International Relations *

Country Studies Research Databases

• The Commonwealth iLibrary – contains open access to The Commonwealth publications, a political association of fifty-six independent countries that includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-two of its members are small states, many of them island nations.  The Commonwealth publishes around thirty new titles per year on a range of topics that concern small nation states, including globalization and multilateral trade issues, export and enterprise development, education, gender, public service management and reform, and law and human rights. Titles are organized by series, year, and alphabetically, and search and discovery of complete publications or articles and chapters.
• Economist Intelligence Unit [EIU] -- a source of business intelligence on political and economic trends in 180 countries. An overall profile of each country is provided annually and a current report is produced quarterly. Both include current detailed statistics. Excellent resources for obtaining forecasts for future economic and political developments.
• Economist Intelligence Unit [EIU] Country Reports Archive -- presents the historical reports from 1952 to 1995, with all data from the statistical tables fully captured and downloadable in spreadsheet form, providing an archive of analysis and explanation of political, economic and commercial developments, together with historical statistical data covering almost 200 countries. Each report presents detailed statistics alongside expert commentary and forecasting from the EIU’s analysts.
• Europa World – a comprehensive resource of political, economic, and statistical information for more than 250 countries and territories, as well as international and regional organizations. Contents include authoritative information on every country, providing context for the world’s major political and economic developments; up-to-date government lists and recent election results for every country in the world; the ability to directly compare national statistics in graph and tabular form; coverage of 2,000 international organizations, commissions, and specialized bodies’ topical essays and commodity overviews for major regions of the world; current and thorough statistical and directory data for all countries and territories; impartial coverage of issues of national and regional importance from scholars; and, a directory of major political figures with biographical information and facts. An excellent source of current information about specific countries and regions of the world.
• HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated -- this database includes the current constitution for every country in its original language format and an English translation, as well as substantial constitutional histories for most countries. It also includes periodicals, full-text books, bibliographic references and links to scholarly articles and online resources. Access by clicking on link in left-hand column.
• Merchant Online -- a database of financial information for companies and industries, but includes a Country Profile box in the lower right corner of the page for comprehensive data and maps. Start with reports available in the "Enhanced country profile" menu. Also, Mergent Archives provides access to more than 180,000 documents covering over 100 countries.
• Statista -- comprehensive source of worldwide data and statistics that includes country and regional reports containing key economic indicators like GDP, national finance, demographics, and trade figures.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.

Directories and Scholarly Web Sites

• Ambassadorial Appointments Tracker -- created by the American Foreign Service Association, this database monitors appointments of ambassadors and senior positions with links to their biographies if available. Data on appointments can be found back to the Gerald Ford administration.
• BBC News Country Profiles -- supplies information on the history, economy, and politics of countries and territories as well as maps, facts, and current leaders. Each profile includes links to news items on that country that have appeared on the BBC network.
• CIA World Factbook -- provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. Updated every two weeks and, therefore, is a good source for current information.
• Countries and Their Cultures, World Cultures Encyclopedia -- provides succinct essays about the cultures and sub-cultures of individual countries and regions of the world. Helpful in understanding the internal cultural dynamics of a country. Essays include a bibliography of sources.
• Country Studies/Area Handbook Series -- presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of over 91 countries throughout the world. The series examines the inter-relationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors.
• EurasiaNet -- provides information and analysis about political, economic, environmental and social developments in the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as in Russia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. The web site also offers additional features, including newsmaker interviews and book reviews.
• Global Edge Country Profiles -- source for statistical data for nearly every country around the world. In addition to statistics, the database includes summary information on historical, economic, and political conditions and risk assessment.
• Human Development Reports -- released most years since 1990, each volume explores a specific theme related to global human development. Each report also contains country-level data available for review and download from the United Nation. Also includes the Human Development Index and related indicators for Health, Education, Income/Composition of Resources, Inequality, Gender, Poverty, Work, employment and vulnerability, Human Security, Trade and Financial Flows, Mobility and Communication, Environmental sustainability, Demography, Socio-economic sustainability.
• List of Foreign Governments -- a directory of developed and maintained by librarians at Northwestern University, this resource provides links to the web sites of official portals or homepages of national  legislative and executive branch institutions organized alphabetically and loosely following the structure of The CIA World Factbook. Territories and colonies of other countries are listed separately if the home rule government has a website..
• NationMaster -- a directory of country-specific economic and demographic statistical indicators across 300 industry categories. The directory is composed of data obtained from trustworthy sources such as national statistic agencies, governments, international organizations (UNDP, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UNCTAD, WTO, World Bank, World Health Organization, OECD and many others). NOTE: This is a commercial site that includes advertising and pop-up ads.
• World Economic Forum Global Risk Reports -- a comprehensive series of reports which examine in detail the broad range of global issues related to economic imbalances and social inequality risk.
• Worldwide Governments on the WWW -- one of the most extensive lists of international, national, regional, and local governmental and government-related Web servers. It covers governmental institutions on the Web, including parliaments, ministries, offices, law courts, embassies, city councils, public broadcasting corporations, central banks, multinational organizations, and political parties. Arranged in a hierarchical index organized by continent, country, and smaller divisions with thematic groupings such as heads of states, parliaments, political parties, elections, and currency.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.

