Strategic Intelligence Research Guide

Defining your topic

Your project may include a specific country report or an analysis of current world leaders or a position policy report. Your instructor will provide the information on the specific type of project and the format required for the completed project.

Subscription-only databases (not publicly accessible)

Library catalog : Discovery
- Search print collection, ebooks, and journal articles
- Access Interlibrary Loans for items not in the PHC Library collection
Journal articles can be searched by title, author, keyword or phrase:
- ProQuest includes access to Journal of Foreign Affairs
- Stratfor , Global Intelligence - breaking news analysis
- LexisNexis
PRO Tip: Need access to foreign language academic journals? The PHC online catalog gives you the option of choosing to limit your search to peer-reviewed journals in specific foreign languages for specific time periods. Simply use the menu on the left of the page to select "peer reviewed," time period, such as last five years, and the language of choice. Don't speak the language? Use google translate to translate possible subject terms and use those to begin your search. You can then use google translate to search the articles for appropriate material.

Open Source Research (publicly accessible)

Best "how to" book on open source research: Bazzell, M. (2022). Open source intelligence techniques : resources for searching and analyzing online information.

Authoritative think tanks:

- Council on Foreign Relations
- AEI's Critical Threats Project provides authoritative critical threat analysis searchable by country, region, and/or persons involved.

- Brookings Institute - research on topics such as international affairs, Homeland Security, defense, and crime. Select topics linked from the menu on the left of the web page
- Harvard’s Belfer Center - good general/overview resource
- Hoover Institute
- Foreign Policy Research Institute - US foreign policy & national security interests
- Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) - analysis on a number of current "hot spots," as well as continuing conflicts
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (international perspectives)
- US State Dept list of think tank liaisons (good for finding specialized think tanks)
- 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Report Index (resource for finding think tanks (US and non-US) in specific functional/regional areas; criteria for rankings begins on p. 31; list of think tanks by area of research begins on p. 42)
- Global Fire Power - military readiness statistics by country
- Global Security - detailed military capabilities

Statistical information: Need country specific recent statistical information related to economy, military, literacy, human rights, trade, etc. ?

- - CIA World Fact Book: country profiles
  - UN statistical information center
    - General statistics,
    - Country profiles
    - Pakistan
    - China
    - North Korea
  - World Bank - economic data

US Government sources

- State Department

English-language newspapers (note English-language newspapers may be government controlled)

- China
  - China Daily (representing the National voice),
  - Shanghai Daily and Global Times (for lighter and regional views)
  - SixthTone (for deeper cultural stories written by expats in China)
- India - Times of India and Economic News
- Al Jazeera
- Pakistan

Think tanks for specific subject areas:
Security Issues
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
- Stimson Center (think tank)
Terrorism/Counterterrorism
- Combating Terrorism Center, USMA
- Jamestown Foundation
- Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium (TRAC)
Capacity Building
- International Justice Mission (advocacy/partnership)
- United Nations
Civil Institutions/Religious Freedom
- Freedom House (democracy-focused think tank)

Evaluate Your Sources (CARS)

Credible ? Is the author a recognized expert in the field? Is the organization publishing the document a recognized institution? Peer reviewed journals are good. Blogs may be acceptable if written by a credentialed expert and the author cites his authoritative sources.
Accurate? Does the source show evidence of bias? Are there potential advantages for the author in supporting a particular perspective, such as a financial or political advantage? Does the bias of the author offer needed insight into the situation? Do you have a bias that would influence your choice of sources?
Reasonable? Is the argument presented logical and reasonable? Are there leaps of reason or logic?
Supported ? Does the author cite sources for facts or conclusions presented? Do other expert support the author's perspective or conclusions?

Your project may include everything from a country report, to an analysis of current world leaders, or a position policy report. Your instructor will provide the information on the specific type of project and the format desired.

Professional library assistance is available on campus, by phone at 540-441-8400, or by email at askalibrarian@phc.edu .

Research Tips

Citation help needed? Try OWL (Online Writing Lab) for Chicago/Turabian, MLA, and APA styling formats.
Search by subject: Once you have located one item in the catalog, you can click on the search term within the record to find other items on the same or similar subjects. Once you have located a helpful source, additional potential sources may be found in the item's bibliography.
Can't find what you need in the PHC collection? If you are unable to locate an item in the PHC collection, you may request resources through Interlibrary loan. ILL requests may be made directly in the library catalog.
Research assistance is available in the library or by email at askalibrarian@phc.edu

Created: Watkins / Thornhill, 2015. Last reviewd and updated: Thornhill, 2022.

Strategic Intelligence

"Your analysis and conclusions are only as good

as the research that supports it."

Defining your topic

Subscription-only databases (not publicly accessible)

Evaluate Your Sources (CARS)

Research Tips

Patrick Henry College Library