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International Security Policy & Military Affairs: Information Resources

Online Catalogs | Background Information | Books, Journals, & Articles | Research Guides
Annual Reviews | Military Hardware | U.S. Government Agencies | International Agencies
Independent Research Centers | Statistics & Data | Related Resources & Guides

This is a selective guide to library materials and Internet resources on international security policy and military affairs.

Resources marked with this symbol are restricted to Columbia affiliates.

Online Catalogs

  • CLIO: Columbia Libraries Online Catalog
    CLIO is the online catalog for the Columbia and Barnard libraries. It includes over 4 million records for books, journal or newspaper titles (not articles), online resources, government documents, microforms, sound or video recordings, archival collections, etc.
  • Pegasus: Columbia University Law School Library Online Catalog
    Pegasus includes: U.S. federal and state law, selected Commonwealth jurisdictions, major foreign language collections and, since 1983, vernacular and Western language materials pertaining to law in Japan and the People's Rep. of China.
  • WorldCat
    An online catalog of the collections of 24,000 member libraries of the OCLC consortium, comprising more than 36 million records for books, serials, manuscript collections, audiovisual materials, computer files, and other media.
  • Borrow Direct
    A borrowing service offered by the university libraries of Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale. It is designed to allow students, faculty and staff to request (and receive in four days) books directly from each other's collections.