Country Risk Analysis

• A.M. Best Country Risk -- this is a full-service credit rating organization serving the insurance industry that defines country risk as the risk that country-specific factors could adversely affect an insurer's ability to meet its financial obligations. Countries are placed into one of five tiers, ranging from Country Risk Tier 1, denoting a stable environment with the least amount of risk, to Country Risk Tier 5 for countries that pose the most risk and, therefore, the greatest challenge to an insurer's financial stability, strength, and performance.
• COFACE Country Risk Assessments -- a trade receivables consulting firm that provides country risk data for nearly every country of the world and sectorial risk rating assessment for fourteen sectors. Most of these ratings are brief but they are updated twice per year.
• DataGov Governance Indicators Database -- a user-friendly database for accessing most of the publicly available indicators related to governance. It contains approximately 400 governance indicators produced by 25 different multilateral organizations, NGOs, private firms, and academic institutions.
• Economist Intelligence Unit [EIU] Country Reports -- a source of business intelligence on political and economic trends in 200 countries. An overall profile of each country is provided annually and a current report is produced quarterly. Both include current detailed statistics. Excellent resources for obtaining forcasts for future economic and political developments.
• Euromoney Country Risk -- provides access to survey data for all countries in the survey with breakdowns for economic, political and structural risk scores; sub-factor scores for over fifteen individual risk variables. Requires free registration to access database.
• Global Conflict Risk Index -- expresses the statistical risk of violent conflict in a given country in the coming 1-4 years. It is exclusively based on quantitative indicators from open sources and grounded in the assumption that the occurrence of conflict is linked to structural conditions. The Index uses 26 variables grouped in six dimensions (social, economic, security, political and geographical/environmental) to build a statistical regression model which computes the probability and intensity of conflict. Produced by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
• Index of Economic Freedom -- produced by the conservative non-partisan think tank Heritage Foundation, this site provides analysis of 161 countries with data on trade policy, fiscal burden, governmental intervention, monetary policy, foreign investment, banking and finance, wages and prices, property rights, regulation, and black market.
• ISI Emerging Markets -- Dun & Bradstreet's Country RiskLine Report for developing countries can be accessed through ISI. Once you have logged into ISI, select a country to enter the database. Press the “Home” tab on the left side of the page and, in the “Advanced Search Box,” enter the name of the country and the word “risk” (e.g. “Korea risk”), and check the box to “Search Titles Only.” You should see a list of risk-related reports for your country. Note: ISI does not include Japan, the United States, or countries in Western Europe.
• Passport/Global Market Information Database -- provides access to market research data, country reports, company profiles, and statistics on countries, consumers, and industries for over 350 markets and 205 countries as well as analyses of global and local consumer markets. To access GMID's "Risk and Vulnerabilities” report, select the “Countries and Consumers” tab at the top of the page. From the dropdown menu, select “Economy, Finance, and  Trade.” On the left side of the page, find “Country Briefing,” and “Select Country,” then press “Go.” Note that not every country will have a report.
• OECD Economic Outlook (OECD iLibrary) -- includes a general assessment of the economy, a series of short, concise reviews on each member country, some reviews on key non-member economies, a set of thematic chapters focussing on topical economic issues, and a renowned statistical annex. Released in May and November of each year. To locate, click on the link for "BOOKS" and then scroll down the "Annuals and Outlooks" column to "OECD Economic Outlook." Coverage from 1997 to the present.
• PRS Group International -- these reports can be accessed via LexisNexis Academic on the Easy Search page. In the lower left corner, you will see a box called “Research Countries.” Select your country from the dropdown box and then select “PRS Risk Guide and Service” and a date range and click “Go.” Scan through the results for reports specifically on your country. Note that not every country will have a report.
• Transparency International -- a nonpartisan global network of more than 90 locally established national chapters focused on fighting corruption in the national arena and promoting transparency in elections, in public administration, in procurement and business. Site includes news and special reports, ongoing surveys on various types of corruption including a global corruption barometer, a bribe payers survey, and a corruption perceptions index.
• Women, Peace, and Security Index -- ranks 167 countries on women's equality, reveals trends in women's well-being across eleven indicators, and offers sub-national data for China, India and Nigeria. In partnership with the Peace Research Institute of Oslo, researchers draw from recognized international data sources to provide a comprehensive measure of women's well-being and their empowerment in homes, communities, and societies more broadly.
• World Economic Forum Global Risk Reports -- a comprehensive series of reports which examine in detail the broad range of global issues related to economic imbalances and social inequality risk.

