# Worldwide Atrocities Dataset

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Worldwide_Atrocities_Dataset
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Worldwide_Atrocities_Dataset.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Atrocities_Dataset
> Source revision: 1296465847
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

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

## Data

Unlike other datasets such as the [Global Database of Events, Language, and Tone](/source/Global_Database_of_Events,_Language,_and_Tone) (GDELT), [Integrated Conflict Early Warning System](/source/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](/source/Climate_change) on violence in Africa.[3] It has also been referenced alongside the [ACLED dataset](/source/Armed_Conflict_Location_and_Event_Data_Project) and the Peacekeeping Operations Locations and Event Dataset in a paper on the geography of conflict by Wiedmann and Kuse (2009).[4][5] A 2011 paper by Gold and Haar used the Worldwide Atrocities Dataset to understand the spatial dimension of refugee flows.[6]

### Reception in blogs

Political scientist and forecasting expert [Jay Ulfelder](/source/Jay_Ulfelder) called the Worldwide Atrocities Dataset a "useful data set on political violence that almost no one is using."[7] It was also referenced by Patrick Meier while reviewing a paper that used the dataset.[5]

## References

1. ["Political Instability Task Force Worldwide Atrocities Dataset"](http://eventdata.parusanalytics.com/data.dir/atrocities.html). [Computational Event Data System](/source/Computational_Event_Data_System) maintained by Parus Analytical Systems for [Pennsylvania State University](/source/Pennsylvania_State_University). June 5, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.

1. ["Coding manual for Worldwide Atrocities Dataset"](http://eventdata.parusanalytics.com/data.dir/Atrocities.codebook.1.0B2.pdf). Retrieved June 21, 2014.

1. Busby, Joshua W.; Smith, Todd G.; White, Kaiba L.; Strange, Shawn M. (2012). "Locating Climate Insecurity: Where Are the Most Vulnerable Places in Africa?". *Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict*. Vol. 8. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace. pp. 463–511. [doi:10.1007/978-3-642-28626-1_23](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28626-1_23). ISBN 978-3-642-28625-4.

1. Weidmann, Nils B. & Kuse, Doreen (2009). "WarViews: Visualizing and Animating Geographic Data on Civil War". *[International Studies Perspectives](/source/International_Studies_Perspectives)*. **10**: 36–48. [doi:10.1111/j.1528-3585.2008.00356.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-3585.2008.00356.x)

1. Meier, Patrick (February 24, 2009). ["NeoGeography and Crisis Mapping Analytics"](http://irevolution.net/2009/02/24/neogeography-and-crisis-mapping-analytics/). Retrieved June 21, 2014.

1. Gold, Valentin & Haer, Ross (May 2011). ["The Diffusion of Atrocities: A Spatial Analysis of the Role of Refugees"](http://www.europeanpeacescientists.org/5_2011.pdf). [Network of European Peace Scientists](/source/Network_of_European_Peace_Scientists). Retrieved June 21, 2014.

1. Ulfelder, Jay (June 10, 2014). ["A Useful Data Set on Political Violence that Almost No One Is Using"](http://dartthrowingchimp.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/a-useful-data-set-on-political-violence-that-almost-no-one-is-using/). Retrieved June 21, 2014.

## External links

[Official website](http://eventdata.parusanalytics.com/data.dir/atrocities.html)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Worldwide Atrocities Dataset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Atrocities_Dataset) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Atrocities_Dataset?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.