Government Information Resources on Latin America

U.S. Government Information on Latin America and the Caribbean:
A Brief Guide to Major Online Sources

This searchable database consists primarily of records for works in Spanish and English. Its content is determined by scholars, and most titles are appropriate for medium-sized and large public libraries.

Background Notes (State Department)

Succinctly provide information on each country's people, history, government, political and socioeconomic conditions, defense, and foreign relations (particularly vis-à-vis the U.S.).

Country Studies (Library of Congress)

Contains the online versions of books published under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Army.

"Presents the official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity. The series ... now comprises more than 350 individual volumes. The volumes published over the last two decades increasingly contain declassified records from all the foreign affairs agencies."

National Security Archive (George Washington University)

Functions as a library and archives of declassified U.S. documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Many are freely available online.

Human Rights in Latin America (Central Intelligence Agency)

Consists of declassified documents dealing mainly with El Salvador and Guatemala but also pertaining to Brazil, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, and Peru.

Provides demographic and socioeconomic data for more than 220 countries and other entities.