchers in the fields of terrorism studies, political science, international relations, sociology, criminal justice, philosophy and history with content that enables intellectual clarity on a highly complex topic.

Counterterrorism: From the Cold War to the War on Terror
This great starting point for research on terrorism covers counterterrorism strategies and laws since WWII, key issues, counterterrorism since 9/11, and more.
SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism
Call Number: Ref HV 6431 .S225 2011
This encyclopedia covers known terrorist leaders and organizations, both foreign and domestic, as well as important dates and terms related to terrorism. Entries are signed and include a list of further readings.
Terrorism: the Essential Reference Guide
Call Number: Ref HV 6431 .T4977 2018
This reference is essential reading for anyone attempting to understand modern terrorism by studying the arc of terrorism throughout history, from anarchists to Al Qaeda, ISIS, and beyond.