LibGuides: Political Science: Websites

Websites

Political Science Commons
Open Access resources produces by scholars and published by universities. Popular Institutions includes Penn State Law, University of Pennsylvania, College of William & Mary Law School, Providence College, Claremont Colleges, University of Rhode Island, University of Iowa, Macalester College and Western University.
International Political Science Association (IPSA) Portal
Top 300 Web sites for Political Science, as selected by the International Political Science Association.
PolitiFact
A free, nonpartisan, fact-checking resource that evaluates the accuracy of claims made by US political officeholders, candidates, consultants, advisers, special interest groups, and pundits.
Transparency International
This site's mission is to expose corruption and encourage transparency in government decision-making and public policy formation. Produces an annual Corruption Perception Index along with other data and reports.

IIGR (Institute of Intergovernmental Relations) This link opens in a new window
The Institute’s core mission is to lead the conversation in federalism and intergovernmental relations in our global environment. As a Queen’s University School of Policy Studies centre for research, IIGR draws on interdisciplinary research at the forefront of political science, economics, philosophy, law, and sociology. The interdisciplinary approach provides a unique venue to explore solutions to the foremost issues and challenges facing Canada today.

Content: Canadian, Conference Proceedings, Free Access, Government Documents, Scholarly Journals

The American Presidency Project
One of the largest online public archives of the American presidency, spanning 1789-2015. Comparisons across administrations - and more - are possible using the data archive, and full-text searching of the media archive is possible.
Miller Center Presidential Recordings
Between 1940 and 1973, six American presidents from both political parties secretly recorded just under 5,000 hours of their meetings and telephone conversations. Search recordings and transcripts from Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, & Nixon.
The constitute project
Search and compare the world's constitutions.
Rulers
A guide to heads of state around the world from 1700 to present.
CIA - The World Factbook
Current information on countries of the world, including government, economy, geography, statistics and comparative rankings.
ElectionGuide
Current information on elections, political parties, and electoral structures around the world.
openDemocracy
A non-profit independent Web site focusing on global current affairs.
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
"A non-profit, non-partisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security with the aim of strengthening U.S. national security and reducing or eliminating threats posed by adversaries and enemies of the United States and other free nations." Reports include "Midterm Assessment: The Trump Administration’s Foreign and National Security Policies”, released early 2019.

Evaluating Websites

The Web can be a valuable research tool, but not all online sources are equally credible. Because anyone can publish anything online, it is important to think critically about the information you find on the Web. Before you cite an online source in your work, consider the questions below. Also, remember that many quality sources are not available on the Internet, especially for free. Be sure to consult the library's print and electronic collections when conducting research.

Authority: Can you trust the source?

Can you identify the author?

If the author is an individual, what are his or her credentials or other qualifications? Is the author a recognized authority in the relevant field of study?

If the author is a corporation, government body, or special interest group, what can you find out about the organization?

What is the domain of the website? Some domains (e.g. .edu, .gov, .gc.ca) indicate that the webpage is hosted by a government or educational institution. These are more likely to provide reliable information.

Currency: Is the information up to date?

Are you able to determine when the website or webpage was created? When was the page last updated?

Is the information time-sensitive? Some types of information go out of date quickly (e.g. medical knowledge).

Purpose: Why was the website/page created?

Who is the intended audience? Is the information written for an academic or popular audience?

Is the website/page intended to inform? To persuade? To sell a product?

Does the author present a balanced view of the topic? Are opposing viewpoints acknowledged?

Content: Is the information that the website/page presents quality academic research?

Is the website/page organized in a logical and understandable manner?

Are the author's arguments well-reasoned and supported by sufficient evidence? Can you verify the information elsewhere?

Does the author cite his or her sources? Are there many citations? Are the materials cited primarily scholarly sources? Are they a mix of primary and secondary sources, or only secondary sources?

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