The Council on Foreign Relations provides a number of services for the general public, and in the past they have offered up public discussions, forums, and other outreach activities. In addition, they offer the "Backgrounders" series, which offer succinct explanations of current political and economic issues. First-time users can visit the "Most Recent" area to peruse the latest piece, or they can...
The rise and fall of civilizations over the history of humankind is a difficult thing to accurately depict in graphic form, but this BBC online presentation is a wholly engrossing way to look at the transformation and dissemination of religions and ideologies. Guided by the presence of a virtual ant that weaves its way across the introductory screen, the screen displays a metaphorical phrase from...
Many people enjoy the wide array of programs offered by C-SPAN, and those with a penchant for American politics and related topics will enjoy this website immensely. The site contains a wide variety of unique audio programs culled from materials at the National Archives, presidential libraries, the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress and other sources. One place to start is by listening to any...
The number of independent think-tank groups around the U.K. continues to grow, but Demos is certainly one of the more compelling, and one that persons with an interest in public policy, governance, and other related topics will want to take a look at. The research at Demos is focused primarily around five themes: democracy, learning, enterprise, quality of life and global change. Along with its...
Located within the Kennedy School of Government, the Harvard University Institute of Politics emerged out of the desire to create an organization that would reflect the late President John F. Kennedy's commitment to public service. As such, the Institute of Politics was created in the fall of 1966, and placed under the able direction of Professor Richard E. Neustadt. The Institute of Politics...
The Hoover Institution has placed a wide array of multimedia content online for over a decade, and recently they created a site for their "Uncommon Knowledge" program. Hosted by Hoover fellow Peter Robinson, the program features interviews with political leaders, distinguished scholars, and leading journalists. First-time visitors to the site can browse the archives by topic, date, or guest....
With offices in Abuja, Budapest, and New York, the Open Society Justice Institute "performs law reform activities grounded in the protection of human rights, and contributes to the development of legal capacity for open societies worldwide." To that end, the Institute offers a wide range of helpful resources on its website, including access to its in-house journal, _Justice Initiatives_,...
This week the political climate in Nepal changed dramatically as King Gyanendra placed the prime minister and members of the cabinet under house arrest, and then proceeded to declare a state of emergency. Shortly after this action was taken, flights to the capital city of Kathmandu were cancelled, phone lines were cut, and Nepal's press was censored. The king faces a rather difficult battle, as...
Established in 1894, the Civic Federation is a non-partisan government research organization "working to maximize the quality and cost-effectiveness of government services in the Chicago region and the State of Illinois." On this site, visitors can learn about the Federation's research programs, the Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability (IIFS), and updates on Chicagoland governance. The...
What is the world like in 2013? It's a great question, and The Economist has a few answers. Each year, this publication publishes a guide to the trends and quandaries that will consume the attention of policy-makers, politicians, concerned citizens, and others across the globe. The materials here include political analyses, technology reports, and commentaries on culture. The pieces here are...