Guides: Political Science Research Guide: Background Info

Encyclopedias and Reference Tools

Credo Reference
An online, cross-searchable collection of reference books on a variety of subjects from more than 50 publishers.
CQ Researcher
A weekly publication that covers current and controversial issues with complete summaries, timelines and bibliographies.
Dates Covered: 11/1/1991-present.
Effective December 31, 2025, this resource is no longer available to DePaul University. Visit our Cancellations page to learn more. If you have any questions, please contact John Leeker.
SAGE Knowledge
Cross-searchable collection of more than 100 encyclopedias and handbooks from SAGE.
CQ Press Library
Provides access to many of CQ Press's reference titles on government and politics.

Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and The Right
Overview of the distinction between the politics of the left and the right. Individuals, movements, political parties, and ideological principles are organized by those usually thought of as left and those considered on the right.
Encyclopedia of Mass Violence
Database focusing on massacres and genocides of the 20th century. Includes chronological indexes, case studies, analytical contributions on socio-political violence in a given country, and a glossary of terms.

EBooks (Gale)
Cross-searchable collection of over two thousand reference titles from Gale. Previously known as Gale Virtual Reference Library.

ISN: International Relations & Security Network
Contains full-text materials on international relations, area studies, security and military studies, and human rights, updated daily. Includes primary source materials for many historical periods.
Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law
A comprehensive work covering the central and essential topics in international law.

Pew Research Center Databank
Data archives available to the public for secondary analysis from People and the Press, Hispanic Center, Global Attitudes, Internet & American Life, and Social & Demographic Trends research projects.
Access note: Freely available to the public.

Separatist Movements: A Global Reference
Collection of essays providing analyses of major separatist movements around the world.
21st Century Political Science: A Reference Handbook
Highlights important topics, issues, questions, and debates in the field of Political Science.
Routledge Handbook of Religion and Politics
Provides a global survey of the interaction of religion and politics.
Social History of Crime and Punishment in America: An Encyclopedia
Surveys the history and philosophy of crime, punishment, and criminal justice institutions in America from colonial times to the present.

Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (ProQuest)
A comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Printed volumes available in Reference at Lincoln Park and Loop at R.317.3 U58S.

Congressional Research Service Reports
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the public policy research arm of Congress. This legislative branch agency works exclusively for Members of Congress, their committees and their staffs.