International Organizations Subject Guide

This subject guide covers international organizations resources available at the Johnston Memorial Library, including full-text journals, magazine, and newspaper articles,  international organizations websites, and printed materials in the Reference Collection. This is not a comprehensive subject guide, but rather a selective list of materials that are most useful for locating information in this field. Library location and call  number are provided for print publications. 
 
 

Full Text Databases Journal Indexes and Abstracts
Encyclopedias and Dictionaries Internet Websites

Full-Text Databases

  • ABI/INFORM. Gateway to collections of information, including summaries of articles from over 8,000 publications, with many in full-text, full-image format.  An excellent source for information on international affairs and organizations.
  • CIAO: Columbia International Affairs Online. (1991 to the present).  Comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs.  Includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers from NGO's, foundation funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences. 
  • Factiva.  Search 6,000 newswires, newspapers, and journals.  Good source for current information about international affairs and organizations.
  • InfoTrac OneFile. A one-stop source for news and periodical articles on a wide range of topics: business, computers, current events, economics, education, environmental issues, health care, hobbies, humanities,international organizations, law, literature and art, politics, science, social science, sports, technology, and many general interest topics. Millions of full-text articles many with images. Updated daily.

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Journal Indexes and Abstracts

  • Article FirstIncludes items listed on the table of contents pages of journals.  Describes one article, news story, letter, or other item from a journal in each record.  Indexes journals across all disciplines.  Provides current information on international affairs and organizations.
  • PAIS. Provides selective subjects and bibliographic access to periodicals, books, hearings, reports, government publications, internet resources and other publications from 120 countries. Strong emphasis on  international relations and international organizations.
  • Statistical Universe.  Full-text database to U.S. Statistical data and some international statistics.  Features include searching the Power Tables for finding fast answers, searching summaries of statistical publications for comprehensive overview of documents or selecting links to other websites with useful    information about statistics. 


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Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

  • Demographic Yearbook.  United Nations.  New York.  Published annually. This is the definitive source of demographic and population statistics.  Information on population trends, birth, death, marriage, and divorce is compiled from data provided by national statistics offices around the world.   Location:  First Floor, Reference Area, Call number: REF HA17.D45
  • FAO Production Yearbook.  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  Rome, Italy.  Published annually.  Provides a compilation of statistical data on basic agricultural products and related information for all countries and territories of the world.  The yearbook includes data series on area, yield and production of numerous crops; on livestock numbers and products, and on population, land use, irrigation and farm machinery.   Location:  First Floor, Reference Area, Call number: REF HD1421.P76 
  • International Trade Statistics Yearbook.  United Nations.  New York, New York.  Published annually.   Provides basic information for individual countries' external trade performance.  Location: First Floor, Reference Area, Call Number: REF HF91.U473
  • National Accounts Statistics: Main Aggregates and Detailed Tables.  United Nations.  New York, New York.  Shows detailed national accounts estimates for approximately 175 countries and areas. Location:  First Floor, Reference Area, Call Number:  REF HC79.I5
  • World Economic Outlook.  International Monetary  Fund.  Washington, DC.  Published biannually.    The projections and analysis contained in the World Economic Outlook are an integral element of the INF's on going surveillance of economic developments and policies in its member countries and of the global economic system.  Location: First Floor, Reference Area, Call Number: REF HC10.W79
  • Yearbook of the Labor Statistics.  International Labour Office.  Geneva, Switzerland.  Published annually.  Summarizes labor statistics for all countries and territories.  As far as possible, data covers the last ten years.   Location: First Floor, Reference area, Call number: REF HD4826 .I63
  • Yearbook of the United Nations.  United Nations.  Dept. of Public Information.  New York. New York.  Published annually.  Summaries the activities, proceedings, and decisions of the United Nations.  Location: First Floor, Reference Area, Call Number:  REF JX 977 A37.Y4