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Background Information

  • Aall, Pamela R.
    Guide to IGOs, NGOs, and the Military in Peace and Relief Operations.
    Washington, D.C. : United States Institute of Peace Press, 2000.
    Call Number: JZ 4850 .A17 2000
  • Armed Conflict Database
    The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has produced an interactive and user-friendly source of information on 70 armed conflicts including terrorism, refugees/ and returnees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), weapons used and their flows, fatalities, costs ($US), historical backgrounds, annual updates and timelines. With the ACD, users can generate reports and download data as well as browse through year-by-year analyses and fact sheets online.
  • Armed Conflict in the World Today: a Country By Country Review, Spring 2000
    Prepared for Humanitarian Law Project/ International Educational Development and Parliamentary Human Rights Group.
  • Arnold, Guy.
    Wars in the Third World Since 1945.
    New York: Cassell, 1995.
    Call Number: D 883 .A7 1995g
  • Beckett, I. F. W.
    Encyclopedia of Guerrilla Warfare.
    Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999.
    Call Number: U 240 .B43 1999 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Bennett, Richard M.
    Elite Forces : an Encyclopedia of the World's Most Formidable Secret Armies.
    London : Virgin Books, 2003.
    Call Number: U 262 .B46 2003g
  • Bercovitch, Jacob.
    Regional Guide to International Conflict and Management from 1945 to 2003.
    Washington, D.C. : Congressional Quarterly, c2004.
    Call Number: D 842 .B464 2004 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Border and Territorial Disputes of the World. 4th ed
    London, U.K. : John Harper Pub. ; Farmington Hills, Mich. : Distributed exclusively in the U.S. and Canada by Gale Group, 2004.
    Call Number: D 843 .B623 2004g
  • Clodfelter, Micheal.
    Warfare and Armed Conflicts: a Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1494-2007. 3rd ed.
    Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland, 2008.
    Call Number: D 214 .C54 2008
  • Costs of Major U.S. Wars,Congressional Research Service, 2008
  • Country Profiles of Countries with Weapons of Mass Destruction, from Nuclear Threat Initiative
  • Cragg, Dan.
    Guide to Military Installations. 6th ed.
    Mechanicsburg, Pa. : Stackpole Books, c2001.
    Call Number: UA 26 .A2 C723 2000
    Location information for for over 300 Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard installations and recreation centers worldwide.
  • Defense and Security : a Compendium of National Armed Forces and Security Policies. 2 vols..
    Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, c2005.
    Call Number: UA 10 .D432 2005
  • Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms., Washington, D.C. : Joint Chiefs of Staff
  • Dictionary of Wars. 3rd ed.
    New York : Facts on File/Checkmark Books, c2007.
    Call Number: D 25. A2 D53 2006
  • Ellison, D. Hank.
    Handbook of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents. 2nd ed.
    Boca Raton : CRC Press, c2008.
  • Encyclopedia of Conflicts Since World War II. 4 vols.
    Armonk, NY : Sharpe Reference, c1999.
    Call Number: D 843 .E46 1999
  • Encyclopedia of the American Military. 3 vols.
    New York: Scribner's, 1994.
    Call Number: UA 23 .E56 1994 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Foreign Military Bases in Eurasia (SIPRI, 2007)
  • Garrett, Benjamin C.
    Historical Dictionary of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare.
    Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2007.
    Call Number: U 793 .G37 2007
  • Gutzman, Philip.
    Dictionary of Military, Defense Contractor & Troop Slang Acronyms.
    Santa Barbara, CA.: ABC-CLIO, 1990.
    Call Number: U 26 .G88 1990
  • Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2007
    Prepared by the Congressional Research Service, provided by the Federation of American Scientists.
  • International Encyclopedia of Military History. 2 vols.
    New York : Routledge, 2006.
    Call Number: R355 In8
  • International Military and Defense Encyclopedia. 6 vols.
    Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, 1993.
    Call Number: U 24 .I58 1993
  • International Security and the United States : an Encyclopedia. 2 vols.
    Westport, Conn. : Praeger Security International, 2008.
    Call Number: JZ 5588 .I5775 2008
  • Jessup, John E.
    An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Conflict and Conflict Resolution, 1945-1996.
    Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1998.
    Call Number: D 842 .J47 1998
  • Jones, Rodney W.
    Tracking Nuclear Proliferation : a Guide in Maps and Charts, 1998.
    Washington, D.C. : Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1998.
    Call Number: U 264 .S635 1998
  • Lumpe, Lora.
    The Arms Trade Revealed: a Guide for Investigators and Activists.
    Washington, D.C. : Federation of American Scientists, Arms Sales Monitoring Project, 1998.
    Call Number: UF 543.A3 L86 1998
  • Mapping Militant Organizations
    This research project traces the evolution of militant organizations and the interactions that develop between them over time. Findings are presented in interactive “maps,” which provide both (1) visual representations of how relationships among militant organizations change over time and (2) links to in-depth profiles of individual groups.
  • Military Policy Awareness Links (MiPALs)
    MiPALs are published by the National Defense University (NDU) Library as a current awareness service; the objective is to provide access to key U.S. policy statements on the country or topic of the MiPAL. While MiPALs emphasize U.S. military policy, each MiPAL includes resources analyzing the topic from governmental and non-governmental sources, including think tanks and scholarly journals.
  • Munro, David and Day, Alan J.
    A World Record of Major Conflict Areas.
    London: Edward Arnold, 1990.
    Call Number: D 843 .M84 1990g
  • National Security Law. 2nd ed.
    Durham, N.C. : Carolina Academic Press, c2005.
    Call Number: KF 4651 .N38 2005g
  • National Security Law Documents. 2nd ed.
    Durham, N.C. : Carolina Academic Press, c2006.
    Call Number: KF 4651 .N38 2006g
  • National Security Scorecard
    A publication for each session of Congress which scores members of Congress on their pro-national security votes, according to the Center for Security Policy.
  • The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military
    New York : Berkley Books, c2001.
  • The Political Role of the Military: an International Handbook.
    Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1996.
    Call Number: JF 195.C5 P67 1996
  • PSI Handbook of Global Security and Intelligence : National Approaches. 2 vol.
    Westport, Conn. : Praeger Security International, 2008.
    Call Number: JZ 5588 .P785 2008
  • Smith, Dan.
    Atlas of War and Peace. 4th ed.
    London, Eng. : Earthscan, 2003.
    Call Number: G 1046 .R1 S6 2003g
  • Sturgill, Claude C.
    The Military History of the Third World Since 1945: a Reference Guide.
    Westport Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1994.
    Call Number: D 883 .S79 1994
  • Thackrah, John Richard.
    The Routledge Companion to Military Conflict Since 1945.
    London ; New York : Routledge, 2009.
    Call Number: D 842.2 .T53 2009
  • UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia
    The UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia (UCDP database) is updated and revised several times per year and contains detailed descriptive information on armed conflicts, peace agreements, and several other aspects of organised violence. Coverage is global with information from 1946 and onwards.
  • U.S. Army War College Guide to National Security Issues, 4th edition, 2010
    Vol. 1, Theory of War and Strategy
    Vol. 2, National Security Policy and Strategy
  • U.S. Low-intensity Conflicts 1899-1990.
    Washington, D.C.: Government Publications Office, 1990.
    Call Number: U 240 .U6 1990g
  • U.S. Senate. Select Committee on Intelligence.
    Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States.
    Text of a hearing, February February 2010. Includes testimony by Leon Panetta (CIA) and Dennis Blair (DNI).
  • Watson, Cynthia.
    U.S. National Security: a Reference Handbook. 2nd ed.
    Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2008.
    Call Number: UA 23 .W36397 2008
  • Watson, Cynthia.
    U.S. National Security Policy Groups: Institutional Profiles.
    New York: Greenwood Press, 1990.
    Call Number: UA 23 .W364 1990
  • Wilson, Thomas R.
    Global Threats and Challenges to the United States and its Interests Abroad Through 2015, February 7, 2001
        Prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency for the Senate Armed Services and Select Committees.
  • World Court Digest
    The World Court Digest represents a reproduction, in a systematic arrangement, of the views on questions of international law which are expressed in the judgements, advisory opinions and orders of the International Court of Justice as well as in the separate opinions of individual judges. Conflict law is well represented.
  • World Directory of Strategic Studies Centres.
    London : International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1998.
    Call Number: U 162 .W67 1998g
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction : an Encyclopedia of Worldwide Policy, Technology, and History. 2 vols.
    Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005.
    Call Number: U 793 .W427 2005

