Welcome to the website for "HAGUE AND HARROP"
HAGUE AND HARROP'S INTERNET GUIDE TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS
© Rod Hague and Martin Harrop 2004
The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Links by chapterWe list below links arranged by each chapter of our book. All the sites listed are in English or have an English section accessible from the home page. We normally take you to the home page of the relevant body; this tends to be more stable than sections within the site. Many sites include a site index that is useful for locating relevant material such as sections on 'about', 'our mission' or FAQs (frequently asked questions). It's also worthwhile following up the links most sites offer.
Chapter 1 Politics and government
Here we list a few highly selected websites useful for the academic study of politics. Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources continues to be a useful and comprehensive set of links. So too is the Political Science Net Station and PolitInfo.com, the latter linking to journals, working papers, etc. More links to politics working papers can be found at workingpapers.org. Another fruitful resource is Political Resources on the Net. The CIA World Factbook offers profiles of countries while Zárate's Political Collections covers leaders.
Some wider resources are also useful for politics students. These include the valuable list of web research tools at Virtual Salt, the Wikipedia open-content encyclopedia, the Great Books Index (from Aristotle to Madison, from Marx to Mill) and Project Gutenberg.
If you looking for media coverage of contemporary events, see Chapter 7 Political Communication below.
Chapter 2 The state in a global contextAn academic perspective on globalization, plus links, is provided by the International Political Economy network; see also the International Forum on Globalization.
All major intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) are represented on the internet, including the United Nations ('it's your world'). The UN is itself a network of organisations and its website includes a useful map of links within the family.
The main economic IGOs are the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (including useful links to countries) and the World Trade Organisation. For a contrasting perspective, try the Group of 77 developing countries.
For examples of organisations based on other specific sectors, look at NATO, the long-established International Telecommunications Union and the Internationa.
Regional bodies include
APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and of course the EU (European Union). Within the EU, you can visit the parliament, commission, European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank. By comparison, note the weak institutional architecture of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Association).For non-governmental organisations, try the International Committee of the Red Cross, Greenpeace, Oxfam and Save the Children.
Chapter 3 Democracy
The excellent Freedom House site rates countries by the extent of freedom and democracy and also contains other research material. The Journal of Democracy is well worth consulting; see also Democratization.
Democracy promotion is a growth industry, especially in the United States. See, in particular, the National Endowment for Democracy. Other similar sources include the World Movement for Democracy (and links); the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law at Stanford; the Center on Democratic Performance at Binghamton and the Centre for the Study of Islam and Democracy (which often includes conference papers). For a Canadian approach, see Rights & Democracy.
Note also the Centre for Digital Democracy; the useful openDemocracy site, which includes a section on democracy and power; and the Research and Documentation Centre on Direct Democracy.
Chapter 4 Authoritarian rule
Non-democracy is less well served on the web. For authoritarian rule in the world today, one source is the material on such countries as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan at the ageing but still useful Library of Congress country studies archive. For a classic example of twentieth-century totalitarianism, see the Serap site on Stalin at Toronto; background on Marxist thinking can be found at the Marxists.org Internet Archive.
Rather more discussion can be found of in-between categories such as 'soft authoritarianism' 'illiberal democracy' and semi-democracy'; inputting these phrases into a search engine will pay dividends. Note the discussion of 'electoral authoritarianism' at the Research Committee on Concepts and Methods of the International Political Science Association. Also, Fareed Zakaria's extensive research and thinking on this topic is well worth reading.
And, for light relief, let's not ignore thedictatorship.com.
Chapter 5 The comparative approach
Politics as a discipline is more concerned with content than method and in consequence the web does not offer enormous resources in this area (though please let us know of any major omissions!).
Professor Levi's methodological dictionary is useful and it's also worth keeping an eye on both the Qualitative Methods section of the American Political Science Association and, for the brave, the Society for Political Methodology. On case studies, consult Andrew Bennett's page and Charles Ragin's systematic techniques for case comparison at COMPASS.
For two reading lists on the comparative approach, try Richard Gunther and Gerado Munck. Note also the Political Methodology Video Series, focused on quantitative methods, at Ohio State University.
There is of course a range of sources on social research methodology, broadly defined. Try the Web Center for Social Research Methods or the guide to qualitative research produced by the Association for Information Systems. You can find guides to statistical techniques at the Social Psychology Network.
Chapter 6 Political culture
Robert Putnam's work on trust and capital is well-supported at Bowling Alone, Better Together and the Saguaro Seminar. Also visit the Civic Practices Network. On American political culture more broadly, see Daniel Elazar.
