CJ - Politics

1999

CJ -- Politics and Political Science

Kommentierte Bibliographie Politikwissenschaft [Annotated Bibliography of Political Science]. Jörg Bogumil, Ralf Kleinfeld, and Martin List. 5th ed., updated to 1998. Hagen: Fernuniversität-Gesamthochschule in Hagen, Fachbereich Erziehungs-, Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaften, 1998. 212 p. 30 cm. (Polis, 3209-8-01-S 1)(no price given). (Fernuniversität ..., D-58084 Hagen, fax [49 2331] 987-2408) [99-1/4-358] The distance learning university Hagen, currently the only university of its type in Germany, has never produced the body of published literature characteristic of its British counterpart, the Open University. The bibliography reviewed here is conceived as a reading list for political science students. This fifth edition has apparently been substantially revised, and is now compiled entirely by mid-level faculty.

A short review of social science reference books and journals is followed by a chapter on political science methodology. There are five main sections covering political theory, the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany, policy analysis, comparative political science, and international politics. Only monographs are included; there are no citations to articles in anthologies or journals. Literature in German is emphasized, but titles in English are included as appropriate. The entries are by no means all annotated, and the annotations vary widely in length from those that merely classify the works to longer ones that include descriptions of contents and evaluations. The lengthy table of contents provides sufficient access. Valuable for students and as an aid in building library collections. [jpl/vh]

Lexikon der Politik [Dictionary of Politics]. Ed. Dieter Nohlen. München: Beck. 23 cm. ISBN 3-406-36904-9 (complete set, vols. 1-7) [99-1/4-360]

Vol. 7. Politische Begriffe [Political Concepts]. Ed. Dieter Nohlen. München: Beck, 1998. 744 p. ISBN 3-406-36911-1: DM 118.00, DM 98.00 (continuation price)

Volume 7 completes the Lexikon der Politik, which began in 1992 with volume 3 as a reworking of Pipers Wörterbuch zur Politik (1983-1987). The editor intends this volume to be both a political science dictionary in its own right and an index to the entire seven-volume Lexikon. Its editor, Dieter Nohlen, is also editor of the set.

There are approximately 1,100 articles averaging one-half page in length (somewhat longer than comparable dictionaries), and 600 entries which are cross-references. These cross-references are insufficient, however, because each topic appears only once, and additional terms used for the same concept or institution do not appear. An appendix contains a list of important political science journals with abbreviations and the list of contributors.

The aim of the volume, according to the introduction, is to treat political science concepts, not to provide factual information, since other volumes of the set serve that purpose. This makes Politische Begriffe appropriate for political scientists, but not for students needing an introduction to the field. This is an excellent reference work for professionals, and is a must for academic libraries. Its main competitor, Manfred O. Schmidt's Wörterbuch zur Politik, is a better choice for the general public, since it includes factual articles about the political institutions of Germany and the European Union. [jpl/vh]

Lexikon der Völkermorde [Lexicon of Genocide]. Gunnar Heinsohn. Reinbek: Rowohlt, 1998. 469 p. 19 cm. (rororo, 22,338: rororo aktuell) ISBN 3-499-22338-4: DM 19.90 [99-1/4-365] The author, Gunnar Heinson, has been a professor at the University of Bremen since 1984, most recently at the Raphael Lemkin Institute for Research in Xenophobia and Genocide, and has become well known for his unconventional research in the fields of sociology and history. His background serves him well in this careful and comprehensive treatment of genocide, an unorthodox and difficult subject.

As is fitting for a potentially explosive topic, the dictionary begins with a substantial preface that includes definitions of the key terms used in the articles. The entries themselves are brief but comprehensive, covering wide geographical, ethnic, historical, and ideological ground. References accompany each article, and a ninety-seven-page bibliography is also included. Although the work lacks an index, generous cross-references help the reader navigate through the entries. On the whole, the Lexikon der Völkermörder can be recommended to both public and academic research libraries. [jpl/ldb]

Special Report: Dictionaries on International Politics

The publication of the Lexikon der internationalen Politik in 1997 and of the new edition of the Handwörterbuch internationale Politik 1998 provides the occasion for a complex review, which will include volume 6 (Internationale Beziehungen) of the 1993 edition of the Lexikon der Politik. An introductory section will discuss the formal aspects of the three titles, presenting them in order of importance. The three will then be compared with regard to content and accessibility.

