These publications are regularly update as social, environmental, and govermental factors change in these nations. Most follow a basic format that includes statistical sections on:

• Geography
  • Area
  • Cities
  • Terrain
  • Climate
• People
  • Nationality
  • Population
  • Population Growth Rate
  • Religions
  • Languages
  • Education
  • Health
• Government
  • Type
  • Date of Independence
  • Creation Date for Constitution
  • Branches of Government
  • Political Subdivisions
  • Suffrage (Voting Rights guidelines)
• Economy
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
  • GDP Growth
  • GDP per Capita
  • Natural Resources
  • Agriculture
  • Industry
  • Services
  • Trade
  • Currency

After the statistical information, the rest of each Background Note reads much like an encyclopedia entry. Unlike an encyclopedia, however, these electronic documents are kept up to date with changes included as often as several countries per day in tumultuous periods. These are primarily designed to brief government officials and the press, but anyone interested in the world can benefit from reading them.

The bulk of each entry contains narrative on the nation’s People, History, Government and Political Conditions, Economy, Foreign Relations, Relations with the USA, and Travel and Business Information.

As with any material of this sort, you need to keep in mind that this material is specifically crafted to help US interests and maintain the United States view of history.  There will be many cases where the US version of events does not jibe with the views held by the citizens of the nation being written about.  However, if you keep that aspect of the document in mind, it can be very informative of what the US State Department wants the world to believe.

For example, here is the section on U.S. – Afghan Relations from a Background Note last updated in December of 2007.

The first extensive American contact with Afghanistan was made by Josiah Harlan, an adventurer from Pennsylvania who was an adviser in Afghan politics in the 1830s and reputedly inspired Rudyard Kipling’s story “The Man Who Would be King.” After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1934, the U.S. policy of helping developing nations raise their standard of living was an important factor in maintaining and improving U.S.-Afghan ties. From 1950 to 1979, U.S. foreign assistance provided Afghanistan with more than $500 million in loans, grants, and surplus agricultural commodities to develop transportation facilities, increase agricultural production, expand the educational system, stimulate industry, and improve government administration.

In the 1950s, the U.S. declined Afghanistan’s request for defense cooperation but extended an economic assistance program focused on the development of Afghanistan’s physical infrastructure–roads, dams, and power plants. Later, U.S. aid shifted from infrastructure projects to technical assistance programs to help develop the skills needed to build a modern economy. The Peace Corps was active in Afghanistan between 1962 and 1979.

After the April 1978 coup, relations deteriorated. In February 1979, U.S. Ambassador Adolph “Spike” Dubs was murdered in Kabul after Afghan security forces burst in on his kidnapers. The U.S. then reduced bilateral assistance and terminated a small military training program. All remaining assistance agreements were ended after the December 1979 Soviet invasion.

Following the Soviet invasion, the United States supported diplomatic efforts to achieve a Soviet withdrawal. U.S. contributions to the refugee program in Pakistan played a major part in efforts to assist Afghans in need. This cross-border humanitarian assistance program aimed to increase Afghan self-sufficiency and help Afghans resist Soviet attempts to drive civilians out of the rebel-dominated countryside. During the period of Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, the U.S. provided about $3 billion in military and economic assistance to Afghans and the resistance movement.

The U.S. supported the emergence of a broad-based government, representative of all Afghans, and actively encouraged a UN role in the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Today, the U.S. is assisting the Afghan people as they rebuild their country and establish a representative government that contributes to regional stability, is market friendly, and respects human rights. In May 2005, President Bush and President Karzai concluded a strategic partnership agreement committing both nations to a long-term relationship.

Note that only the last two sentences address US – Afghan relations since the invasion that unseated the Taliban in 2001.

In addition to the textual information, each Note includes a map of the country’s with major cities and its capital noted along with the names and locations of bordering nations.  Usually the Dept. of State includes a photograph meant to capture some element of the nations culture.  In the case of Afghanistan the photo includes a broom seller in a marker in Herat.

A full list of the Background Notes can be found at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn.  For real junkies like me, you can sign up for Email updates so you will know when when updates are published.