Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
Encyclopedias and dictionaries synthesize the literature of political science. These publications also provide definitions of terms and concepts as well as identification of important figures in the discipline’s history and development. Encyclopedias and dictionaries are useful starting points in the research process.
Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences. E.R.A. Seligman, editor in chief. 15 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1930-1935; reissued 1937)
Reference H41.E6 1937
This pioneering work offers comprehensive treatment of important topics in the social science disciplines. Signed articles were written by leading specialists of the day and all have bibliographies appended. About half the coverage is biographical.
International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. David L. Sills, editor. 18 vols. (New York: Macmillan and the Free Press, 1968-1980)
Reference H40.A215
A completely new work designed to compliment its predecessor, this encyclopedia’s emphasis is on analysis and comparison in contrast to the more historical and descriptive approach of the earlier publication.
Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Institutions. Vernon Bogdanor, editor (Oxford: Blackwell Reference, 1987)
Reference JA61.B56 1987
Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Political Thought. David Miller, editor (Oxford: Blackwell Reference, 1987)
Reference JA61.B57 1987
Companion volumes, the former aims to provide a succinct guide to the key concepts associated with political institutions in advanced industrial states while the latter is concerned with the contributions of political theorists past and present.
Encyclopedia of the American Constitution. Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst, ed. 2nd ed. 6 vol. (New York: Macmillan, 2000)
Reference KF4548.E53 2000
Encyclopedia of American Political History. Paul Finkelman and Peter Wallenstein editors. (Washington, D. C.: CQ Press, 2001)
Reference E183.E48 2001
Use in conjunction with: Encyclopedia of American Political History: Studies of the Principal Movements and Ideas (Reference E183.E5 1984 3 vols.)
Encyclopedia of Interest Groups and Lobbyists in the United States. Immanuel Ness. 2 vol. (Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe, 2000)
Reference JK1118.N47 2000
Encyclopedia of Minorities in American Politics. Jeffrey D. Schultz, et. al. 2 vol. (Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 2000)
Reference E184.A1E574 2000
Encyclopedia of Political Economy. Phillip Anthony O’Hara. 2 vol. (London: Routledge, 1999)
Reference HB61.E554 1999
Encyclopedia of the American Presidency. Leonard W. Levy and Louis Fisher, editors. 4 vol. (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994)
Reference JK511.E53 1994
Use in conjunction with the single volume Encyclopedia of the American Presidency Reference JK511.G45 2004 and The Presidency A to Z Reference JK511.P775 2003.
Encyclopedia of the Republican Party/Encyclopedia of the Democratic Party. George Thomas Kurian, editor. 4 vol. (Armonk, N.Y.: Sharpe Reference, 1997)
Reference JK2352.K87 1997 and Supplement Reference JK2352.K87 2002
Encyclopedia of the United States Cabinet. Mark Grossman. 3 vols. Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 2000.
Reference E176.G89 2000 Also available electronically as an OhioLINK Electronic Reference Book
Encyclopedia of Women in American Politics. Jeffrey D. Schultz and Laura van Assendelft. (Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press, 1999)
Reference HQ1236.5.U6E53 1999
Use in conjunction with From Suffrage to the Senate: an Encyclopedia of American Women in Politics Reference HQ1236.5.U6S32 1999
Encyclopedia of World Political Systems. J. Denis Derbyshire and Ian Derbyshire. 2 vol. (Armonk, N.Y.: Sharpe Reference, 2000)
Reference JF51.D465 2000
Use with World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties Reference JF201.W67 1999 and Constitutions of the World Reference K3157.E5M33 2001, as well as Constitutions of the Countries of the World Connect , an online source for the text of country constitutions in the original language and in English translation.
Ethics in U.S. Government: an Encyclopedia of Investigations, Scandals, Reforms, and Legislation. Robert North Roberts (Westport, CT.: Greenwood, 2001)
Reference JK468.E7R556 2001
Identify other political encyclopedias by conducting a subject search in uclid following this example:
[Topic]—Encyclopedias (e.g. United States—Politics and Government—Encyclopedias)
A keyword search in uclid may be used to identify other political encyclopedias as well:
[Keyword] and [Keyword] (e.g. terrorism and encyclopedia)
American Political Dictionary. Jack C. Plano and Milton Greenberg. 11th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 2002.
Reference JK9.P55 2002
Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science: A User’s Guide to its Terms. Frank Bealey. (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1999)
Reference JA61.B43 1999 Also available online in NetLibrary:: Connect
and Xreferplus Connect
Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. 2nd ed. Edited by Iain McLean and Alistair McMillan (N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2003) Langsam Reference JA61.C665 2003
Dictionary of Government and Politics. Edited by P. H. Collin. 2nd ed.
(Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1998)
Reference JA61.C6 1998 Also available online in Xrefereplus Connect
Dictionary of Modern Politics. Edited by David Robertson. 3rd ed. (New York: Europa Publications, 2002)
Reference JA61.R63 2002
Facts on File Dictionary of American Politics. Edited by Kathleen Thompson Hill and Gerald N. Hill (N.Y.: Checkmark Books, 2001) Langsam Reference JK9.H54 2001
Historical Dictionary of Political Communication in the United States. Edited by Guido H. Stempel III and Jacqueline Nash Gifford (Westport, CT.: Greenwood Press, 1999)
Langsam Stacks JA85.2.U6H57 1999)
Illustrated Dictionary of Constitutional Concepts. Robert L. Maddex. (Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1996)
Reference JA61.M28 1996
International Relations Dictionary. Lawrence Ziring, et. al. 5th ed. (Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 1995)
Reference JX1226.P55 1995
Locate additional political dictionaries by using a subject search in uclid:
Political Science—Dictionaries
Because political science has been so notably eclectic in its development, there will be other reference encyclopedias and dictionaries that may also be helpful from time to time such as Dictionary of the History of Ideas (Langsam stacks CB5.D52), Dictionary of Political Quotations (Reference PN6084.P6574 1984), Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Reference B51.E6 1967b and Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Connect
