Communication Studies: International & Transcultural

This subject guide is a starting point for communication-related research, including mass media, speech communication, and more.

Media Systems

Use the sources below to learn about the media systems (internet, press, radio, television) in countries around the world.

Book Sampler

The UW Libraries has many books about international and transcultural communication. To find books, use UW Libraries Search.

If you prefer to browse through the books in the stacks, begin in Suzzallo/Allen Stacks HM 258 (Intercultural Communication) and JZ5-JZ6530 (International Relations).

Some books in the UW Libraries:

Global Media Companies & Industries

Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
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Provides information about 10,000 public companies worldwide.

Research Studies on Media Ownership
Published by the FCC
Who Owns What Guide
Columbia Journalism Review's (CJR) guide to what the major media companies own.

Data & Statistics

Comtrade (United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database)
The Comtrade database is a product of the United Nations Statistics Division and is the most comprehensive source for world trade data.
European Marketing Data & Statistics
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Demographic trends and forecasts, economic indicators, labor force, trade, energy, environment, consumer expenditures and market size, and retailing information for European countries. Available both in print and online (from 2010).

Global Financial Data This link opens in a new window
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This database provides access to over 20,000 series of long-term global financial and economic data, both current and historic, gathered from original sources and historic archives, for more than 200 countries. Data is in ASCII or Microsoft Excel format.

IMF (International Monetary Fund) Data & Statistics
The International Monetary fund's International Financial Statistics database is a standard source of international statistics on all aspects of international and domestic finance.
International Marketing Data and Statistics
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Demographic trends and forecasts, economic indicators, labor force, trade, energy, environment, consumer expenditures and market size, and retailing information for the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania; companion volume to European marketing data and statistics. Available both in print and online (from 2010).

ProQuest Statistical Insight This link opens in a new window
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Index to governmental and private statistical data.

SourceOECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
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Includes many reports, some with a global focus and on others about specific countries.

Statistical Abstract of the United States This link opens in a new window
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Also available in print in the library. Search the UW-Only Catalog to determine where the year that you need is located.

The World Bank's Little Data Book on Information and Communication Technology 2010
UN Data
International statistics on book production, cell phone subscribers, cinema attendance, radio and television receivers, etc. Data is available for more than 60 countries worldwide.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Includes access to UNESCO's annual Statistical Yearbooks.
World Bank Data
World Internet Project
"A major, international, collaborative project looking at the social, political and economic impact of the Internet and other new technologies." Click on "Published" to see internet usage reports for member countries.
World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database
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Online version requires Internet Explorer.

Country Info

CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. Our Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.
Country Briefings
Provided by Economist.com. Country Briefings Up to date news stories, a political map of the country, economic statistics and forecasts. For more country information provided by the Economist, see EIU Online.
Europa World Plus
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Political, social and economic information about countries. Includes country maps and a directory of political and business organizations in each country.
FITA Country Profiles
Country profiles and links to additional resources provided by the Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA).
Countries and Territories (Freedom House)
Freedom House rates 210 countries and territories in Freedom in the World, and 65 countries in Freedom on the Net.
Library of Congress Country Studies
The Country Studies Series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.
U.S. Department of State Background Notes
Facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty.
U.S. Department of State Country Information
Links to information about countries around the world from the U.S. Department of State.
UN Human Development Reports
Published by the United Nations Development Program. Read, global, regional, and national reports about human development - economic, social, political, and cultural.