Handwörterbuch internationale Politik [Concise Dictionary of International Politics]. Ed. Wichard Woyke. 7th updated ed. Opladen: Leske + Budrich, 1998. xxii, 579 p. ill. 19 cm. (UTB für Wissenschaft: Uni-Taschenbücher, 702) ISBN 3-8100-2016-8 (Leske + Budrich); ISBN 3-8252-0712 (UTB): DM 26.80 [99-1/4-366]

Handwörterbuch internationale Politik [Concise Dictionary of International Politics]. Ed. Wichard Woyke. 7th updated ed. Licensed ed. for the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung, 1998. xxii, 579 p. ill. 19 cm. ISBN 3-89331-343-5: free of charge [99-1/4-367]

The Handwörterbuch (HWBIP) is a standard reference work that has been substantially revised and expanded over the years, and appears here in its seventh edition. It includes an introduction, a list of abbreviations, fifty-six articles by thirty-four authors, an annotated selective bibliography, a chronology of important events in international politics since 1945, a list of contributors, and a relatively short seven-page subject index.

Lexikon der Politik [Dictionary of Politics]. Ed. Dieter Nohlen. München: Beck. 23 cm. ISBN 3-406-36904-9 (complete set, vols. 1-7) [99-1/4-368]

Vol. 6. Internationale Beziehungen [International Relations]. Ed. Andreas Boeckh. 1993. 652 p. ISBN 3-406-36910-3: DM 118.00, DM 98.00 (subscription)

This is a standard political science reference work, as was its predecessor, Pipers Wörterbuch zur Politikwissenschaft. An introduction is followed by a list of subject keywords, 100 articles by seventy-one authors, a directory of contributors, and a nineteen-page subject index. Published in 1993, this work is not as current as its competitors, so that some international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, established in the meantime are missing; also, the organizations and conflicts included have changed since 1993. This is a consideration, despite the editor's emphasis on international relations as a continual process.
Lexikon der internationalen Politik [Dictionary of International Politics]. Ed. Ulrich Albrecht and Helmut Volger. München [et al.]: Oldenbourg, 1997. xv, 588 p. 24 cm. ISBN 3-486-23313-0: DM 68.00 [99-1/4-369] The editors and most of the authors of this dictionary (LIP) are professors of political science at the Freie Universität Berlin; the introduction indicates that most pursue "critical peace research," or in other words, they owe much to "critical theory" in general; therefore this volume has a more normative approach. A short introductory overview is followed by the main section with 230 articles, a very brief twelve-page index, and a list of the 119 contributors with their qualifications.

Comparing these dictionaries, the first two stand out due to the balance and clarity of their structure. HWBIP (see RREA 5:192-193) treats topics that are generally considered to be part of international relations; emphases include international organizations (though not UNESCO), current conflicts (e.g., Balkan Conflict) and areas of international politics (though not politics of the environment). In general, a well-rounded work.

IB (see RREA 5:194) treats the same basic topics, though with a greater emphasis on international organizations and security issues. Articles cover the foreign policy of individual countries, as well as international conflicts and broad areas of policy. There is no article on the European Union, because volume 5 of this title is devoted to that topic.

There is some similarity in these two dictionaries, as articles in both are sometimes written by the same author. Both make an effort to cover current topics.

The LIP covers the standard international relations topics, with an emphasis on international organizations, peace and conflict research, and the foreign policy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Other countries and regions are not covered. In addition, there are many gaps, even in areas of emphasis: there are no articles on globalization, European integration, or conflict resolution, for example. There is an imbalance in article selection: there are eleven articles on the UN, for example, but nothing on its special organizations or on disarmament policy. The LIP suffers from a lack of clarity in both emphasis and article selection, and should only be used as a supplement to other dictionaries.