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Books, Journals, & Articles

Books

  • Air University Library Bibliographies
    Dozens of bibliographies on a variety of military topics, including specific conflicts, prepared by specialists at the AUL. A few of the most relevant ones are:
     Conflict Termination, March 2010
     Humanitarian Intervention and Assistance, January 2011
     Irregular Warfare, May 2010
     Nation Building - Post Conflict Reconstruction, September 2005
     Special Operations 2010, June 2010
    • Warfare in the 21st Century
  • Beaumont, Roger.
    Special Operations and Elite Units, 1939-1988: a Research Guide.
    New York: Greenwood Press, 1988.
    Call Number: Z 6724 .S66 B4 1988
  • Beede, Benjamin R.
    Intervention and Counterinsurgency: an Annotated Bibliography of the Small Wars of the United States, 1898-1984.
    New York: Garland Pub., 1985.
    Call Number: Z 1249 .M5 B43 1985
  • Beede, Benjamin R.
    Military and Strategic Policy: an Annotated Bibliography.
    New York: Greenwood Press, 1990.
    Call Number: Z 1361 .D4 B4 1990
  • Beede, Benjamin R.
    The Small Wars of the United States, 1899-2009 : an Annotated Bibliography. Rev. 2nd ed.
    New York : Routledge, 2010.
    Call Number: E 745 .B44 2010
  • CIAO: Columbia International Affairs Online
    Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) is designed to be the most comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs. It publishes a wide range of scholarship from 1991 on that includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences.
  • Technical Reports
    Most military research results from U.S. government contracts. While some reports of this research may appear in the RAND collection or U.S. Government Documents materials, the great majority of these research reports can be located via the links provided here by the CUL Engineering Library.
  • Digital National Security Archive
    The Digital National Security Archive contains the most comprehensive set of declassified government documents available. The resource now includes 33 collections consisting of over 80,000 meticulously indexed documents, with more than 500,000 total pages. Each of these collections, compiled by top scholars and experts, exhaustively covers the most critical world events, countries, and U.S. policy decisions from post World War II through the 21st century. Together, these collections offer unparalleled access to the defining international strategies of our time. Glossaries, chronologies, bibliographies, overviews, and photographs are included.
  • House, Jonathan M.
    Military Intelligence, 1870-1991: a Research Guide.
    Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1993.
    Call Number: UB 250 .H68 1993
  • Milner, Helen and Baldwin, David A.
    The Political Economy of National Security: an Annotated Bibliography.
    Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1990.
    Call Number: Z 6724 .N37 M54 1990
  • ProQuest Congressional
    ProQuest Congressional is the most comprehensive online resource available for congressional publications and legislative research. Included are: Committee Hearings, Committee Prints, Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports, House and Senate Documents, House and Senate Reports, Senate Executive Reports, Senate Executive Treaty Documents, Legislative Histories, Statutes at Large, the Serial Set and Serial Set Maps. Most of the content is full text; the best place to start for congressional legislation and publications relating to defense.
  • Rand Corporation.
    Rand Books and Publications. Quarterly.
    Santa Monica, CA.: Rand, 1964-
        The Rand collection consists of commissioned research published in several series, including Rand Report, Rand Note and Rand Paper. Reports 1964-2000 are available in the Lehman Library stacks (check CLIO under each series title); most reports 1993-present are available fulltext online.
  • Public Technical Reports: Advanced Search
    A database for retrieving publications from the Defense Technical Information Center, the main clearinghouse for DoD publications. Many of the publications are available in full text.
    To focus on military research papers done at the major military academic institutions, limit your search to:
    Corporate Author: (carlisle OR maxwell OR newport)
  • Tillema, Herbert K.
    International Armed Conflict Since 1945 : a Bibliographic Handbook of Wars and Military Interventions.
    Boulder : Westview Press, 1991.
    Call Number: Z 6204 .T53 1991
  • Van Fleet, David D.
    Online Bibliography of Military Leadership
    Contains over 4200 references, to both monographs and journal articles; searchable.