The literature on postmaterialism is examined critically by Harold Wilensky while the debate on Huntington's clash of civilizations is discussed by the Christian Science Monitor.
To bring political culture and the internet together, look at G. David Garson's research.
Chapter 7 Political communication
CCMS is a useful and wide-ranging academic resource on communication, cultural and media studies.
Unesco has a rich section on communication and information and the European Broadcasting Union is also helpful, not least on public service broadcasting.
Practitioner associations are good sources on the media: try Reporters without Borders (cited on p. 116 of our book), the International Press Institute and the International Federation of Journalists. Note also the Index on Censorship.
Media foundations include the Annenberg Washington Foundation and the Pew Center for Civic Journalism.
News sources are listed on such sites as Kidon Media-Link, the paper boy and Newslink. For alternative media, see Papertiger, Indymedia and Alternet.
Though more specific, the Center for Deliberative Polling and America Speaks are also worth a visit.
Chapter 8 Political participation
Robert Putnam's work is again relevant: see Bowling Alone, Better Together, the Saguaro Seminar; also the Civic Practices Network.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union are outstanding resources, not least for information on female participation.
Civil society is alive and well, at least on the web: see Philosophy and Civil Society, the Communitarian Network and Civnet.
For social movements, consult the American Sociological Association section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements. A Newcastle University library guide. covers movements in Latin America. Binghamton hosts Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000, while the GHI Guide list sources on '68 in Germany. On protests against the Iraq War, Wikipedia offers a good guide. To find out what kind of policy entrepreneur you are, try the Overseas Development Institute survey.
Chapter 9 Elections and voters
The internet is it at its best with information which is regularly updated and elections are a case in point: see, for example, Election Resources or Adam Carr's Archive. The Inter-Parliamentary Union's PARLINE database describes the electoral system and election results for nearly all countries with a national parliament. The Lijphart Elections Archive provides detailed election results.
For elections by country, go to Political Science Resources at Keele.
Moving beyond the specifics of election results, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) is an excellent source, including detailed data on the current concern of turnout; the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) focuses on elections and democratization. With the United Nations, these bodies sponsor the AC on the Administration and Cost of Elections.
On electoral systems, the UK
Electoral Refm Society is worth a visit; even more useful, from an educational viewpoint, is Doug Amy's PR braryCenter for studies how voting systems affect participation and turnout.Note also the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems site at Michigan.
There are more elections, and certainly more information about them, in the USA than elsewhere: try the Federal for such matters as registration procedures. The British Electoral Commission is also active. Election Access is a worthwhile global initiative to encourage participation by people with disabilities.
Chapter 10 Interest groups
Nowhere in the world are interest groups more important than in the United States and this is a good country on which to focus. The oft-cited example of a powerful lobby is of course the National Rifle Association but for balance it is also worth visiting a gun control group such as the Brady Campaign - 'leading the fight for a safer America'.
Traditional protective groups include the National Association of Manufacturers, the AFL labor union and the American Medical Association.
Promotional groups are especially important in the USA: for examples with a political focus, go to Common Cause ('holding power accountable') or the long-established League of Women Voters, which encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. A broader values-based group, not without political clout, is the Christian Coalition; see also the American Civil Liberties Union.
While in the USA, you should also visit one of the large mass membership groups and there is none larger than the American Association for Retired Persons. Given that party voting is far from complete in Congress, many interest groups provide ratings of how legislators vote on their specific area; for a collation, try Vote-Smart.
For the not-that-murky world of lobbying, money and elections, influence.biz, Open Secrets or a lobbying firm such as the Livingston Group.
Leading interest groups also have an internet presence in other countries, of course. It is a useful exercise to compare business and labour organisations both within and between countries. In Britain for example, you can visit the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Other influential groups in the UK include the National Farmers Union and the British Medical Association.
Germany's equivalent of Britain's CBI is the very significant DGB. In Canada, try the Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Labour Congress. In New Zealand, try Business NZ and Federated Farmers.
On corporatism, the Catholic Church has always shown an interest; see the entry on corporatism and links to encyclicals at the Free Dictionary.
Chapter 11 Political parties
If the USA is the natural home of interest groups, West Europe is the heartland of the mass membership party. Within Europe, Germany is a prime example of a political system where parties are embedded in a country's history and constitution; see the PD (Christian Democrat) sites in particular. The German, part of the federal government coalition from 1998, also have an English-language version of their site.