The articles in HWBIP are well-structured and sometimes include graphs and tables as well as references to other articles and to further literature. They vary greatly in length; the two theoretical articles cover seventy pages. Articles are balanced in content and include the historical context. The style tends to be scholarly.

The articles in the IB are poorly structured from a visual perspective and include neither graphs nor tables. At the end of each article, there are references to related topics. The articles are well-written and include statistical data as appropriate.

In the LIP, the articles are well-constructed, but seldom include graphs, chronologies, or statistical tables. The typical five to ten bibliographic citations to German and English books and articles include "classics," in conformance with the goal cited in the introduction of providing an introduction for students. Most of the articles are clear and concise; a minority, however, use an incomprehensible political-science German.

The alphabetical order used in all three dictionaries makes quick consultation easy. The HWBIP and the IB provide introductory surveys that place the articles in broad subject categories; this is an invaluable help for students who want to learn about these broad topics. The fact that the LIP fails to do this hurts its claim to be a good introduction for students. All three provide "see" references, the HWBIP and LIP in the text, the IB at the ends of the articles. Unfortunately, the editors of the LIP did not bother to check the accuracy of the references, and many are incorrect. The fact that the indexes of all three have either few or no cross-references detracts from their usefulness.

The winner among these dictionaries is clearly the HWBIP, which has few faults, is balanced in terms of content, and is the best bargain. The IB, which is more expensive and less current, is a second choice. Many libraries will have acquired it as part of the complete seven-volume Lexikon der Politik. The LIP brings up the rear. Its large number of articles, good bibliographies, and solid binding are positives, but the unbalanced content and poor apparatus are not. It is useful as a supplement to the other two dictionaries. [jpl/vh]

Lexikon der Politik. Ed. Dieter Nohlen. München: Beck. 23 cm. ISBN 3-406-36904-9 (complete set, vols. 1-7) [99-1/4-370]

Vol. 5. Die Europäische Union [The European Union]. Ed. Beate Kohler-Koch and Wichard Woyke. 1996. 323 p. ISBN 3-406-36909-X: DM 84.00, DM 68.00 (continuation price).

The editors of this dictionary are both respected EU scholars, and the contributors are equally well-known. The sixty-seven articles, averaging four pages, are long in comparison with most other reference works on the EU, so that the reader can learn more about the topics, particularly those with complicated subject matter. EU institutions and policy areas are emphasized; one noticeable gap is EU law, which appears neither as an article topic nor in the index. The high level of the articles is immediately apparent, but the dictionary's value is diminished by the fact that it is already somewhat out of date, since it appeared before the signing of the Amsterdam Treaty. In addition, the poor apparatus limits its usefulness. The length of the articles and the EU subject matter, where institutions often change names, make a detailed index even more important than usual. The index here does not take this into account, and is much too limited. In summary, the poor apparatus, the somewhat obsolete contents, and gaps such as that for European law make this dictionary a second choice. [jpl/vh]
Europa von A-Z: Taschenbuch der europäischen Integration [Europe from A-Z: Handbook on European Integration]. Ed. Werner Weidenfeld and Wolfgang Wessels for the Institut für Europäische Politik. 6th ed. Bonn: Europa-Union-Verlag, 1997. 432 p. ill. 21 cm. ISBN 3-7713-0551-9: DM 27.80 [99-1/4-371]

Europa von A-Z: Taschenbuch der europäischen Integration [Europe from A-Z: Handbook on European Integration]. Ed. Werner Weidenfeld and Wolfgang Wessels for the Institut für Europäische Politik. 6th ed. Licensed ed. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung, 1997. 432 p. ill. 21 cm. ISBN 3-89331-312-5: free of charge (Bundeszentrale ..., Berliner Freiheit 7, D-53111 Bonn fax [49 228] 515-113) [99-1/4-372]

