This WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources is a frequently updated Internet directory of over 2000 annotated links to high-quality English-language sources of information and analysis in a wide range of international affairs, international relations, international studies, global studies, and global education topics. These sites are carefully selected for their long-term value, favoring those with cost-free, authoritative information and analysis online. Each website is described only in general terms because of the typically rapid changes in details of its contents and features.

• African Union-- The international organization for all African countries, with information about the AU and its member countries.

• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)-- "The premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region." Information about APEC, the international economics and trade of the region, latest news, official statements, agreements, and more. Hundreds of free publications for download.

• Group of 8 Information Centre-- From the G8 Research Group at the University of Toronto, "G7/G8 background information, all documentation arising from G7 summit meetings, available documentation from G7 ministerial and other meetings," and "scholarly articles and bibliographies about the G7 process."

• Group of 20 Information Centre-- From the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto, G20 background information, documentation arising from G20 summit meetings, available documentation from G20 ministerial and other meetings, and scholarly articles and bibliographies about the G20 process.

• Inter-American Development Bank-- The IDB finances economic and social development studies and projects in Latin America and the Caribbean and posts plentiful and excellent online news, analysis, and development reports about the region.

• International Atomic Energy Agency-- Independent international organization related to the United Nations system, with the mission of working with "Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies." Posts much information and analysis on "nuclear knowledge and information resources, including associated legal and official documentation... scientific and technical documents, websites and databases."

• International Energy Agency-- "Intergovernmental organisation which acts as energy policy advisor to 28 member countries in their effort to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for their citizens." Posts statistics and much analysis of global and country energy issues.

• International Finance Cooporation-- Part of the World Bank Group, IFC is "the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world," with special interest in sustainable private sector development. The site posts many papers and reports on global and regional aspects of sustainable private sector development.

• International Labour Organization-- Much information about international labor standards and conditions. Note the following databases-- NATLEX: Database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights;  NORMLEX: Database of International Labour Standards and National Laws; and LABORSTA: Labour Statistics Database operated by the ILO Bureau of Statistics. Labordoc has "references to a wide range of print and electronic publications, including journal articles, from countries around the world, on all aspects of work and sustainable livelihoods, and the work-related aspects of economic and social development and human rights."

• International Monetary Fund-- The IMF oversees a wide range of international economic and financial issues. At the eLibrary, you can "find in-depth, independent analysis on the financial crisis, development, macroeconomics, poverty reduction, trade, globalization, and much more."  Numerous publications on economic and financial issues, including country information and World Economic Outlook Reports, are available and searchable online. The Data Mapper presents World Economic Outlook data in map, graphic, and bubble chart form, such as GDP, inflation, and current account balance, from 1980 to the present, plus five-year projections. The Financial Soundness Indicators database is "aimed at supporting macroprudential analysis—the surveillance and assessment of the strengths and vulnerabilities of financial systems." The World Bank Public Sector Debt Statistics Database "offers access to public sector debt statistics for 34 emerging market and developing countries and will be updated every three months." Also see the quarterly journal Finance and Development.

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization-- NATO is attempting to participate in the development of cooperative security structures for the whole of Europe. This site has a complete archive of all official documents and both general and specific NATO publications. Note the NATO Review magazine. The NATO Defense College posts publications and studies on topics related to the alliance.

• Organization of American States-- The principal international organization of the Western Hemisphere, with searchable information on many issues in the Hemisphere.

• Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation-- The international organization of the industrialized, market-economy countries, to exchange information and harmonize policy to maximize economic growth within member countries and assist non-member countries to develop more rapidly. OECD statistics and many data sets are posted online. The Publishing section is a good place to start searching for publications, as is the Working Papers Series. OECD resources focusing on a particular country (OECD member or not) can be found in the Countries section. The very useful yearly OECD Factbook is "an essential tool providing a global overview of world economic, social and environmental trends." An interactive eXplorer feature allows Factbook time-series data manipulation on a world map and a scatter plot screen. Read the online version of the OECD Observer magazine for a topical approach to the latest interests of OECD research.

• Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe-- Publications and newsletters are available from this international organization, which is "the largest regional security organization in the world with 56 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It is active in early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation."

• World Bank Group-- A huge number of online publications are available here. The Open Knowledge Repository serves to "increase access to information at the World Bank and to make its research as widely available as possible." Good access points for economic research reports online are Data and Research and Documents and Reports. Publications and databases are available on the Data page. The Atlas of Global Development presents data clearly with maps, graphs, and analysis. Also see the data and analysis available at the Countries and Regions page. The Topics page presents country and regional data on many variables. Note the searchable World Bank Journals page. Gender and Development focuses on projects, programs, publications, policy, news, and events concerning women's issues. The JOLIS Library Catalog allows you to search the joint library holdings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, the publications of these organizations, and related resources. Many additional annotated World bank links are found near the bottom of the International Development page of this Virtual Library.

• World Trade Organization-- The only global body dealing with the rules of trade among nations, whose agreements are the legal ground-rules for international commerce and for trade policy. Large amount of online resources for a range of users, from the general public to students, academics, and trade specialists. Note the Documents and Resources page for statistics, research, publications and other services of the WTO, the International Trade and Tariff Data page, and the WTO Documents page for searchable access to all online official WTO documents.