NOTE: Information about risk and economic instability analysis can also be obtained from the International Business research guide. For help in assessing country risk from the perspective of business investment and economics, contact or visit the Business Library and ask to speak with a librarian.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.

Global Measurements and Indexes

Listed below are annual or special indexes that rank countries by specific social, economic, cultural, environmental, or administrative measurements.

NOTE:  Always critically examine the methods used in calculating rank so that you have a complete understanding of why a particular country or set of countries is ranked above or below another country or set of countries or why a country may be excluded. A description of the gathering and analysis methods are normally included in the introduction of the measurement index.

• Bribe Payers Index -- produced by Transparency International, this index  ranks wealthy countries by the propensity of firms to bribe abroad and looks at which industries are the worst offenders.
• Commitment to Development Index -- a ranking of twenty-seven of the world's richest countries on their policies that affect more than five billion people living in poorer nations. The Index quantifies the quantity and quality of foreign aid, openness to trade, policies that encourage investment and financial transparency, openness to migration, environmental policies, promoting international security, and support for technology creation and transfer.
• Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index -- a new global ranking of governments based on what they are doing to tackle the gap between rich and poor. The Index uses a new database of indicators covering 152 countries, which measures government action on social spending, tax and labor rights – three areas found to be critical to reducing inequality.
• Corruption Perceptions Index -- ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.
• Democracy Index -- this index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture. Based on their scores on sixty indicators within these categories, each country is then itself classified as one of four types of regime: full democracy; flawed democracy; hybrid regime; and authoritarian regime.
• Environmental Performance Index -- ranks 180 countries on 24 performance indicators across ten issue categories covering environmental health and ecosystem vitality. These metrics provide a gauge at a national scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals. The Index offers a scorecard that highlights leaders and laggards in environmental performance, gives insight on best practices, and provides guidance for countries that aspire to be leaders in sustainability. Produced jointly by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
• Fragile States Index -- produced by The Fund for Peace (FFP), the index details the existing social, economic and political pressures faced in 178 countries, highlighting not only the normal pressures that all states experience, but also in identifying when those pressures are outweighing a states’ capacity to manage those pressures. By highlighting pertinent vulnerabilities which contribute to the risk of state fragility, the Index makes political risk assessment and early warning of conflict accessible to policy-makers and the public at large.
• Freedom in the World Index -- compiled by the NGO, Freedom House, this annual report assesses the condition of political rights and civil liberties around the world. It is composed of numerical ratings and supporting descriptive texts for 195 countries and 14 territories. For each country and territory, the report analyzes the electoral process, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of the government, freedom of expression and of belief, associational and organizational rights, the rule of law, and personal autonomy and individual rights.
• Global Liveability Index -- the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Liveability Index provides a full report 140 cities around the world that have have the best or worst living conditions. The Index examines over thirty different qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Note that you must fill out a brief form to receive a copy of the report via email.
• Global Retirement Index -- a multi-dimensional index developed by Natixis Global Asset Management and Core Data Research to examine the factors that drive retirement security and to provide a comparison tool for best practices in retirement policy. The index incorporates eighteen performance indicators, grouped into four thematic sub-indices, which have been calculated on the basis of data gathered by a range of international organizations and academic sources. It takes into account the particular characteristics of the older demographic retiree group in order to assess and compare the level of retirement security in different countries around the world.
• Global Slavery Index --  provides a country by country ranking of the number of people in modern slavery, as well as an analysis of the actions governments are taking to respond, and the factors that make people vulnerable. The index is produced by the Free Walk, an anti-slavery advocacy organization.
