Research Guides: POLS 151: International Politics (HC): Literature Reviews

Literature Reviews

Literature reviews are an especially helpful resource when doing research. They address the issues involved in a particular question and the debates among scholars. They map out the intellectual terrain succinctly and give you the major landmarks in terms of key authors and significant book and journal article titles for greater understanding.

Annual Review of Political Science
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See examples of literature reviews in this journal. Ones related to topics in your class include:
"The Diplomacy of War and Peace" (2016)
"Race in International Relations: Beyond the “Norm Against Noticing” (2022)
"Reputation and Status as Motives for War" (2014)
Oxford Bibliographies Online
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Extensive annotated bibliographies on specific topics written by scholars in the field. This online resource has new entries added twice a year. Selected essays of interest are listed below.
"Race and International Relations" [in the International Relations section of OBO]
"Reputation in International Relations" [in the International Relations section of OBO]
"Status in International Relations" [in the International Relations section of OBO]
"Women and Conflict Studies"[in the Political Science section of OBO]
"Women and Peacemaking/Peacekeeping" [in the International Relations section of OBO]
Doing a Literature Review
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This brief journal article from Jeffrey Knopf provides tips for thinking about what goes into a literature review. Published in PS: Political Science & Politics 39, 1 (2006).

Background Information

Political Handbook of the World
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A collection of comprehensive country profiles containing detailed information on each nation's political history, government, leadership structure, elections, and political party system. Also included: profiles of intergovernmental organizations, development banks, and the agencies and specialized bodies of the United Nations.

Theory Talks
Theory Talks presents specialists in the International Relations field talking about their work and explaining current developments both in theory and in real-world politics,