About

The Bibliographic Database of International Scholarship, an initiative of Concordia University’s Karl Polanyi Institute of Political Economy, is an open-source, searchable database of global research inspired by the work of Karl Polanyi. This dynamic resource plays a vital role in assessing how his theories are being received, reinterpreted, and adapted in response to contemporary social, political, and economic challenges.

More than just a collection, the database serves as:

  • A monitoring tool for tracking the evolution of Polanyian scholarship
  • A knowledge-transfer platform for researchers, educators, and students
  • A space for interdisciplinary exchange on how Polanyi’s ideas continue to shape thinking in economics, sociology, political science, environmental studies, and beyond

This resource also complements the Karl Polanyi Digital Archive, offering a broader ecosystem for studying and engaging with Polanyi's legacy. Together, these initiatives aim to foster a deeper understanding of how Polanyi’s thought is evolving and influencing both academic discourse and real-world practice.

How to search the database

Choose your search criteria:

  • Author: enter full or partial name
  • Title: enter full or partial title
  • Year: specify a year or range
  • Keyword: enter relevant terms

Optional: sort results by "date added to the collection."

Reset Search: Click the "Reset Search" button to clear all criteria and filters, returning the search to its default settings.

Each search result links to full bibliographic details. When available, full-text access is provided through open-access sources. Some items may require institutional or library login.

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Methodology

Data collection for this project follows a systematized scoping review methodology. Boolean queries were conducted across major interdisciplinary academic databases, including EBSCO, ProQuest, Cairn, and JSTOR, to identify scholarship that substantively engages with Karl Polanyi’s published or archival writings. The inclusion criteria require that a work (a) explicitly refers to adopting a Polanyian approach in the abstract or introduction or (b) demonstrates meaningful and repeated use of Polanyi’s key concepts (e.g., double movement, fictitious commodities) throughout the text. The collection is continuously updated by the Institute.

For further information, please contact the Karl Polanyi Institute of Political Economy: polanyi.institute@concordia.ca