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Internet Websites
  • African Development Bank.  The African Development Bank is the premier financial development institution of Africa, dedicated to combating poverty and improving lives of people of the continent and engaged in the task of mobilizing resources towards the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries. 
  • ECA - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.  ECA is the regional arm of the United Nations, mandated to support the economic and social development of its 53 member states, foster regional integration, and promote international cooperation for Africa's development.  Provides news of social and economic development issues.  The African Economic Outlook provides analysis of economic and social conditions with some regional and country statistical data.  The Africa index lists periodical articles on social and development issues.
  • European Union.   The European Union's prime concern is to place individuals and their interests at the heart of European integration.  The European institutions regard respect for fundamental rights as a general principle of European law and have developed legislation on freedom of movement within the European Union.  This website provides access to press releases from the EU institutions, basic information on the European Union, access by subject to legal instruments in force, legislative activity in progress, and implementation of common policies. 
  • Food and Agriculture Organization. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was founded in 1945 with a mandate to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living, to improve agricultural productivity, and to better the condition of rural populations. Today, FAO is one of the largest specialized agencies in the United Nations system and the lead agency for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development. This site features news highlights, press releases, statistics and much more.
  • Foreign Policy in Focus. A joint project of the Interhemispheric Resource Center and the Institute for Policy Studies, this site offers articles and briefs on timely foreign policy issues. New releases include "The IMF and Good offers articles and briefs on timely foreign policy issues.   The briefs include a useful list of online resources for further research.
  • G8 Information Centre.  The leaders of the major industrial democracies meet annually to deal with the major economic and political issues facing their countries and the international community as a whole.
  • Human Rights Library - University of Minnesota.  Contains a searchable collection of hundreds of the most important international human rights treaties and other instruments; general comments, recommendations, decisions, and views of human rights treaty bodies; material on the work of other U.N. human rights bodies.  Includes human rights materials, bibliographies, and links to other human rights sites.
  • Institute of Peace.  The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan federal institution created and funded by Congress to strengthen the nation's capacity to promote the peaceful resolution of international conflict.  Site features publications, research areas, library and links, and grants and fellowships.
  • International Affairs Resources (Virtual Library).  Well-done guide with more than 1750 annotated links covering topics from the general (Getting Started) to specific Topics) that include international Business; Peace; Conflict Resolution, and international Security; Human Rights, International Development, Health, and Global Environment.
  • International Organization Web SitesCompiled by the Union of International Associations selected from the Yearbook of International Organizations. Links to over 12,000 international organizations, international congresses, NGOs, and multinational organization sites.   Organizations can be searched  by name, subject area or by regional grouping.
  • International Development Association.  The IDA is the World Bank Group's concessional lending window.  It provides long-term loans at zero interest to the poorest of the developing countries.  The mission of IDA is to support efficient and effective programs to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life in its poorest member countries.  Provides statistics on international lending and  reports on the results of development lending.  Includes information about the organization and its lending procedures.
  • International Labor Organization. The ILO is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights.  This web site contains the following sections: International Labour Standards and Human Rights, Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at work, web links, Information Resources and about the ILO.
  • International Monetary Fund.  The IMF is an international organization of 183 countries, established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability and to foster economic growth.  This database has links to news, fund rates, IMF publications, standards and codes, country information and featured topics.
  • North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO was developed to implement the North Atlantic Treaty, signed on April 4, 1949 which sought to establish a military counterweight to the Soviet military presence in post-world war eastern europe.  NATO continued thereafter as the primary collective defense agreement of the Western powers in opposition to communist forces in Europe. This website offers immediate access to information  on NATO's policies and structures, official documents, press releases, speeches, publications and provides links to other relevant sites.  The homepage looks at key topics on NATO's current agenda and  the latest developments relating to them.
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.  The OECD groups 30 member countries in an organization that, most importantly, provides governments a setting in which to discuss, develop and perfect economic and social policy.  Provides excellent research reports analyzing the international  social and economic problems.
  • Organization of American States. The purpose of the OAS is to strengthen peace and security in the hemisphere; promote representative democracy; ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes among members; provide for common action in the event of aggression; and promote economic, social, and cultural development. This database has sections on organizational structure, documents, about OAS and permanent council.
  • PopNet: the Source for Global Population Information.  A comprehensive directory of population-related Web sites, searchable by topic or keyword, by organization, or through PopNet's clickable world map.  PopNet covers Demographic Statistics, Economics, Education, Environment, Gender, Policy, and Reproductive Health.
  • Social Policy Virtual Library.  The international social and public policy research information gateway.  This database provides access to a variety of World-Wide Web pages of international and national organizations of interest to social policy researchers. 
  • United Nations. This database provides basic information on the United Nations (history, charter, member countries).  Site features press releases, daily highlights, General Assembly, ECOSOC, and Security Council publications and resolutions.  Keyword searching for all documents or by individual type of document is available.  Major conference documents and catalog of UN sales publications are also featured. 
  • World Bank.  As a provider of economic assistance to more than 100 developing countries, the World Bank coordinates with private, government, multilateral, and non-government organizations to ensure that resources are used to full effect in supporting a country's efforts toward stable, sustainable, and equitable growth.  This web site provides information on health, education, the environment, private sector development, poverty, urban development,  and economic reform issues.  Includes factual data on the countries that are assisted by the World Bank.  Of particular usefulness is the searchable WDS database  of the 6,000 plus world Bank publications, select full-text reports, and learning resources for teachers and students. World Development Reports are particularly useful and are available full-text and free at this web-site.
  • World Food Program.  WFP is the front-line United Nation Agency whose mission is to provide: food for LIFE to sustain victims of man-made and natural disasters.  Food for GROWTH to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times in their lives; and Food for WORK to help build assets and promotes the self-reliance of poor people and communities.   Website features press releases, statistics, field operations, and status of food aid needs and shortfalls.
  • World Health Organization.  The objective of WHO is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.  WHO promotes technical cooperation for health among nations, carries out programs to control and eradicate disease and strives to improve the quality of human life.   Database includes extensive information about health topics and reports on current world disease outbreaks.
  • World Policy Institute.   The World Policy Institute is a public policy center engaged in research and public education on critical world problems in American and abroad.  The Institute seeks to offer innovative proposals for public debate to improve the capacity of business and civic leaders as well as   as public officials in the United States and the world community to respond creatively to the management of  a global market economy, the construction of a workable system of collective security and the enhancement of civil society.  Site features research projects, World Policy Journal, (Free Articles) discussion group and links to other policy sources.
  • World Trade Organization.  The WTO is the only international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations.  At its heart are the legal ground-rules for international commerce and  for trade policy.  This site contains information about world trade, trade disputes, WTO publications, intellectual property, goods, services, economic research, statistics, analysis and trade topics.
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Content created by Gloria Beck