Scottish independence vote: what do the polls say?

The poll is due on the 18th September - but how have recent TV debates effected attitudes?

BBC polls tracker is monitoring attitudes and predicts 51% against. consult the explanation of its methodology.

YouGov has conducted a number of polls throughout the campaign they track the no vote falling.

Uk Polling report has been tracking all polls since 2012 so gives a longer term picture. It includes both YouGov, Ipso Mori and ICM. Note it does not seem to include som eof the more recent polls listed on the pollsters websites.

What Scotland Thinks is a great site maintained by ScotCen Social Research. It includes papers and reports from the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey. It also includes recent poll results

Some interesting discussion papers from the Scottish Social attitudes research include Has the Referendum Campaign Made a Difference? by John Curtice
Minding the gap – women’s views of independence in 2014 by Rachel Ormston
Who is still wavering? Turnout and the undecided by Jan Eichhorn and Linday Paterson

Scotland independence referendum - starting points for academic research

Starting point.
Here is the first in our series of special posts.

Basic starting points for academic research.
Scotland's Referendum - site established by the Scottish government to provide public information. Note this supports a yes vote. Key features include: Background documents setting out the path to the referendum
the full text guide Scotland's Future which puts the case for independence
Blog with news updates 
Social media sites - Facebook Twitter YouTube Flickr
Pinterest

UK Government guide - note this opposes independence.
Includes the You Decide tool which aims to help voters make decisions.
Has links to full text UK government publications.
Twitter  Facebook  Linkedin


Yes Scotland
Yes Scotland is the all-party and no-party campaign for a Yes vote It is an alliance of the Scottish National Party, Scottish Green Party, Scottish Socialist Party. It includes briefings produced by its members.

National Collective Artists and Creatives for Scottish Independence 

Interesting videos and postings discussing creative events proposing independence. There is also discussion of media coverage.

Radical Independence Grass roots radical socialist campaign.

twitter and Facebook. site includes articles from socialists.

Labour for Independence - Facebook site Twitter

United with Labour Labour Party no campaign with online videos, twitter and news.

 Better Together all party campaign representing no vote. website includes leaflets and online videos. Facebook. twitter

Youtube

Flickr

Turkish presidential elections

Try our recommended resources for finding out the facts
The official Electoral commission website (Turkish) only has facts and background information including results.
The OSCE conducted an assessment of the organisation and conduct of the elections. Reports are being added to their website.

New services with good analytical coverage include:
Turkish sites.
Turkiye
Huriyet Daily
Zaman
Posta (popular press)

BBC
Al-Jazeera
Washington Post

Think tanks
Rand
Brookings 
Council on Foreign Relations
Chatham House
Washington Institute
Rethink Institute
SETA Foundation Turkey

Blogs and newsletters
Turkey Analyst

The Turkey Analyst is a publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Joint Center, designed to bring authoritative analysis and news on the rapidly developing domestic and foreign policy issues in Turkey. It is published bi-weekly, and includes topical analysis, as well as a summary of the Turkish media debate

James in Turkey analysis from Michael Sercan Daventry journalist

Indonesia presidential elections - useful sites

Controversy surrounds the recent Indonesian presidential elections. with allegations of fraud being made by candidates. Here are some recommended academic sources for finding facts.

IFES has background facts on the system and results from previous elections.

The official Electoral commission has details . Although no  English language version is currently available. 

Useful news coverage can be found in the 

Jakarta Post which has an election channel

Washington Post 

Jakarta Globe

The Conversation has discussion from UK academic specialists

Tech Asia has some interesting links to sites and resources using the internet and social media to prevent fraud 

Think tanks with background discussion on the state of democracy in Indonesia

include

the Carter Center which worked in the region until 2004

Asia Foundation

Brookings Institution
Council on Foreign Relations

Libya elections 2014 useful resources

Elections are schedules for 25th June.
The UN security Council released an announcement

For fuller information on the United Nations involvement consult the website of their mission in Libya.
the European Council on Foreign Relations has highlighted 3 things to look out for in its blog. The website also has further discussion papers on what Europe can do in the future
background information on the electoral system can be found on the IFES website.

Libya Herald coverage.

International human rights groups coverage

International Crisis Group.
NDI - has public opinion polls from the region on the transition to democracy
UK Foreign Office human rights and democracy report on Libya.
Democracy Reporting International assessment reports on the state of the constitution and electoral law.
Bertelsmann transformation report on transitions index

International security think tanks coverage

Congressional Research report on Libya transition and US foreign policy
Carnegie Endowment reports
Council on Foreign Relations
Brookings Institution
Rand reports
Memri Middle East research institute

Colombia presidential elections- a vote for peace?

Juan Manuel Santos has won re-election in Colombia in a dramatic presidential contest

The Economist stated that this was a vote for peace.

This was echoed on the Colombia politics website

Here are some more resources to explore.

Coverage of the elections is extensive in the English language Colombia Reports
and the Americas Society blog. Comment on the Justice for Colombia blog

and LAinfo.es blog

 In Spanish look at Bogota newspapers:
El Tiempo newspaper coverage and analysis
El Spectador
Semana

IFES has a general guide to the electoral system and previous results.

The official Colombian election commission has a website in Spanish with results and statements on the conduct and administration of the election

The OAS praised the conduct of the elections. search the website to find out more details about is observation of the elections.

However the inspector general also received reports of electoral irregularities.
Reporte Consolidado: 141 Denuncias Por Posibles Delitos Electorales Recibió La Procuraduría General De La Nación Durante El Día De Hoynspector General’s Office Press Release)

Syria presidential elections - transparent or a whitewash?

This week Bashar al-Assad won re-election as the Syrian president.

The Syrian Arab news Agency praised the transparency of the elections in a number of articles.

but the Organisation For Democracy and Freedom in Syria called it a farce.

and the Washington Post a symbol of Assad's control

other useful sources for news coverage of the elections include:

BBC News.

Huffington Post.

Al-Monitor

and IFES has a background guide to the electoral system and previous results.

Assessments of the state of human rights and democracy in Syria.

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic United Nations reports.

Freedom House.

Open democracy net.has some discussion from bloggers prior to the elections

Amnesty International  This is also supporting the Eyes on Syria website which is mapping and monitoring human rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  has news and reports of violations in the area.

 Washington Institute assessments.

Carnegie  Endowment 

Rand. 

Brookings Institution.

Finally try searching the great ISN website for links to publications and blog postings coverign Syria and international security.