Collins Memorial Library: LAS 100: Introduction to Latin American Studies: Country Information

This guide is designed to point you to resources that will be useful as you gather information in order to create your online presentations that provide a comprehensive overview of the Latin American country you're researching.

Europa World: South America, Central America and the Caribbean

This is an excellent place to start your research! Choose the entry for your country, and then dig down into its history, geography, economy and much more. Europa also has a tool that will create graphs of comparative statistics between your country, and others in the region.

Europa World
Online version of the Europa World Yearbook, covering political and economic information from over 250 countries and territories. Includes comparative statistical information, directories and maps.

Country Information

Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture by Jay Kinsbruner
Call Number: Click on the title above for online access
Publication Date: 2008
Provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary view of Latin American history and culture from prehistoric times to the present. Covers cultural issues and includes numerous biographical profiles of important figures in politics, letters and the arts.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latin American Politics by Harry E. Vanden (Editor-In-Chief); Gary Prevost (Editor-In-Chief)
Call Number: Click on the title above for online access
ISBN: 9780190933609
Publication Date: 2021
This encyclopedia reviews and interprets a broad array of research on Latin American politics, including topics related to political institutions, processes, and parties; social movements; political economy; racial and gender politics; and Latin America's international relations.

Country Studies: Library of Congress
Intended for a general audience, books in the series present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world.

U.S. State Department Country Information
Contains country information including people, history, government, political conditions, economy, foreign relations, U.S. relations, travel and business.
World FactBook
Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for world entities.

Search Primo for Books

To find both print and electronic books available in Collins Library about your country, use the dropdown menu in Primo to select "Collins" and then search for the name of your country and a keyword, for example:

Chile and history

Search Primo

Data & Statistics

Country Data
Selected statistics by country from the World Bank.
International Statistical Agencies List
List of national and IGO statistical bureaus from around the world. Maintained by U.S. Census Bureau.
NationMaster
A central data source and a way to graphically compare nations. NationMaster is a compilation of data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD. You can generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics.

Statistics Sources
Provides a wide array of print and non-print, published and unpublished, and electronic and other forms of U.S. and international statistical sources on economic, business, financial, industrial, cultural, social, educational, and other topics.

Current Events

Latin American Newsletters (LatinNews)
Provides expert political, economic, and security analysis on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Access limited to 1 simultaneous user.
Access World News
Find global information on topics related to business and economics, the environment, global issues, health, international studies, literature, performing and fine arts, politics and government, science, social issues, technology and more from a variety of news media featuring newspapers, videos and web-only content.
International Newsstream
Provides the most recent news content outside of the US and Canada, with archives which stretch back decades featuring newspapers, newswires, and news sites in active full-text format.
Nexis Uni (formerly LexisNexis Academic)
Access to news, business, governmental and legal sources.

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LAS 100: Introduction to Latin American Studies

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