Journals

  • Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals. Quarterly.
    Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.: Air University Library, 1949-
    Call Number: Z 5063 .A2 U8
  • Current World Affairs.Quarterly.
    Alexandria, VA.: John C. Danon, 1990-1997.
    Call Number: Z 1361 .D4 Q261
  • EINIRAS Database Network
    The EINIRAS database makes available several databases of citations to security-related articles, 1990-present. They can be searched by English, French, Spanish, and German keywords.
  • International Political Science Abstracts. Bimonthly.
    Paris: International Political Science Association, 1951-
    Call Number: JA 36 .I5 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Jane's Online
    Access to full-text of a subset of the entire Jane's Online databases. Titles include: Jane's Defence Weekly, Jane's International Defense Review, Jane's Intelligence Review, Foreign Report, Jane's Fighting Ships, Jane's All the World's Aircraft, Jane's World Defence Industry, Jane's Sentinel Security Assessments, Jane's Intelligence Watch Report, Jane's Terrorism Watch Report, Jane's Counter Terrorism, Jane's World Insurgency and Terrorism, Jane's Chem-Bio Handbook, Jane's Chem-Bio Review, Jane's Geopolitical Special Reports.
  • PAIS International. Monthly.
    New York: Public Affairs Information Service, 1915-
    Call Number: Z 7163 .P922 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • SCAMPI: Staff College Automated Military Periodicals Index
    The Joint Forces Staff College Library is a specialized military library, focusing on research in joint and multinational operations, military history and naval science, operational warfare, and operations other than war. Library staff members regularly scan the weekly news magazines, monthly and bimonthly journal. The resulting database serves as a guide to articles on military and naval art and science, operational warfare, joint planning, national and international politics, and other areas researched by JFSC faculty, staff, and students. The SCAMPI database covers the period from 1996 thru the present.

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Research Guides

  • Arkin, William M.
    Research Guide to Current Military and Strategic Affairs.
    Washington, D.C.: Institute for Policy Studies, 1981.
    Call Number: UA 11 .A69
  • Arkin, William M.
    The U.S. Military Online: a Directory for Internet Access to the Department of Defense. 2nd ed.
    Washington, D.C. : Brassey's, 1998.
    Call Number: UA 23.3 .A85 1998
        A detailed guide to U.S. military web sites, with an excellent index. Contains helpful annotations, and can be a real time saver.  Overview, Table of Contents, and Links to Recommended Sites
  • Blewett, Daniel K.
    American Military History : a Guide to Reference and Information Sources. 2nd ed.
    Westport, Conn. : Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
    Call Number: R016.35573 B6
  • Booth, Ken and Herring, Eric.
    Keyguide to Information Sources in Strategic Studies.
    London, New York: Mansell, 1994.
    Call Number: U 162 .B73 1993
  • Chapman, Bert.
    Military Doctrine : a Reference Handbook.
    Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2009.
    Call Number: UA 23 .C5134 2009
  • Chapman, Bert.
    Researching National Security and Intelligence Policy.
    Washington, D.C. : CQ Press, c2004.
    Call Number: UA 23 .C5135 2004
  • David, James E.
    Conducting Post-World War II National Security Research in Executive Branch Records : a Comprehensive Guide.
    Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 2001.
    Call Number: UA 23 .D275 2001
  • Directory Guide of European Security and Defense Research.
    Mclean, Va. : Pergamon-Brassey's International Defense Publishers, c1985.
    Call Number: UA 646 .D57 1985
  • Guide to the Sources of U.S. Military History.
    Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, 1975; and supplements, 1981, 1986, 1993.
    Call Number: Z 1249 .M5 G83 1975
    To view supplements, perform a CLIO title search for "Guide to the Sources of United States Military History".
  • Handbook of War Studies II.
    Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2000.
    Call Number: U 21.2 .H35 2000
  • Handbook of War Studies III.
    Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2009.
    Call Number: U 21.2 .H35 2009g

