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Here is the latest update from Intute Giving a selection of the new resources added to the social sciences section. Remember to check our website for a complete list http://www.intute.ac.uk/ This week: Dear the second podcast is now available. Intute: Social Sciences Podcast 002 http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/blog/?cat=24 Each programme features Social Science related information news, an interview with a Social Science information provider and a selection of the new resources added to Intute: Social Sciences. alos why not take a look at our blog of new UK Social Science publications online (with lots of quick links) in the news this week. Iraq. Iraq Study Group The Iraq Study Group is facilitated by United States Institute of Peace with the support of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Center for the Study of the Presidency (CSP), and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. It is conducting an assessment of the economic, political and human rights situation in Iraq in the post-Gulf war period, focusing on its impact on regional security and future United States foreign policy. The website provides information on the remit of the group and its activities. It includes access to press releases, transcripts of meetings and full text reports. Topics covered include the insurgency and future military action in Iraq as well as political and economic reconstruction. http://www.usip.org/isg/index.html find lots more in our special section http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/browse.pl?id=120189&gatew ay=Politics PBS Frontline documentaries Frontline is a well regarded PBS documentary series dealing with all aspects of public affairs. Its website provides free access to a video archive of its programmes with supporting teachers material. This includes lesson plans, bibliographies of further readings and useful web links. Topics covered include: the American economy and business, US foreign policy, international relations and the war against terrorism and government policy. Users may sign up to receive news updates on forthcoming programmes. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/ John Leech sketches from Punch 1841-1864 This site provides free access to a collection of approximately 600 cartoons drawn by John Leech which were published in Punch magazine between 1841-1864. They provide a fascinating insight into British social and political history at this time. Key social topics covered include: the 1851 Great Exhibition, attitudes towards women, class relations and fashions. Topics of political interest include: the Crimean War and attitudes towards Chartism and the chartists. They include examples of political satire. The database may be browsed by year or subject keyword. Copyright information is displayed. The site is maintained by Andrew Cates. http://www.john-leech-archive.org.uk/ North and South Korea: Institute for International Economics research The Institute for International Economics is an independent think tank based in the USA which conducts research into all aspects of international economic policy. This section of its website provides free access to a collection of its writings relating to North and South Korea. These include working papers, full text reports and books published since approximately 2000 . Topics covered include: international trade and security relations between USA and Korea; the possible economic impact of the unification of Korea, the relationship between security and economic relations. Materials are in PDF format. http://www.iie.com/research/researcharea.cfm?ResearchTopicID=7#koreas see more on korea on intute at. http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/browse.pl?id=120080&gatew ay=Politics European Social Survey Education Net This resource was created by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services and designed for use in higher education - particularly for lecturers to use in teaching. It describes itself as a "social science research simulator": it aims to use high quality data from the European Social Survey to teach research methods, "from a theoretical problem to the interpretation of statistical results". Two topics are covered: an extensive online tutorial on each is given, with exercises to complete involving the download of some datasets and some statistical analysis. A discussion forum and glossary are provided, as is a user guide, which will help beginners. Background details about the European Social Survey itself are also included on the website. You will need statistical software to manipulate some of the datasets: if you don't already have anything suitable, NSDstat software is freely available for download on the site. http://essedunet.nsd.uib.no Politics podcasts directory: LearnOutLoud.com LearnOutLoud.com is a US company which seeks to promote the use of audio and visual materials in teaching. It maintains a catalogue of over 10,000 audio titles. This section of the site links to political podcasts. These can be browsed by political theory, theme or figure. They include quick links to US government podcasts, podcasts from famous American politicians and political figures. Many are also webcasts of academic discussions and courses for students from American universities.Each podcast has a description of content, length, information on technical requirements and copyright. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Politics Funding of political parties: New Politics Network resources The New Politics Network is a UK based think tank which seeks to promote democratic political and social reform in the UK. It also aims to increase citizen political participation by supporting grassroots groups of political activists. This section of its website provides free access to a collection of papers, pamphlets and reports relating to the funding of political parties in the Uk. materials have been published since approximately 2004. They include surveys of attitudes towards party funding, political donations, and discussion of transparency in politics. Some materials are in PDF format. http://www.new-politics.com/current-projects/funding-of-political-partie s/ Confidence in US foreign policy index The Confidence in US foreign policy index is conducted by Foreign Affairs in association with Public Agenda. It aims to provide insight into trends in the US public's support and opinion of American foreign policy. The index covers more than 25 different issues through more than 80 different survey questions. Topics include: anxiety indicators, attitudes towards whether America is meeting its objectives in Iran, Iraq and the Middle-East, attitudes towards Islam and international terrorism and opinions about whether the world is becoming a more dangerous place for Americans to live in. It is possible to access explanations of the methodology used, sample questions, data and some full text reports from the website. http://www.publicagenda.org/foreignpolicy/index.cfm Gresham college: rhetoric lectures Gresham College is an independent college based in London which strives to foster academic consideration of contemporary problems. Its website provides infromation on its aims, history and activities. Its website offers access to materials relating to its free public lectures. It includes podcasts, trnascripts and lecture notes from rhetoric lectures since 2001. Contibutors include Professor Rodney Barker, Professor kathleen Burk. Topics covered include: political leadership, the history of the British Empire, imperialism. http://www.gresham.ac.uk/text.asp?PageId=22 Darfur is dying The Darfur is Dying site has been created by MtvU (the MTCV college network) in association with the International Crisis group and Reebok Human Rights Foundation. It provides access to several online games designed to teach students about the realities of the civil war in Sudan. They involve simulations of situations where students take on roles and make choices. Information about technical requirements and copyright is provided on the site. Additional features include a background history of the Darfur conflict and links to materials campaigning to end the conflict. The site is of value to students of international relations as well as individuals studying the way in which new media (online gaming) can be used to teach about 'serious world issues'. http://www.darfurisdying.com/ highly recommended! Australian Dictionary of National Biography Online This is the official website of the Australian National Biography online which provides free access to an authoritative information about famous Australians. It contains a searchable database of over 10,000 entries for significant persons who died on or before 1980. These include writers, cultural figures, government leaders, politicians and prime ministers. It is possible to search by name, occupation and date. Entries include biographies, references for further reading and some photographs. Material is continuously updated. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/ if you have any comment on this newsletter please contact Heather Dawson Intute Government and Politics editor. [log in to unmask]