Research Guides: .International Relations: Foreign Policy/Diplomacy

DECLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS

Declassified Documents Reference System (DDRS)
Significantly larger than DNSA. Best for breadth of coverage; however, no editorial apparatus. Includes texts and images of select declassified documents from diverse sources, including the CIA, Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense, and the FBI. A very good source of primary documents related to the Cold War.
Digital National Security Archive (DNSA)
Good for depth of coverage. Edited thematic collections of over 35,000 declassified documents obtained through the FOIA. Twelve collections -- Afghanistan, Berlin Crisis 1958-1962, Cuban Missile Crisis, El Salvador, Iran-Contra Affair, Intelligence Community, Iran Revolution, Military Uses of Space, Nicaragua, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Philippines, and South Africa.
Foreign Relations of the United States: 1861-1960
Official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions that have been declassified. Provides context, editorial apparatus. University of Wisconsin digital collection.

Hein Online This link opens in a new window
Hein Online provides access to a vast PDF collection of legal research materials, including law journals (many of which date back to the 1800s) and a wide range of primary sources on the history of Anglo-American law.

Foreign Relations of the United States: Recent
The same as above, but more recent years and via the State Dept's Office of the Historian. The official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Began in 1861. Also a source of declassified records over the last two decades.
Freedom of Information Act
Dept of Justice guide to the FOIA. See listings for the Reference Guide and FOIA Reference Materials.
Information Security Oversight Office: National Security Archives
ISOO "is responsible to the President for policy and oversight of the Government-wide security classification system and the National Industrial Security Program."
National Security Archive: Electronic Briefing Books
"... online access to critical declassified records on issues including U.S. national security, foreign policy, diplomatic and military history, intelligence policy, and more. Updated frequently...."
OpenTheGoverment
".... seeks to advance the public's right to know and to reduce secrecy in government."
Project on Government Secrecy: FAS
Federation of American Scientists project aiming to maximize public oversight and minimize government secrecy.

FOREIGN POLICY / DIPLOMACY / AGENCIES

American Diplomacy
Concerned with the Foreign Service and diplomacy, but also includes dispatches and reports; maintained by U. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Apolitical
A policy resource and network used by public servants in 140+ countries. Available to students as a free weekly email roundup of global government innovation and public service perspectives. Sign up through the website to subscribe.
Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick : A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts
Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies (UC Berkeley)
Lively and unedited video interviews and printable transcripts, with distinguished men and women from all over the world. Includes over 300 diplomats, statesmen, stateswomen, soldiers, economists, political scientists, activists and artists. Click on "Interviews by Guest Name" for the alphabetical list.
Council on Foreign Relations

CQ Historic Documents Series Online Edition This link opens in a new window
Issued since 1972, each annual volume of which contains approximately 100 documents covering the most significant events of the year. The documents include presidential speeches, international agreements, Supreme Court decisions, U.S. governmental reports, scientific findings, and cultural discussions.

Declassified Documents Reference System (DDRS)
Significantly larger than DNSA. Best for breadth of coverage; however, no editorial apparatus. Includes texts and images of select declassified documents from diverse sources, including the CIA, Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense, and the FBI. A very good source of primary documents related to the Cold War.
Dictionary of Conflict Resolution
Dictionary of Diplomacy
Digital National Security Archive (DNSA)
Good for depth of coverage. Edited thematic collections of over 35,000 declassified documents obtained through the FOIA. Twelve collections -- Afghanistan, Berlin Crisis 1958-1962, Cuban Missile Crisis, El Salvador, Iran-Contra Affair, Intelligence Community, Iran Revolution, Military Uses of Space, Nicaragua, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Philippines, and South Africa.
Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy: The Avalon Project at Yale Law School
Dedicated "to providing access via the World Wide Web to primary source materials in the fields of Law, History, Economics, and Politics, Diplomacy and Government. We intend to add value to these primary sources by linking to other documents expressly referred to in the body of the text." Includes pre-18th century through 21st century documents.
Documents on Secrecy Policy
Obama Administration documents on classification and declassification.
Embassy World
Directory & search engine of the world's embassies & consulates.
Encyclopedia of American Foreign Policy
2nd edition, 3 volumes, 2002
Foreign Governments: Official Websites
Links to pages of ministries, departments, and other governmental bodies for all nations. Maintained by International Documents Librarian of NU.
Foreign Policy of the U.S. Administration
The White House website on foreign policy of the current administration.
Foreign Relations of the United States: 1861-1960
Official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions that have been declassified. Provides context, editorial apparatus. University of Wisconsin digital collection.

Hein Online This link opens in a new window
This is the same as above, but a few more years and via the HeinOnline platform. Official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions that have been declassified. Provides context, editorial apparatus.

Foreign Relations of the United States: Recent
The same as above, but more recent years and via the State Dept's Office of the Historian. The official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. Began in 1861. Also a source of declassified records over the last two decades.
Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts
Belligerents, Brinkmanship, and the Big Stick : A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts
IGOs: International Documents Collection--Northwestern University Library
Contains publications and documents of about 25 intergovernmental organizations.
International Affairs Resources
WWW Virtual Library link to 2600 relevant, annotated sites.
International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
ISN is an open-access information service that provides timely and historical analyses of world events related to international security issues, such as peace keeping and arms control.
JFK's Foreign Affairs and International Crises, 1961-1963
Provides documents and insights into President Kennedy’s views on foreign affairs, U.S. leadership of the “West,” and various worldwide crises such as Bay of Pigs, Berlin, Cuba, balance of payments and foreign trade, Alliance for Progress and relations with Latin America, nuclear weapons, Southeast Asia, regional security, NATO and space programs.

JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Electronic access to back issues of core scholarly journals including about 30 in Political Science. Articles have been digitized, providing full-image access.

Political Handbook of the World
Reference source of political and government information on all countries.

Yale UN Oral History Project This link opens in a new window
Yale University’s United Nations Studies Program has undertaken an oral history study to preserve the recollections of those involved in international political developments in which the UN has played a role. This resource contains over 150 transcribed interviews with key players, from numerous countries, involved in major international events. The transcripts are divided into two groups: 1989-1991 and 1996-2002.