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Annual Reviews

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Military Hardware

  • Chant, Christopher.
    A Compendium of Armaments and Military Hardware.
    London; New York: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1987.
    Call Number: UF 500 .C42 1987 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Federation of American Scientists: Arms Sales Monitoring Project
    U.S. Arms Transfers
  • Grimmett, Richard F..
    Arms Sales: Congressional Review Process, January, 2010, Congressional Research Service
  • Jane's Defence Industry
  • Jane's Defence Equipment and Technology
    Includes: Aero-Engines, Air-Launched Weapons, Aircraft Upgrades, All The Worlds Aircraft, Ammunition Handbook, Armour and Artillery, Armour and Artillery Upgrades, Avionics, C4I Systems, Electro-Optic Systems, Explosive Ordnance , Fighting Ships, Infantry Weapons, Land-Based Air Defence, Military Communications, Military Vehicles and Logistics,Mines and Mine Clearance, Naval Weapons Systems,Nuclear - Biological and Chemical Defence,Radar and Electronic Warfare Systems,Strategic Weapon Systems, Underwater Warfare Systems,Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Targets
  • The Militarily Critical Technologies List. Irregular.
    Washington, D.C.: Dept. of Defense, 1984-
    Call Number: D 1.2:T 22/2/
  • RUSI Defence Systems. 3x/year.
    London : Method Pub., 2004-
    Call Number: UG 1 .W671
  • Small Arms Survey. Irregular.
    Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2004-
    Call Number: HD 9744.F552 S6 [year]
  • United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
    On 6 December 1991, the General Assembly adopted resolution 46/36 L entitled "Transparency in armaments", which requested the Secretary-General to establish and maintain at United Nations Headquarters in New York a universal and non-discriminatory Register of Conventional Arms, to include data on international arms transfers as well as information provided by Member States on military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant policies. The Register comprises seven categories of major conventional arms, namely, battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships (including submarines) as well as missiles and missile-launchers. It has been in operation with effect from calendar year 1992. Thus far, a total of 164 Member States have reported to the Register one or more times. The Register captures the great bulk of the global arms trade in the categories of conventional weapons covered by it.
  • U.S. Central Intelligence Agency.
    Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions:
    2004 , 2005 , 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
  • U.S. Dept. of Defense.

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U.S. Government Agencies

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International Agencies

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Independent Research Centers