For examples of other major European parties, see the Social Democrats in
FinlandSw.The major British parties - Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat - are well represented on the web. Beyond Europe, the Japanese DP
In much of the new world, parties never acquired the weight of the leading European parties; in the USA, for instance, the main party sites are represented by the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committees; separate sites exist for the Congressional parties (if you like no-hopers, visit the American Com).
For academic contributions, explore the ECPR'
s Standing Group on Party Manifestos, the Politics Research Group at Harvard and Janda's International Comparative Political Parties Project.Chapter 12 Constitutions and the legal framework
Constitutions are well-covered on the internet, particularly for source material, and where better to find a constitution than from Constitution Finder?
Human Rights conventions (as well as many more documents with an international flavour) are at the Mulilaterals jectHuman and Constitutional Rights site at Columbia University.
United Nations agreements are at the Human Rights Web. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the world's most translated documents, is available in many formats at the UN Office of th h Commissioner for Human Rights
Latin America is not the continent that first springs to mind in connection with constitutions but the Political Database of the compiled by the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University is a useful resource.
Of course, the USA was constructed by the world's first written constitution and the US
Constitution Resource Center is a good place to start. Today many libertarian and even religious groups claim to march under the constitution's banner; try, for instance, the Constitution Party. For a guide to Supreme Court decisions with a bearing on the constitution, go to the Government. The US Supreme Court, probably still the world's most influential, is worth a visit.The Law-related Internet Project at the University of Saarbrucken offers an introduction to the European, specifically German, constitutional tradition, including the rather elusive notion (at least to Anglo-Saxons) of Roman Law. Also try the European court of Justice
Chapter 13 Federal, unitary and local government
You can find a list of centers for federal studies at the relevant International Association. Also, for general material, consult the Forum of Federations and the Institute of Federalism at Fribourg.
Federalism is an American invention but Canada has some of the best websites, perhaps because the Canadian federation comes under such continuous critical scrutiny. Try the Council for Canadian Unity Institute of nt governmental at Queens University, Ontario, which has an excellent comparative bibliography and good links to other international sites. See also the Private material on intergovernmental affairs.
On the USA, the original source is the eeFounding Fathers.info. For contemporary material, visit the
National and the Council of State GovernmentsNew Fe project analyses the devolution of social programs from the federal government to the states.Chapter 14 Legislatures
The key site here is the Inter-Parliamentary UnionAmericas, the Commonwealth and Africa. Academic institutes include the Centre for Legislative Studies at Hull.
Perhaps the most influential legislature in the world is the United States: see the sites for C, and S. It is also worth visiting other Congressional bodies such as the G (from which you can go to the Congressional Directory) and the Congressio.
Other examples of bicameral legislatures in federal countries are Australia (H and Se), Ca, IdiaB and Bu, the latter containing links to state assemblies).
The oldest parliament in the world (and what appears to be the oldest website) is of course the
United Kingdom; for a more flavoursome treatment, go to Westminster and the Hous . Within the UK, of course, there is now also the Scottish Parliment and Welsh Assembly to visit.The commonest European model is unicameral legislatures in unitary states; for examples of such countries which nonetheless draw on ancient representative traditions, see IcelandNorway and Sweden.
Chapter 15 The political executive
The classic example of the presidential system is of course the USA; you should visit the White H if you have not already done so and also Americanpresident.org at Virginia and even, time permitting, Vicepresidents.com. For federal government reform post-9/11, see the relevant section of the Reason Institute.
Chapter 16 The bureaucracy
For Max Weber's analysis of bureaucracy, visit his 'home page', maintained by Frank Elwell. For more contemporary issues, visit the United Nations Online Network for Public Administration and Finance, the World Bank's Administrative and Civil Service Reform website and the public management section of the OECD site. Much of the on-line material on bureaucracy is trivially critical but there are a number of interesting institutes which focus on regulatory reform. See, for example, the AEI-Brookings Institute for Regulatory Studies, the Independent Institute, the government division of the American Society of Quality, the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness and the Center for the Study and Improvement of Regulation at Carnegie-Mellon.
Chapter 17 The policy process
On cost-benefit analysis, see the National Library for the Environment in relation to regulation and the detailed material provided by the Economic and Cost Analysis section of the US Environmental Protection Agency. There are of course a vast number of policy analysis centers in the world: for a list, see NIRA. The same body also provides Policy Research Watch, a searchable bibliography of articles published by public policy research organizations. Specific institutes to visit include the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Center for Governmental Research and the Reason Public Policy Institute. On capacity building and environmental policy implementation in the developing world and transitional economies, see the Division of Environmental Policy of the UN Environmental Program.