ISN: International Relations and Security Network

Citation

Axford, M.A. (2000), "ISN: International Relations and Security Network", Online Information Review, Vol. 24 No. 5, pp. 401-411. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2000.24.5.401.10

ISN (http://www.isn.ethz.ch) is a premier source of academic information on international security. The sponsoring organisation is the Center for Security Studies and Conflict Research of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). There is also an impressive list of “cooperating partners” (organisations working closely with ISN) including NATO, the Organization for Security and Co‐operation in Europe (OSCE), the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO), and many other prestigious names in the field of security studies. The site includes a number of useful features. The first is a well‐organised list of annotated links. Another is the ISN‐Info List, a free newsletter that includes updates on current events, special issues, conferences, and more. The search engine, ISN LASE, searches data from governmental bodies, international organisations, think tanks, NGOs, and scholarly journals. Current World News has short current news items selected from news providers such as AP, Reuters, Itar‐tass, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. By subscribing, readers may receive daily news reports sent via e‐mail. The publishing house section contains the full text of selected conference papers, newsletters, and journals. The educational modules section has a reference database of learning materials and their distribution. A tutorial suggests example uses of the ISN site. The Facts on International Relations and Security Trends (FIRST) database is available to those who register (registration is free). Users may select a country and then select check boxes for key data in the following categories: memberships, agreements, and events (in international organisations and treaties, for example); conflicts and peacekeeping activities; arms production and trade; military expenditure; weapons of mass destruction; armed forces and conventional weapons holdings; and government and other national data. Then they may select a year of data to display and, if the selected year is not available, the most recent data are shown. The result is a report listing all of the requested data, which is significant in content and provided by respected sources such as SIPRI, Country Indicators for Foreign Policy (CIFP), etc. The site is a pleasure to use because of its attractive and navigable Web design. Colour choices are harmonious; fonts and spacing are easily readable. Navigation is exceptionally easy. Below the top page, left‐hand frames are used for site navigation, a recognised convention that is the least obnoxious use for frames.