• Global Women’s Leadership Initiative Index -- initiative is aimed at improving effectiveness, accountability, and inclusiveness of public institutions. Using nearly 100 indicators, the Leadership Index explores the trends and relationships between three pillars: pathways, positions, and power, held by women across different sectors of government. The site allows users to explore the numbers by country, compare data across countries, review findings, and download datasets.
• Good Country Index -- produced by the scholar-activist Simon Anholt, the purpose of this index is to measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away, relative to its size. Using a wide range of data from the United Nations and other international organizations, each country is assigned a “balance sheet” showing whether it is a net creditor to mankind, a burden on the planet, or something in between.
• Human Development Index -- the is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and have a decent standard of living. It is an index of socioeconomic indicators that measures quality of life in terms of health, education and income in all countries in the world. It has been compiled since 1990 and is produced annually.
• Inclusive Internet Index -- compiled by The Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Facebook, the Index provides an international benchmark of internet inclusion across four categories: availability, affordability, relevance, and readiness. Now in its second year, the 2018 Index is accompanied by a new Value of the Internet survey, which canvassed 4,267 internet users across 85 countries to assess the impact it has on their lives.
• Index of Economic Freedom -- co-published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, the index documents economic policy developments throughout the world. Each country profile includes justification and analysis of policies related to each category of economic freedom. In addition, country pages provide detailed background knowledge, including a history and key macroeconomic data. With over twenty years’ worth of data, the database contain thousands of data points that can contribute to statistical and econometric analysis.
• KOF Globalisation Index -- measures the economic, social and political dimensions of globalization. It is used to monitor changes in the level of globalization of different countries over extended periods of time. There are three sub-domains of measurement: economic globalization, social globalization, and  political globalization. Collectively, the index measures globalization on a scale of 1 to 100.
• Legatum Prosperity Index -- using data for 149 countries over eleven years, the index describes the conditions required for prosperity using 104 indicators in relation to nine areas of measurement: Economic Quality, Business Environment, Governance, Personal Freedom, Social Capital, Safety and Security, Education, Health, and the Natural Environment. The goal of the index is to illustrate how countries have moved toward or away from prosperity over time.
• Principled Aid Index -- developed by the Overseas Development Institute, an independent think tank based in London, this Index ranks bilateral Development Assistance Committee donors by how they use official development assistance to pursue their long-term national interest.
• Religion and State -- the index consists of a set of measures that systematically examine the intersection between government and religion. Specifically, its aim is to provide an accurate description of government religion policies worldwide,  create a tool which will lead to greater understanding of the factors which influence government religion policy, and provide the means to examine how government religion policy influences other political, social, and economic factors as well as how those factors influence government religion policy.
• Social Progress Index -- an aggregate index of social and environmental indicators that measure fifty indicators of social and environmental outcomes. These indicators are divided across three broad dimensions of social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. Within each dimension, there are four components that further divide the indicators into thematic categories. The index facilitates granular analysis of the specific underpinnings of social progress in each country, while the broad categories help to better understand global and regional trends.
• Soft Power 30 Index -- produced by the USC Center for Public Diplomacy, the index compares the relative strength of countries’ soft power resources; assessing the quality of a country’s political institutions, the extent of their cultural appeal, the strength of their diplomatic network, the global reputation of their higher education system, the attractiveness of their economic model, and a country’s digital engagement with the world. Measures are based on the three pillars of soft power, political values, culture, and foreign policy, and analyzed using over 75 metrics across six sub-indices of objective data and seven categories of new international polling data.
• World Press Freedom Index -- published every year since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders, this index  ranks 180 countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists based on a survey asking about issues of pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that supports the production of news and information.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.