Worldwide Atrocities Dataset Explained

The Worldwide Atrocities Dataset is a dataset collected by the Computational Event Data System at Pennsylvania State University and sponsored by the Political Instability Task Force (PITF) that is, in turn, funded by the Central Intelligence Agency in the United States.^[1]

Data

Unlike other datasets such as the Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone (GDELT), Integrated Conflict Early Warning System (ICEWS), data for the Worldwide Atrocities Dataset is entered and coded manually.^[1] Data is available for download in two files:^[1]

• Data from January 1995 to December 2012, covering 7775 events. This is 3.5 MB compressed, and 12 MB uncompressed.
• Data from January 1, 2013 to the present, with a four-month embargo period (so the four most recent months are unavailable). Data is updated monthly.

In addition to the datasets, a coding manual is available for download.^[2]

Reception

Academic reception

The Worldwide Atrocities Dataset has been referenced in academic research on the impact of climate change on violence in Africa.^[3] It has also been referenced alongside the ACLED dataset and the Peacekeeping Operations Locations and Event Dataset in a paper on the geography of conflict by Wiedmann and Kuse (2009).^[4] A 2011 paper by Gold and Haar used the Worldwide Atrocities Dataset to understand the spatial dimension of refugee flows.^[5]

Reception in blogs

Political scientist and forecasting expert Jay Ulfelder called the Worldwide Atrocities Dataset a "useful data set on political violence that almost no one is using."^[6] It was also referenced by Patrick Meier while reviewing a paper that used the dataset.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Political Instability Task Force Worldwide Atrocities Dataset. June 5, 2014. June 21, 2014. Computational Event Data System maintained by Parus Analytical Systems for Pennsylvania State University.
2. Web site: Coding manual for Worldwide Atrocities Dataset. June 21, 2014.
3. Locating Climate Insecurity: Where Are the Most Vulnerable Places in Africa?. Busby. Joshua W.. Smith. Todd G.. White. Kaiba L.. Strange. Shawn M.. 10.1007/978-3-642-28626-1_23. Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict, Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace. 8. 2012. 463–511.
4. WarViews: Visualizing and Animating Geographic Data on Civil War. Weidmann. Nils B.. Kuse. Doreen. International Studies Perspectives. 2009. 10. 36–48.
5. Web site: The Diffusion of Atrocities: A Spatial Analysis of the Role of Refugees. May 2011. June 21, 2014. Gold. Valentin. Haer. Ross. Network of European Peace Scientists.
6. Web site: A Useful Data Set on Political Violence that Almost No One Is Using. Ulfelder. Jay. Jay Ulfelder. June 10, 2014. June 21, 2014.
7. Web site: NeoGeography and Crisis Mapping Analytics. Meier. Patrick. February 24, 2009. June 21, 2014.