Research Guides: POLS 004: International Politics (SC): Identifying Historical Cases

History Overviews

These sources offer overviews of various historical time periods and themes. In addition to finding some basic historical details, you can use these sources to identify relevant readings to explore a particular case in greater depth.

Cambridge Histories Online
Searchable collection of e-books; useful for basic historical context

Handbooks and Companions
Instead of making a narrow argument, these books offer a broader analysis of the topics covered.

Titles of possible relevance to this course include A Companion to International History, 1900-2001; A Companion to American Foreign Relations; and A Companion to World War I.

Very Short Introductions
These brief online books can help you get a quick introduction and some recommended readings for a case. For example, try searching for a particular conflict or war by name. Or try searching for a country name and see if there's a book or chapter that's relevant.

Browse for cases

If you're unsure of which historical cases might relate to the claim you're testing, you might want to browse these resources for ideas. Resources like CQ Researcher, the Political Handbook of the World, and historical reference books can give you basic information about conflicts and issues that might be interesting to analyze in your paper.

Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Researcher
Offers overviews of current events and some historical coverage. For POLS 004, students might want to click "Browse Reports" and look at the links in the following categories: "International Relations," "Defense and National Security," and "War and Conflict."
Political Handbook of the World
This online reference book offers broad overviews of each country's political history as well as its current government and political party system. It also includes entries for international organizations such as the African Union and the WTO. You can browse by region, regime type, and other categories.

Relevant books for finding cases

An Atlas of World Affairs by Andrew Boyd; Joshua Comenetz
Call Number: S McCabe Reference (Main Floor) G1035 .B6 2007

ISBN: 0415391687

Publication Date: 2007-08-23

The entirely revised and updated 11th edition of An Atlas of World Affairs describes the people, factions, and events that have shaped the modern world from the Second World War to the present day. International issues and conflicts are placed in their geographical contexts through the integration of over one hundred maps.

Available as a print book.
Oxford Companion to the Politics of the World by Joel Krieger (Editor)
ISBN: 9780195117394

Publication Date: 2001-08-02

This reference work provides overviews of 20th century politics, including essays on conflicts, institutions, trade, and important people. Articles include detailed discussions of critical historical developments and events, concepts, international law, and organizations.

Available as an ebook at Swarthmore.
Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict by Lester R. Kurtz (Editor)
ISBN: 9781849723930

Publication Date: 2009-01-27

Try browsing entries by subject area to get ideas for possible cases to use in your paper.

POLS 004: International Politics (SC)

Connect to Resources

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History Overviews

Browse for cases

Relevant books for finding cases