  • CIAO: Columbia International Affairs Online
    Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO) is designed to be the most comprehensive source for theory and research in international affairs. It publishes a wide range of scholarship from 1991 on that includes working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences.
  • American Enterprise Institute: Foreign and Defense Policy Studies
    AEI's work in foreign and defense policy seeks to improve the understanding of how American interests and political and economic freedom can be advanced around the world. AEI scholars analyze relations between the United States and its allies; security threats, currently focusing on Asia and the Middle East; the transition to democratic capitalism in developing and postcommunist countries; and the performance of international organizations and institutions.
  • BASIC: British American Security Information Council
    An independent research organization that analyzes international security policy in Europe and North America, BASIC works to promote public awareness of defense, disarmament, military strategy, and nuclear policies in order to foster informed debate on these issues. BASIC facilitates the exchange of information and analysis among researchers, journalists, and parliamentarians on both sides of the Atlantic.
  • Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
    The International Security Program (ISP) addresses the most pressing threats to U.S. national interest and intentional security, analyzing the forces shaping these problems and identifying opportunities for effective intervention into the policy process.
  • Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies
    CISS is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that is dedicated to the research, analysis and discussion of national and international strategic issues in a Canadian context. CISS seeks to provide an objective, independent forum for a dialogue on a diverse set of issues that affect the national security of Canada.
  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, its work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results.
  • Center for a New American Security
    The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) develops strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies that promote and protect American interests and values. Building on the deep expertise and broad experience of its staff and advisors, CNAS engages policymakers, experts and the public with innovative fact-based research, ideas and analysis to shape and elevate the national security debate.
  • Center for Defense Information
    Founded in 1972 as an independent monitor of the military, the Center for Defense Information is a private, nongovernmental, research organization. Its directors and staff believe that strong social, economic, political, and military components and a healthy environment contribute equally to the nation's security. CDI seeks realistic and cost effective military spending without excess expenditures for weapons and policies that increase the danger of war. CDI supports adequate defense by evaluating our defense needs and how best to meet them without wasteful spending or compromising our national security.
    This site provides information on defense issues, arms control and arms trade, and the text of the Center's publication Defense Monitor.
  • Center for Homeland Defense & Security, Naval Postgraduate School
    The center provides the Homeland Security Digital Library and the Journal, Homeland Security Affairs.
  • Center for International Security and Cooperation , Stanford University
    CISAC's mission is to produce policy-relevant research on international security problems, to teach and train the next generation of security specialists, and to influence policymaking in international security.
  • Center for Peace and Security Studies, Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service
        Project areas include: Non-military aspects of security, conflict and conflict resolution, technology and security, arms and arms control, the U.S. and international security.
  • Center for Security Policy
    The Center for Security Policy exists as a non-profit, non-partisan organization to stimulate and inform the national and international debate about all aspects of security policy, notably those policies bearing on the foreign, defense, economic, financial and technology interests of the United States.
    It makes a unique contribution to the debate by the rapid preparation and real-time dissemination of analyses and policy recommendations via computerized facsimile, published articles and electronic media. The principal audience for such materials is the U.S. security policy-making community (the executive and legislative branches, the armed forces and appropriate independent agencies), corresponding organizations in key foreign governments, the press (domestic and foreign), the global business and financial community and interested individuals in the public at large.
  • Center for Security Studies and Conflict Research, Zurich
    The Center for Security Studies and Conflict Research, founded in 1986, is an independent academic institution researching and teaching in the fields of security policy and conflict analysis. The Center maintains an extensive list of publications on general subjects in the field as well as on the Environment and Conflicts Project (ENCOP). It also serves as the Secretariat for the International Relations and Security Network (ISN), a daily updated electronic clearinghouse for resources in the field of security and defense studies, peace and conflict research, and international relations. The service is organized in a subject and a regional listing, contains a current issues page and links to related research institutions.
  • Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Washington, D.C.
    The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) is an independent, nonprofit public policy research institute established to promote innovative thinking about defense planning and investment strategies for the 21st century. CSBA brings databased analyses and cutting-edge assessment techniques to its research on: Military Strategy and Policy, Defense Budgets and Programs, Weapon Systems and Critical Technologies, Military Personnel and Readiness, Military Revolutions and Future Warfare, Transformation of the Military, and the Defense Industry.
  • Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, D.C.
    The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a public policy research institution dedicated to policy analysis and impact. CSIS is the only institution of its kind that maintains resident experts on all the world's major geographical regions. It also covers key functional areas, such as international finance, the emerging markets, U.S. domestic and economic policy related to the Strengthening of America, and U.S. foreign policy and national security issues.
  • Centre for Defence and International Security Studies (CDISS), Lancaster University, United Kingdom
    The objectives of CDISS are to address salient issues in UK national and international defence and security policy; and to research and disseminate through publications and public briefings information relevant to defence issues. CDISS also undertakes specific studies under contract in a number of broad subject areas. Such studies have included: analyses of current and future defence market trends, analyses of domestic and international political and strategic developments, the impact of political and economic change on industry, government departments, the armed services, political parties and pressure groups, and defence policy planning.
  • Chatham House, United Kingdom
    The Chatham House mission is to be a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all.
  • Correlates of War Project, University of Michigan
    The Correlates of War (COW) Project is an ongoing effort to study and explore the conditions associated with the outbreak of war, as well as with the conditions surrounding militarized disputes. Begun in 1963 at the University of Michigan, the COW Project has produced over one hundred and fifty journal articles and book chapters as well as more than a dozen books. This website is intended to serve as a guide to sources drawn primarily from the Correlates of War data sets. Towards that end, a bibliography of articles and books published by Correlates of War researchers is provided.
