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Diplomatic documents data for international relations: the Freedom of Information Archive Database

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew J Connelly

    (Columbia University, USA)

  • Raymond Hicks

    (History Lab, Columbia University, USA)

  • Robert Jervis

    (Columbia University, USA)

  • Arthur Spirling

    (New York University, USA)

  • Clara H Suong

    (Department of Political Science, Duke University, USA)

Abstract

We introduce the Freedom of Information Archive (FOIArchive) Database, a collection of over 3 million documents about state diplomacy. Substantively, our database focusses on the USA and provides opportunities to analyze previously classified (or publicly unavailable) corpora of internal government documents which include the raw—often full—text of those documents. We also provide within-country diplomatic records for the USA, UK, and Brazil. The full span of the data is 1620–2013, but it is mainly from the twentieth century. Our database allows scholars to view text and associated statistics online and to download and view customized datasets via an application programming interface. We provide extensive metadata about the documents, including the countries and persons they mention, and their topics and classification levels. The metadata includes information we extracted with domain-specific, customized natural language processing tools. To demonstrate the potential of this data, we use it to design and validate a new index for “country importance†in the context of US foreign policy priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew J Connelly & Raymond Hicks & Robert Jervis & Arthur Spirling & Clara H Suong, 2021. "Diplomatic documents data for international relations: the Freedom of Information Archive Database," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 38(6), pages 762-781, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:compsc:v:38:y:2021:i:6:p:762-781
    DOI: 10.1177/0738894220930326
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sartori, Anne E., 2002. "The Might of the Pen: A Reputational Theory of Communication in International Disputes," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 56(1), pages 121-149, January.
    2. Fearon, James D., 1994. "Domestic Political Audiences and the Escalation of International Disputes," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 577-592, September.
    3. Katagiri, Azusa & Min, Eric, 2019. "The Credibility of Public and Private Signals: A Document-Based Approach," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 113(1), pages 156-172, February.
    4. Kurizaki, Shuhei, 2007. "Efficient Secrecy: Public versus Private Threats in Crisis Diplomacy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 101(3), pages 543-558, August.
    5. Julia Gray & Philip Potter, 2020. "Diplomacy and the Settlement of International Trade Disputes," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 64(7-8), pages 1358-1389, August.
    6. Erin Baggott Carter, 2020. "Diversionary cheap talk: economic conditions and US foreign policy rhetoric, 1945-2010," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 163-198, March.
    7. Holmes, Marcus, 2013. "The Force of Face-to-Face Diplomacy: Mirror Neurons and the Problem of Intentions," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 67(4), pages 829-861, October.
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