What is modpol.org?
Modern Politics (modpol.org) is a comprehensive historical resource documenting the intersection of technology and American political life from 1994 to present. We chronicle how digital platforms, online movements, and networked communications have fundamentally transformed democratic participation, civic engagement, and political discourse in the United States.
What We Document
The Digital Transformation
From early Usenet political discussions and bulletin board systems to today’s AI-influenced campaigns, we trace the complete evolution of American politics in the digital era. Our coverage spans the rise and fall of platforms, the emergence of new political movements, and the key events that shaped our current political landscape.
Interconnected Analysis
Political phenomena don’t exist in isolation. We map the relationships between:
- Events: How digital moments influenced each other across time
- Platforms: The technical and political evolution of communication technologies
- People: Key figures who shaped digital political culture
- Movements: Ideological lineages and cross-pollination between groups
- Organizations: Groups, companies, and entities that drive political change
- Media: News outlets, publications, and information sources
- Technology: Innovations and infrastructures that shape digital political communication and organization
- Ideas: Core political concepts and debates shaping digital discourse
- Narratives: Storylines and frames that shape how events are interpreted online
- Dynamics: Patterns of how political behavior changes in the digital era
- Institutions: Government bodies, academic centers, and formal structures
- Laws and Rulings: Statutes and court decisions that shape the rules of speech and organizing online
- Subcultures: Online communities that shaped digital political identity and tactics
- Symbols: Visual elements, memes, and cultural artifacts in political discourse
- Places: Geographic locations and venues significant to political developments
Neutral Historical Perspective
We present factual documentation without partisan interpretation. Our goal is to serve as an objective resource for researchers, journalists, students, and citizens seeking to understand how we arrived at our current political moment through the lens of technological change.
How to Navigate
- The Story: Narrative structure providing deeper context and analysis
- The Landscape: Directory of platforms, movements, people, and places that shape digital politics
- Timeline: Chronological view of key events with filtering and network visualization
- Network: Interactive exploration tool for discovering relationships between political entities
- Statistics: Quantitative data tracking digital transformation of American political discourse
- Search: Find specific events, topics, or connections across the site
Our Mission
To create the definitive historical record of American politics in the digital age—a trusted, comprehensive resource that helps society understand the complex relationships between technology platforms, political movements, and democratic participation over the past three decades.