  • Council on Foreign Relations, New York
    The Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries.
  • Environmental Change and Security Program (ECSP), at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
    An information clearinghouse on the views, activities and policy initiatives falling under the rubric of "environment, population and security." The ECSP acts as a neutral, non-partisan forum for researchers, practitioners and interested individuals to meet, exchange ideas and concerns, and develop cross-disciplinary dialogue.
  • Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Washington, D.C.
    The Federation of American Scientists conducts analysis and advocacy on science, technology and public policy, including nuclear weapons, arms sales, biological hazards, secrecy, and space policy. FAS is a privately-funded non-profit policy organization whose Board of Sponsors includes half of America's living Nobel Laureates:
    Arms Sales Monitoring Project, Ballistic Missile Defense, Chemical and Biological Weapons Threat Assessments and Related Material, Military Analysis Network, Space Policy Project, Strategic Security Project
  • GlobalSecurity.org
    GlobalSecurity.org is focused on innovative approaches to the emerging security challenges of the new millennium. The organization seeks to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons and the risk of their use -- both by existing nuclear weapons states and those states seeking to acquire such capabilities.
  • Henry L. Stimson Center
    The Stimson Center, founded in 1989, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to public policy research. The center concentrates on particularly difficult national and international security issues where policy, technology, and politics intersect. Projects at the Center deal with regional security (peacekeeping, preventive diplomacy, and confidence-building measures), U.S. foreign and defense policies, arms control measures and their verification, and other building blocks of international security.
  • The Heritage Foundation: Issues, Washington, D.C.
    A website devoted to disseminating information and policy analyses regarding U.S. national security issues. This site is meant to function as a clearinghouse for reporters, researchers, and concerned Americans interested in gaining access to publications, policy experts, and weblinks on a wide spectrum of national security issues, including alliances, arms control, international conflicts, national security and defense, and terrorism.
  • Institute for Science and International Security
    ISIS is a non-profit, non-partisan institution dedicated to informing the public about science and policy issues affecting international security. Its efforts focus on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons, bringing about greater transparency of nuclear activities worldwide, and achieving deep reductions in nuclear arsenals.
  • Institute for Security & Development Policy
    The Institute for Security and Development Policy is a Stockholm-based independent and non-profit research and policy institute. The Institute is dedicated to expanding understanding of international affairs, particularly the interrelationship between the issue areas of conflict, security and development. The Institute’s primary areas of geographic focus are Asia and Europe’s neighborhood.
  • Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Pretoria, South Africa
    The ISS is a regional research institute operating across sub-Saharan Africa. Today it is one of the largest strategic studies/peace research institutes in Africa and is expanding both its activities and interests to meet the changing needs of the continent.
  • International Crisis Group
    The International Crisis Group is a leading independent, non-partisan, source of analysis and advice to governments, and intergovernmental bodies like the United Nations, European Union and World Bank, on the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London
    The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), founded in 1958, is an independent centre for research, information and debate on the problems of conflict, however caused, that have, or potentially have, an important military content. Its work is grounded in an appreciation of the various political, economic and social problems that can lead to instability, as well as the factors that can lead to international cooperation.
  • Nuclear Threat Initiative
    NTI's mission is to strengthen global security by reducing the risk of use and preventing the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
  • Project 2049 Institute
    The Project 2049 Institute seeks to guide decision makers toward a more secure Asia by the century’s mid-point. The organization fills a gap in the public policy realm through forward-looking, region-specific research on alternative security and policy solutions.
  • Project for the New American Century
    The Project for the New American Century is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to a few fundamental propositions: that American leadership is good both for America and for the world; and that such leadership requires military strength, diplomatic energy and commitment to moral principle.
  • Project on Defense Alternatives (PDA), at the Commonwealth Institute
    The Project on Defense Alternatives (PDA) seeks to adapt military policy to the circumstances of the post-Cold War era. To that end it develops pragmatic, cost-effective defense policy options that support progress toward more cooperative means of attaining security. PDA offers critical analysis of US policy as well as that of other nations and devises detailed alternative policy options. Many PDA studies and reports are available online.
  • RAND
    RANDis a nonprofit institution that helps improve public policy through research and analysis. RAND research is carried out within centers, programs, and institutes that focus on particular areas of policy concern.
  • Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies (RUSI)
    RUSI is the oldest Institute of its kind in the world. It is the professional and independent authority dedicated to the study, analysis and debate of issues affecting defence and international security.
  • Small Arms Survey
    The Small Arms Survey is an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland. It serves as the principal international source of public information on all aspects of small arms.
  • Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
    The Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) is a foundation established in 1962 for the purpose of furthering analytic research into problems of international politics and security. Publicly funded, but politically independent, the SWP today maintains the largest research institute of its kind in the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
    Established in 1966 by the Swedish Parliament, SIPRI research and publication focuses on the issues of: armed conflicts and conflict management programs, arms transfers, arms control and disarmament, chemical and biological warfare, Euro-Atlantic, Regional and Global Security, Internet-Based Early Warning Indicators System for Preventive Policy, Military Expenditure and Arms Production, Non-proliferation and Export Controls, and Reinforcing EUCooperative Threat Reduction Programmes.
  • The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
    The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies is at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada and is designed to provide academics, students, researchers, government officials and the general public with a research tool in the areas of Strategic Studies, Security, International Relations and Politics.
  • University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC)
    IGCC was founded in 1983 as a multi-campus research unit serving the entire University of California (UC) system. In addition to its traditional work on arms control and proliferation, IGCC has expanded its research agenda to include several broad areas of inquiry: regional relations, international environmental policy, international relations theory, and the domestic sources of foreign policy.

