Virtual Library

This WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources is an Internet directory of over 2000 annotated links to high-quality English-language sources of information and analysis in many international and global studies topics. Sites are carefully selected for their long-term value, favoring those with cost-free, authoritative information and analysis online.

OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS


NOTE: For a more detailed treatment of the UN and the EU, see the United Nations and European Union pages of this Virtual Library.


 IGO Directories

 

Northwestern University Library-- Extensive listing of IGOs, via the LibGuides system.


Union of International Associations-- A large master index with a wealth of information about intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, by the Brussels group responsible for tracking them. You can search for sspecific IGOs and NGOs through the Yearbook of International Organizations.


Major International Organizations and Analytical Sources


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.

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 data and 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-- NORMLEX: Database of International Labour Standards and National Laws and the ILOSTAT labour statistics database from the ILO Department 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." Check the Data page to find your statistical topic. A Dataset page provides central access to large IMF macroeconomic and financial data banks for download. Numerous publications on economic and financial issues, including country information and World Economic Outlook Reports are available and searchable online. There is a multimedia section. 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 information on many issues in the Hemisphere.


Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development-- 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 data and statistics search facilities are available online. Development Finance Data is presented in "a range of easy to view formats from high level overviews to country and sector specific data." The Publishing section is a good place to start searching for publications, as are the iLibrary and the Working Papers Series. OECD resources focusing on a particular country (OECD member or not) can be found in the Countries section. The Regional Well-Being: A Closer Measure of Life site "allows you to measure well-being in your region and compare it with 362 other OECD regions based on nine topics central to the quality of our lives."

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 Research and Publications and Documents and Reports. Publications and databases are available on the Data pageThe Atlas of Global Development presents data clearly with maps, graphs, and analysis. Also see the country data and analysis available at the Where We Work page. The Global Economic Prospects and related sections offer economic analysis and forecasts. The Indicators page presents country and regional data on many variables. Gender focuses on projects, programs, publications, policy, news, and events concerning women's issues. 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. Start with the Documents and Resources page for statistics, research, publications, and other services of the WTO.


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This section of the WWW Virtual Library system was created, and is edited and maintained, by Dr. Wayne A.Selcher, Professor of International Studies Emeritus, Department of Political Science, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2288  U.S.A., as a volunteer and non-profit public service. This website copyright 1997-present by Wayne A. Selcher. E-mail: wayneselcher@comcast.net