First published in 1991, Europa von A-Z offers a solid introduction to the European Union for everyone. Both editors are established experts on the EU. The book includes an extremely well-written fifty-page introduction to the history of European integration. The main section, entitled "Europa zum Nachschlagen" [Europe for Consultation] includes sixty-three articles averaging five pages in length. A thirty-page glossary, "Europa-ABC," follows with 200 definitions. The appendix includes a chronology of European integration, a list of contributors, a table of equivalencies for the numbering of the common treaties, and an eight-page index. The main articles emphasize the institutions and policy areas of the EU. The glossary includes brief definitions of important concepts, institutions and programs. The preface also promises numerous Internet addresses, but these are actually rather few in number. In summary, this handbook offers the best available introduction to the EU for both the layman and the expert. This is a must for both academic and public libraries. [jpl/vh]
Handlexikon der Europäischen Union [European Union Handbook]. Ed. Wolfang W. Mickel. 2d rev. and expanded ed. Köln: Omnia-Verlag, 1998. ic, 581 p. ill. 19 cm. ISBN 3-89344-044-5 (hardcover): DM 58.00; ISBN 3-89344-045-3 (paper): DM 44.00 (Omnia-Verlag GmbH, Postfach 50 16 26, D-50976 Köln, fax [49 221] 396369) [99-1/4-374] The first edition of the Handlexikon was reviewed in IFB 94-3/4-531. The new edition rates another review due to the increase in the number of pages from 436 to 682 and the inclusion of the latest changes in the EU treaties. Over 1,000 articles varying in length from ten lines to three pages cover EU topics from institutions and people to treaties, programs, laws and theories of integration. An introductory essay on the history of European integration, a lengthy chronology and a thirty-two-page section with information on the various EU member states are also included. Less introductory in nature than Europa von A-Z, this handbook is more of a reference book to use alongside primary and secondary literature on the EU. [jpl/vh]
Handbuch der europäischen Integration: Strategie, Struktur, Politik der Europäischen Union [Handbook of European Integration: Strategy, Structure, and Policy of the European Union]. Ed. Moritz Röttinger and Claudia Weyringer. 2d completely rev. and updated ed. Wien: Manz; Köln: Bundesanzeiger; Bern: Stämpfli, 1996. xxxviii, 1,153 p. ill. 23 cm. ISBN 3-214-05911-2 (Manz): ÖS 2,336.00; ISBN 3-88784-672-9 (Bundesanzeiger): DM 298.00; ISBN 3-7272-9621-6 (Stämpfli): Sfr. 284.00 [99-1/4-375] This handbook differs from the others reviewed here in its higher price and in the nature of its contributors, most of whom are lawyers and employed in the EU administration (including three commissioners) or lobbyists. Many are Austrians, a fact linked to the nationality of the editors. It treats topics similar to those in the other works, but from a legal perspective. Thirty-nine articles averaging twenty-eight pages in length are organized in four chapters: "Foundations and Organization of the EU Institutions," "Integration," "Foreign Relations," and "Policy Areas." A lengthy and accurate index makes access easy. For information on the legal foundations of EU-related topics, this handbook is an excellent choice despite its rather high price. However, since it does not cover the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam and its effects, users need to supplement it with a more current work. [jpl/vh]
Europa-Handbuch [Europe Handbook]. Ed. Werner Weidenfeld. Gütersloh: Verlag Bertelsmann-Stiftung, 1999. 960 p. 22 cm. ISBN 3-89204-819-3: DM 68.00 [99-1/4-376] Werner Weidenfeld is professor of political science in Munich and head of the highly respected Centrum für angewandte Politikforschung [Center for Applied Political Research]; this is another book from his publication factory. The articles are organized in seven chapters: "Historical Starting Point," "The World of Nations," "Unification," "The Role of Germany," "Points of View," "Foreign Relations," and "Future." The individual contributions within these chapters are in general poorly structured and, except for a few footnotes, they do not include references to literature. Instead, an insufficient seventeen-page bibliography is included in an appendix. The articles do a good job of presenting current research and of viewing the topics discussed in the context of both history and the future. The Europa-Handbuch is really an anthology, not a reference book; for ready reference, Weidenfeld's Europa von A bis Z is much better. [jpl/vh]
Handwörterbuch des politischen Systems der Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Concise Dictionary of the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany]. Ed. Uwe Andersen and Wichard Woyke. 3d, rev. ed. Opladen: Leske + Budrich, 1997. xviii, 722 p. ill. 24 cm. ISBN 3-8100-1957-7: DM 78.00 [99-1/4-377]

