Political Science Subject Guide

Robert D. Ault, MLS

Political Science Librarian
Maag Library
Microform Center Level 3
Tel: 330-941-1719
 
Overview

Maag Library provides access to books, articles, and other resources for political science research in a variety of formats. The resources and tips on this page will help you locate the information you need. If you need additional assistance, contact me or Ask a Librarian.

 

  • MaagNet [Maag Library's online catalog]
    • Look here for books, government documents, and other materials owned by Maag Library. Search by subject, keyword, author or title.
    • For search tips and information see Tips for Searching MaagNet.
    • Copy or print publication information (author, title, place, publisher, date–found in the catalog record or on the title page of the book itself) for your “Works Cited” page.
    • Note the item’s call number and location (for example Reference Collection, General Collection). Check the building guide for location of collections and services. For additional assistance see Reading Call Numbers and Material Location and Availability.
    • Use the following sections of the Library of Congress Classification Outline to browse the shelves for books and periodicals.
      • D — History (other than America)
      • E-F — History of America (including Latin America)
      • G — Geography
      • H — Social Sciences
      • J — Political Science
      • K — Law
  • OhioLINK Central Catalog [combined catalogs of OhioLINK member libraries]
    • Look here for books not available at Maag, but owned by other Ohio colleges and universities.
    • You may request items online from other OhioLINK Institutions. It takes 3-5 working days (M-F) for books requested through the OhioLINK Central Catalog to arrive.  For help see Tips for OhioLINK Users
    Political Science  Resources
     
     
    • Listed below are a few databases in which you may find information relating to political science, law, and other resources in your area of interest. Others are listed on the OhioLINK Databases Page by name, type, or subject (see Political Science, Law and Legislation, Public Policy, etc.).

    If you are not on campus, you must login to authenticate (select your institution, enter your name and library barcode). You may authenticate from the OhioLINK Home page (http://www.ohiolink.edu/) or the OhioLINK Databases Page (http://www.ohiolink.edu/resources.cgi) then select a database by subject, by name or by type.

    For additional assistance see: Off-Campus Access; OhioLINK Remote Authentication—Frequently Asked Questions; or Ask a Librarian.

    Political Science and Law

     

     

     

     

     

     

    America: History and Life
    Includes citations and abstracts to articles on the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present from over 2,000 journals in the humanities and social sciences.
     
     
    Academic Search Premier (Ebsco) Off-campus access
    A multidisciplinary database that indexes over 4300 periodicals and contains full text for over 3400 scholarly publications.
    Electronic Journal Center (EJC) [OhioLINK] (1995 to date)
    Full-text articles from OhioLINK electronic journal subscription databases. Currently includes over 4000 scholarly journals, including more than 340 titles in politics, political science, and law. For search tips and help see: EJC help.
    Historical Abstracts
    Index and abstracts to articles covering world history from 1450 to present (excluding U.S. and Canada). Includes or has links to full text.
    International Political Science Abstracts Off-campus access
    Index and abstracts to journal articles in political science, international relations, law, and public administration / policy. Includes or has links to full text.
    JSTOR Off-campus access
    Supplies full text articles from the very first volume to the last 3-5 years for approximately 240 titles in the Arts & Sciences.
    Law materials (under “L”)
    Select from several law-related subject guides created by Maag librarians.
    LexisNexis Academic Off-campus access
    News from U.S. and World sources. Legal Research section includes articles from law reviews as well as some international legal materials including Canadian legislation and regulations, European Union resources. Cases, treaties and international agreements from Canada, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, GATT, Hong Kong, UK, South Africa are also included.
    LexisNexis Congressional Off-campus access
    LexisNexis® Congressional provides the user with access to a comprehensive collection of congressional publications: Committee Hearings, Committee Prints, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, House and Senate Documents, and 52,000+ maps.
    Opposing viewpoints Off-campus access
    Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center draws on the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources to provide a complete one-stop source for information on social issues. Access viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.
    Oxford Reference – Politics and Social Sciences Off-campus access
    Currently includes searchable full text of the following reference books: A Dictionary of Contemporary World History, Oxford Guide to Countries of the World, A Dictionary of Geography, A Dictionary of Political Biography, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics, A Dictionary of Psychology, Dictionary of the Social Sciences, A Dictionary of Sociology, The Oxford Guide to the United States Government, and Handbook of the World.
    PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) International
    index to the literature of public affairs — current issues and actions which affect the world communities, countries, people, and governments. This database covers important political, economic, and social issues. PAIS concentrates on topics that are or might become the subject of legislation. It contains references to journal articles, books, government documents, statistical directories, grey literature, research reports, conference reports, publications of international agencies, microfiche, Internet material, as well as publications from over 120 countries throughout the world. In addition to English, some of the indexed materials are published in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
    Worldwide Political Science Abstracts, 1975-2006
    Index and abstracts to journal articles in political science, international relations, law, and public administration / policy. Includes or has links to full text.
     
