USAFA Library Guides: Political Science: Online References

General References

These selected online references cover different areas of research in political science taught at USAFA. Search subject-focused references for an introduction or quick overview on your topic, which often include bibliographies to help you do further research.

Political Handbook of the World
Authoritative source for finding complete facts and analysis on each country’s governmental and political makeup. Browse by country or by political & electoral systems in 7 categories, e.g. regime type, democracy type, Freedom House rating.
SAGE Handbook of Political Science
Features seven core areas: 1) Political Theory; 2) Methods; 3) Political Sociology; 4) Comparative Politics; 5) Public Policies & Administration; 6) International Relations; 7) Major Challenges for Politics & Political Science in the 21st Century
21st Century Political Science: A Reference Handbook
Comprises six major parts: 1) General Approaches of Political Science; 2) Comparative Politics; 3) International Relations; 4) Political Science Methodology; 5) Political Thought; 6) American Politics

SAGE Reference
Find more encyclopedias and handbooks in politics & social sciences

American Politics

Congress A to Z
Provides ready-reference insight into the national legislature, its organization, processes, personalities, major legislation, and history
Elections A-Z
Provides readers with ready reference insight into how campaigns and elections are conducted in the United States. Updated edition with new entries covering the vital current elections topics.
Guide to U.S. Political Parties
Rundown of the national party system, describing the organization and behavior of U.S. political parties in thematic, narrative chapters to help you better understand party origins, historical development, and current operations

Comparative Politics

Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics: An Introduction
Explores the strategies of comparative research in political science with briefing boxes explaining key concepts and ideas, suggested readings after each chapter, and a glossary of terms
Issues in Comparative Politics
Each essay identifies key players, explores what's at stake, and shows how past and current developments impact the future.
SAGE Handbook of Comparative Politics
Overviews of methods and theory of comparative political science, as well as new and emerging issues in comparative politics

International Relations

Handbook of International Relations
Provides detailed and authoritative overviews within the various sub-fields of international relations including structures and processes, historical, theoretical, philosophical and contemporary issues
Key Concepts in International Relations
Essential guide for students on politics and international relations courses to get familiarized with key concepts and core theories
SAGE Handbook of Diplomacy
Provides an overview of diplomatic and international affairs, and a greater understanding of key diplomatic concepts and theories, diplomatic relations, and types of diplomatic engagement

National Security & Global Security Studies

Encyclopedia of United States National Security
Interdisciplinary reference for insights into national security issues from historical, economic, political, and technological perspectives
Geopolitics: A Guide to the Issues
Find out current and emerging global geopolitical trends and how countries like the United States (and Australia, Brazil, China, India, Russia) are integrating geopolitics into national security planning
The Oxford Handbook of Space Security
Examines how space technology influences national and international security, focusing on emerging technologies and counterspace capabilities that shape future space security.
Routledge Handbook of American Foreign Policy
A great resource for a broader understanding of international relations and various aspects of American foreign policy since the Cold War

Political Theory

Encyclopedia of Modern Political Thought
Explores modern and contemporary political thought since 1750, looking at the thinkers, concepts, debates, issues, and national traditions that have shaped political thought over three centuries
Encyclopedia of Political Theory
Provides a quick, one-stop source to key political theories and different theorists throughout history from before Plato to the present times
SAGE Handbook of Political Sociology
This future-oriented and cross-disciplinary handbook is a landmark text for students and scholars interested in the social investigation of politics.