Handwörterbuch des politischen Systems der Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Concise Dictionary of the Political System of the Federal Republic of German]. Ed. Uwe Andersen and Wichard Woyke. 3d, completely rev. and updated ed. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung, 1997. xviii, 722 p. ill. 24 cm. ISBN 3-89331-301-X: free of charge (Bundeszentrale ..., Berliner Freiheit 7, D-53111 Bonn, fax [49 228] 515-113) [99-1/4-378]

The third edition of this work is an essential reference tool for both undergraduates and political science majors. The editors are well-known in the field of political science, and they have chosen experts to contribute articles about the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany. The article-length entries (one to ten pages) are placed into a historical context and are well-organized.

A subject index and a detailed and systematic introductory outline make for easy access to the articles. The substantial appendix is a treasure trove for teachers. It consists of graphics and tables outlining the social, economic, and political history of the Federal Republic. This book compares favorably to Das Regierungssystem der Bundesrepublik Deutschland by Ellwein and Hess and can be recommended for public and academic libraries. A licensed edition is available to librarians free of charge from the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung. [jpl/ldb]

Handbuch politisches System der Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Handbook of the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany]. Ed. Oscar W. Gabriel and Everhard Holtmann. 2d, slightly rev. ed. München [et al.]: Oldenbourg, 1999. vii, 866 p. ill. 24 cm. (Lehr- und Handbücher der Politikwissenschaft) ISBN 3-486-24958-4: DM 98.00 [99-1/4-379] Unlike the diverse authors of the Handwörterbuch des politischen Systems der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, the authors of the Handbuch politisches System der Bundesrepublik Deutschland are drawn predominantly from the world of academia. The work covers seven large subject areas: history, society, constitutional law, political institutions, the citizen and politics, political education, and selected public service sectors. The content is broad in scope and well-organized, although there are notable omissions, such as thorough coverage of the German Democratic Republic and Germany's foreign policy and relationship to the European Union. Some topics seem too narrow for inclusion, such as the lengthy discussion of political opinions and behaviors. The appendix contains an extensive bibliography, a short author index, and an inadequate subject index. Although the book's organization into seven large subject areas is a good concept, it is not executed very well; the seven areas are irregular in scope and depth. It is not a bad book, but might better be categorized as a textbook than as a handbook. Despite its shortcomings, it could be acquired for the circulating collection rather than for the reference collection. [jpl/ldb]
Bibliographisches Handbuch der Rechts- und Verwaltungswissenschaften: erläuternde Bibliographie nationaler und internationaler Bibliographien und anderer Nachschlagewerke und Informationsmittel = Bibliographical Handbook on Law and Public Administration [: Annotated Bibliography of National and International Bibliographies and other Reference Works and Information Sources]. Ralph Lansky. Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann. 25 cm. [99-1/4-381]

Vol. 2. Afrika, Asien, Australien, Ozeanien, Amerika und Nachtrag zu Band 1 [Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania, America and Supplement to Volume 1]. 1998. xxvi, 404 p. ISBN 3-465-01728-5: DM 186.00

Vol. 3. Index. 1999. viii, 215 p. ISBN 3-465-01730-7: DM 98.00

The first volume of this international guide to and bibliography of legal bibliographies and reference works covered European countries; the second volume handles the rest of the world: Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacifica, and the Americas.