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Statistics & Data

  • Arms Sales Monitor. Bimonthly.
    Washington, D.C.: Federation of American Scientists, 1991-
  • Clodfelter, Micheal.
    Warfare and Armed Conflicts: a Statistical Encyclopedia of Casualty and Other Figures, 1494-2007. 3rd ed.
    Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland, 2008.
    Call Number: D 214 .C54 2008
  • Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations
    An annual report delivered to Congress by the Congressional Research Service:
    1993-2000, 2000-2007, 2003-2010
  • FIRST (Facts on International Relations and Security Trends)
    FIRST is a joint project of SIPRI and the International Relations and Security Network. The objective is to offer professionals in the field and in related sciences, such as researchers, politicians and the media, an organized authoritative and structured factual reference system. The integrated database system contains high-quality, up-to-date and clearly documented information covering many areas in the field of international relations and security, such as hard facts on states and international organizations, statistics, chronologies and data on, for example, conflicts, arms transfers and military expenditures.
  • Herrera, Remy.
    Statistics on Military Expenditure in Developing Countries: Concepts, Methodological Problems and Sources.
    Paris : OECD, 1994.
    Call Number: HC 59.72 .D4 H46 1994g (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • Human Security Report: War and Peace in the 21st Century. Irregular.
    New York : Human Security Center, University of British Columbia, Canada, 2005-
    Call Number: HM 886 .H86
  • The Military Balance. Annual.
    London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1959-
    Call Number: UA 15 .M53 (Copies available in multiple locations)
  • ProQuest Statistical Insight
    The ProQuest Statistical database provides comprehensive access to statistical data. Many of the sources are linked to the full text of the data, although some state, private, and IGO sources are cited, allowing the researcher to then locate the statistical source on the internet or in the library, either in print or as part of the microfiche service which accompanies the printed index.
  • The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
    The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database is a fully searchable online database containing information on all international transfers of seven categories of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the most recent full calendar year. It can be used to generate detailed written reports and statistical data.
  • The SIPRI Military Expenditure Database
    The database on military expenditure covers 171 countries and contains consistent time series for the period since 1988. The online military expenditure database provides military expenditure data by country in the following three formats: Military expenditure in local currency, at current prices, 1988-present; Military expenditure in US dollars, at constant (2005) prices and exchange rates, 1988-present; Military expenditure as a share (%) of gross domestic product (GDP), 1988-present.
  • SIPRI Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and National Security. Annual.
    Cambridge, MA.: MIT Press, 1971-
    Call Number: UA 10 . I551 (Copies available in multiple locations)
        Press release and chapter summaries, 1993-present, at the SIPRI Yearbooks Web page.
  • Uppsala Conflict Data Program Data
    The Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) offers a number of datasets on organised violence and peacemaking, all of which can be downloaded for free. You can also generate your own dataset by using the tools "Dynamic Datasets" and "Customized Reports".
  • U.S. Dept. of Defense.
    DSCA Facts Book: Foreign Military Sales, Foreign Military Construction Sales and Military Assistance Facts. Annual.
    Washington, D.C.: Data Management Division, Comptroller, DSAA, 1973-
    Call Number: UA 12 .U4613
  • World Military and Social Expenditures. Annual, ceased.
    Leesburg, VA.: WMSE Publications, 1974-1996.
    Call Number: HJ 7469 .W6
  • World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers. Irregular.
    Washington, D.C.: U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, 1965-.
    Call Number: UA 17 .U423

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Related Resources & Guides

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