     
    International Resources and Statistics
    America at the Polls Ref. JK524 .A73 2005x
    “A Reference Guide to Concepts, Ideas and Institutions”
     
    Background notes
    http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
    Concise info on most countries published by the U.S. State Department. Entire database is keyword searchable. (Try “absolutist” for a start.)
    Country at a Glance
    http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_glance.htm
    Overview of data on U.N. Member Nations.
    Country Studies
    http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html
    Covers information previously published in Country Study/Area Handbooks 1986-1998 by the Research Division of the Library of Congress. Funding for this program was discontinued in 1998.
    Dictionary of World Politics Ref. D 419 .K87 2002
    “A Reference Guide to Concepts, Ideas and Institutions”
    DOSFAN Electronic Research Collection
    http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/documents/resources/dosfan.shtml
    A partnership of the United States Department of State, the Federal Depository Library Program, and the Federal Depository Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago, this site consists of archived electronic documents and publications of the Department of State and the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Also responsible for answering questions regardin the content of severla U.S. government sites.
    Parry and Grant Encyclopaedic Dictionary of International Law Ref. JX 1226 .P33 1986
    Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy 3 vols. Ref. JX 1407 .E53
    Includes articles on the principle movements and ideas influencing American foreign relations (themes, doctrines, policies).
    Europa World Year Book Ref. JN 1 .E85
    Part I provides an overview of international organizations. Part II is a listing by country, including information on the constitution and government, judicial system, political organizations and diplomatic representatives.
    Federal and State Law Locator
    http://www.nku.edu/~furnish/fed-stateresearch.html
    Legal research site providing extensive web site listing for researching federal and state laws.
    Global Gateway
    http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/portals.com
    Electronic resources on the nations of the world selected by Library of Congress subject experts.
     
    Infonation
    http://www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/infonation/e_infonation.htm
    Statistical data for member countries of the United Nations.
    International Yearbook and Statesmen’s Who’s Who Ref. JA 51 .I57 (Latest in Ref.)
    Provides a detailed listing of UN agencies, major intergovernmental organizations, world population and GNP statistics. Gives an economic, historical and political description of all countries, as well as brief biographical sketches of major political personalities throughout the world.
    Oxford Companion to Politics of the World JA 61 .O95
    Includes information on countries, political institutions, and concepts.
    Political Handbook of the World Ref. JF 37 . P6
    Contains essential, current political information about every country in the world. Also lists the composition and activities of many intergovernmental organizations.
    Political Parties of the of the World Ref. JF 2051 .D39 2005x
    Includes information on countries, political institutions, and concepts.
     
     
    The Statesman’s Yearbook Ref. JA 51 .S7
    Includes information on international organizations and a political and economic overview of the nations of the world. Contains an insert with fold-out world map and flags of the world.
    Treaties and Alliances of the World, 3rd ed. (will soon be replaced by the 8th ed., 2007)     JX 4005 .T72 1981
    Provides details of major alliances and organizations. Lists multilateral and bilateral treaties in the fields of defense and economic cooperation. Maps illustrate countries’ membership in alliances or organizations.
    Treaties in Force KZ 235 .T74 Lastest edition also available online
    Produced by the U.S. Department of State, this is a descriptive list of the treaties and international agreements to which the U.S. is a party.
    United Nations
    http://www.un.org/english/
    Web site of the United Nations. Includes online publications and databases.
    United States. Department of State
    http://state.gov/
    See especially Countries and Regions and International Topics and Issues.
    United States. Dept. of State. Foreign relations of the United States JX233 .A3
    Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States
    United States Government Documents (Maag Library)
    http://www.maag.ysu.edu/collection/GOV/Gov_main.html
    A guide to information on the Web published by the federal and state governments (prepared by Maag Library).
    World Factbook
     
    Factual and statistical information published by the CIA. Country information updated as of August 2003. Use the search box at the top of the screen to select a country.
    Yearbook of the United Nations JX 1977 .A37Y4
     
    Associations on the Net (Political Science and Law)
    Once on the site, select a subject category. If message says “no items found”, select “Subject collections” and/or “Magazines.”
    Center for American Women in Politics
    The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) is a university-based research, education and public service center. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women’s participation in politics and government and to enhance women’s influence and leadership in public life. Learn more about our program areas.
    Center for Progressive Leadership
    Common Cause
    “Common Cause is a lobbying organization whose main goal is to make “our government more accountable to its citizens. It does not support any of the political parties, but works for government reform.”
    From Suffrage to the Senate: America’s Political Women : an Encyclopedia of Leaders, Causes, & Issues, 2 vols.
    Ref. HQ 1236.5 .U6 S32 2006
    Good to Great : Why Some Companies Make the Leap–and Others Don’t, by Jim Collins. HD 57.7 .C645 2001 (print) and on CD CD 2257
    The author and his staff evaluate and track eleven companies who went from good to great and stayed there for fifteen years. The key, in the end, was “leadership.” A new look at what makes a great leader.
     
    To the Contrary (PBS)
    “To The Contrary [provides] an important, timely forum for women to discuss national and international issues and policies…With more women in Congress and the Cabinet, women’s issues and perspectives are more high-profile than ever before. Americans have cast strong votes of confidence in women leaders and leaders who promote concerns embraced by women. To The Contrary, a leader in women’s perspectives, will continue to make their voices heard throughout its [fifteenth] season of broadcast.”
    Washington Week (PBS)
    “Washington Week is the longest-running public affairs program on PBS. The show first aired locally on WETA on February 23, 1967…. [It]features a group of journalists participating in roundtable discussion of major news events.” Each week, each journalist is assigned to become expert on a given topic. They are then interviewed/questioned by the other three. No hype, no argumentative discourse, just informed journalism on topics of the previous week and of the day.
Political Science  Web Sites

"deja vu" 1934 Chicago Tribune