This bibliography of bibliographies contains not only monographic bibliographies but also review articles, citation indexes, and biographical dictionaries, to name a few. All titles are extensively annotated. The subject matter is arranged first by continent and then by the individual countries. Although the author cannot achieve complete comprehensiveness in a work of this scope, he manages to include essential selected bibliographies for even the smallest countries. The index, which comprises a separate volume, provides access through personal and institutional names, titles, subjects, and geographical names.

The Bibliographisches Handbuch, also known as the Lansky after its author, is an indispensable reference work for law libraries and all researchers in the fields of law and administration. Although the annotations are in German, this work is useful for researchers who do not read German; the entries themselves include titles in the main European languages, and parallel titles and geographic names are also given in English. [krb/ldb]

Information Sources in Law. Ed. Jules Winterton and Elizabeth M. Moys. 2d ed. London; München [et al.]: Bowker-Saur, 1997. xxii, 673 p. 23 cm. (Guides to Information Sources) ISBN 1-85739-041-5: DM 210.00 [99-1/4-382] This work's simple title is both an understatement and an overstatement. It promises too little in that the book not only presents information sources for law but also provides a substantial introduction to the legal and legislative systems of the countries included. It promises too much in that it neglects to mention its geographic scope is Europe only. The thirty-one chapters cover nearly all of the European countries and the European Union and are written for the most part by legal experts and law librarians from the country being described. Each chapter has the same clear organizational structure: (1) overview of the country's legal system and its historical background; (2) relevant introductory works; (3) overview of official law; and (4) important print and electronic reference works. At the end of each chapter, addresses are given for the major legal organizations, publishing houses, and libraries.

This reference work is superior to many others in the field, and its clear format and style make it even more useful. Information Sources in Law does not just list and enumerate a lot of titles, rather it also creates the historical and contemporary context that is necessary for the understanding of legal information. This work is different from Lansky (see RREA 5:205 above), because it does not strive to be as comprehensive as possible; rather, it emphasizes selected essential titles. Since, unlike Lansky, it provides English translations for all titles, Information Sources in Law is also more accessible to an international English speaking audience. [krb/ldb]

Multilateral Treaty Calendar: 1648-1995 = Répertoire des traités multilatéraux. Christian L. Wiktor. The Hague [et al.]: Nijhoff, 1998. xlvi, 1,616 p. ill. 25 cm. ISBN 90-411-0584-0: Hfl. 515.00 [99-1/4-383] Although this book begins with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the bulk of the content (1,045 pages) deals with multilateral treaties since 1945. The 6,048 entries proceed chronologically and provide extensive historical and bibliographic information. Several appendixes function as indexes for organizations, conferences, individual treaties, and subject and geographical terms, to name a few. What is lacking is an index for the acronyms so often used instead of the official treaty name. The author is a law librarian and professor in Canada. [sh/ldb]
Bibliographie des deutschen Schrifttums zum internationalen Seerecht 1982-1996 [Bibliography of Literature on International Maritime Law from the German-speaking Countries, 1982--1996]. Uwe Jenisch. Baden-Baden: Nomos-Verlagsgesellschaft, 1998. 136 p. 23 cm. (Rostocker Schriften zum Seerecht und Umweltrecht, 6) ISBN 3-7890-5327-9: DM 44.00 [99-1/4-384] This work continues the Bibliographie des deutschen Schrifttums zum internationalen Seerecht 1945-1981, published in 1982. In the period between 1982 and 1996, maritime law has grown in significance, due to the conception and entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1994). The Convention amounts to a global regulatory reform of all activities that affect the sea. The bibliography, produced by the Baltic Sea Institute for Maritime and Environmental law in Rostock, lists monographs, articles, and collective works on the topic of maritime law produced in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The bibliography is not limited to German-language materials.

The structure of the bibliography corresponds to the structure of the Convention and covers all important aspects of international maritime law, such as environmental protection and maritime traffic law. The standard German legal bibliography, the Karlsruher juristische Bibliographie (KJB), also indexes maritime law, but the Bibliographie des deutschen Schrifttums zum internationalen Seerecht has two advantages: (1) it is cumulative and (2) it includes documents from the German Parliament, which are excluded from the KJB. Of course, an international bibliography that is limited to three countries can only cover a small amount of the publications in an area. It is however much easier to use than a huge comprehensive bibliography and belongs in every library with a collection on international law. [krb/ldb]

Repertorium territorialer Amtskalender und Amtshandbücher im Alten Reich: Adreß-, Hof-, Staatskalender und Staatshandbücher des 18. Jahrhunderts [Collection of Territorial Government Calendars and Government Manuals in the Old Empire: Address-, Court-, State-Calendars and State Manuals of the Eighteenth Century]. Volker Bauer. Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann. 25 cm. (Ius commune: Special issue, ...) [99-1/4-385]

Vol. 1. Nord- und Mitteldeutschland [Northern and Central Germany]. 1997. vi, 733 p. (Ius commune: Special issue, 103) ISBN 3-465-02957-7: DM 228.00, DM 205.20 (subscription)

Vol. 2. Heutiges Bayern und Österreich, Liechtenstein [Present-day Bavaria and Austria, Liechtenstein]. 1999. vi, 609 p. (Ius commune: Special issue, 123) ISBN 3-465-03038-9: DM 188.00, DM 169.20 (subscription)

This bibliography covers documents published in the German territories until 1806. These documents were much more than just calendars: they often list names of officials, elected representatives, military personnel, nobility etc. Historians and genealogists can glean information on local history, politics and economy, and statistics. A planned third volume will cover publications from southwest Germany and the Rhine valley. Bauer has added an extensive introduction and a bibliography to the field. It is an important reference work for territorial history. Unfortunately, it lacks complete library holdings information. [krb/hsb]
Taschenbuch des öffentlichen Lebens: Deutschland [Pocket Book of Public Life: Germany]. Ed. Albert Oeckl. Bonn: Festland-Verlag. 15 cm. (up to vol. 47), 18 cm. (from vol. 48 on). ISSN 0082-1829 [99-1/4-386]

Vol. 48. 1998/99 (1998). xvii, 1,447 p. + addendum. 104 p. ISBN 3-87224-040-4: DM 159.60

One major improvement over previous editions, besides the new enlarged format, is the more consistent inclusion of e-mail and Internet addresses. This edition features 350 new entries, especially for European, UN and international organizations. An update, necessitated by the Bundestag elections, was published in the spring. [sah/hsb]
Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland: Staatshandbuch [Federal Republic of Germany: State Handbook]. Köln [et al.]: Heymann. 21 cm. ISSN 0723-3795 [99-1/4-387]

Nordrhein-Westfalen: Verzeichnis der Behörden und Gemeinden mit Aufgabenbeschreibungen und Adressen [North Rhine-Westphalia: Directory of Agencies and Administrative Institutions with Descriptions of Duties and Addresses] 1999. Ed. Rüdiger Frohn. xvi, 359 p. ISBN 3-452-24111-4: DM 188.00

Nordrhein-Westfalen-Jahrbuch: Ministerien, Behörden, Kommunen, Verbände, Einrichtungen des öffentlichen Lebens [North Rhine-Westphalia Yearbook: Ministries, Agencies, Municipalities, Associations, Institutions of Public Life]. München: Saur. 24 cm. ISSN 1438-2881 [99-1/4-388]

1 (1999). ix, 502 p. ISBN 3-598-23940-8: DM 198.00

Both of these are really address books, despite their somewhat misleading titles. They are similar in price and basic organization. However, the Jahrbuch additionally includes the local addresses of national agencies and features a section covering associations and organizations. Both reference works need to improve their indexes: the Staatshandbuch should include corporate names, while the Jahrbuch should add a subject index. Users in North Rhine-Westphalia will probably prefer the Jahrbuch because of its broader coverage and handier indexing, while users outside of the region may stay with the Staatshandbuch because it covers all of the federal states of Germany in a consistent manner. [sh/hsb]

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