Analysis of Radical Political Sites

Full report

We surveyed dozens of “radical” sites – magazines (e.g. Jacobin, In These Times, Novara Media), alternative news (e.g. Truthdig, MintPress, Grayzone), ideological archives (Marxists.org, Libcom, the Anarchist Library), activist organizations (Extinction Rebellion, Black Lives Matter, MoveOn), communities (DailyKos, Indymedia networks), research institutes (Transnational Institute, CISA, IPS, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation), and even propaganda platforms (WSWS, InfoWars). We noted which features recur in each category. The goal was to see what makes a site a destination – a rich hub people return to – rather than a one-off publication.

Key Patterns by Site Type:

• **Magazines/Independent Journals (Jacobin, Novara, Current Affairs, The Nation, CounterPunch, Roar, etc.)** tend to emphasize timely analysis and commentary. They feature story headlines with engaging imagery, author bios, topic tags, and related links. Most have a clear political mission (e.g. Jacobin: “a leading voice of the American left”). They mix evergreen content (long-form essays, investigative reports) with breaking news commentary. Many use subscription/donate calls, online stores and podcasts. Their taxonomy often includes indexed sections (by topic or issue), author pages listing all articles, and archives of past issues. For example, Jacobin’s homepage highlights recent articles by date and shows its subscription pitch; individual posts are tagged with topics (“North America”, “Sports”, etc.) and show “Further Reading” links. These sites often include author profiles, some cross-linking (“read more by this author”), and may house supplements (podcasts, events, newsletters). Embedded Image: Figure: Jacobin’s site often features historical or political imagery (here a West Indian cricketer made a symbol of anti-colonial self-determination) alongside socialist analysis.

• Archives/Libraries (Marxists Internet Archive, Libcom.org, The Anarchist Library, historical archives) are primarily content repositories. They focus on depth and breadth of material – dozens of texts per author, decades of newsletters, etc. They use strict taxonomies: timeline indexes, alphabetical topics, and searchable collections. For instance, the Marxists Internet Archive is “a non-profit online encyclopedia” hosting 180,000+ documents of communist, socialist, and anarchist works. Libcom’s homepage prominently calls itself “a resource for everyone fighting to improve their lives” and notes it’s “run entirely by volunteers” with a free archive. The Anarchist Library similarly “serves as a gathering place” for anarchist texts. These sites often include glossaries, biographies, “on this day” timelines, and links to primary sources. However, they typically lack breaking-news features or discussion – instead they provide evergreen content, with robust search and browse (tags, categories) to navigate vast text libraries. The design is often spare and text-heavy.

• Research Institutes/Think Tanks (Transnational Institute, Institute for Policy Studies, etc.) blend academic reports with activist analysis. They highlight mission and vision, list areas of work, and publish policy briefs or “longreads”. The Transnational Institute (TNI) homepage, for example, articulates a global mission (“committed to building a just, democratic, and sustainable planet”) and offers dozens of issue-based navigation links (Climate Justice, Trade and Investment, War Economy, etc.). These sites often include scenario analyses, strategic reports, and coalition “stories of success.” They typically have sections for publications, events, partner networks, and ways to “support us.” Their visual tone is sober but strategic.

• Activist Organizations and Movements (Extinction Rebellion, BLM, MoveOn, 350.org, etc.) prioritize mobilization. Their homepages use urgent slogans and calls to action. Extinction Rebellion’s site bluntly says “This is an emergency. Life on Earth is in crisis…” and lists concrete demands with “learn more” buttons. MoveOn’s site features member testimonials and quick links to start petitions, volunteer, or attend events. Black Lives Matter’s homepage showcases programs (“Arts”, “Policy”, etc.) with large photographs and “Learn More” buttons. They all have “Take Action” sections (petitions, find your local group, donate) and subscribe forms. These sites often incorporate event calendars, social links, multilingual menus, and press/financial reports for transparency. The content mix is lighter on theory and heavier on organizing resources (toolkits, FAQs, volunteer sign-up). Embedded Image: Figure: Activist sites like Black Lives Matter use aspirational imagery (here, two organizers back-to-back) and bold messaging about empowerment.

• Propaganda/Ideological Platforms (WSWS, Infowars, Stormfront, etc.) are similar to magazines but with a tightly fixed narrative. They churn out frequent posts or “news” with little nuance, often with aggressive or conspiratorial tone. These sites typically emphasize headlines and ideological talking points over usability features; they may lack clear taxonomies or archives beyond simple lists of articles. We note that, unlike destination sites, they seldom invest in user-friendly design or cross-linking content to encourage exploration beyond the immediate narrative.

• Online Political Communities (DailyKos, Indymedia networks, Reddit forums, etc.) revolve around user-generated content and discussion. They feature forums or blog-like posts (DailyKos “diaries”, Indymedia stories) and allow readers to comment/vote. Community features (comment threads, chat, user profiles) are prominent. These sites often function as aggregators or forums rather than curated editorial hubs. Content quality can vary, but loyal users create a sense of “place.” They usually have robust search, tags, and external resource links, but they’re less about authoritative archives and more about ongoing conversation.

• Encyclopedic Resources (e.g. Wikipedia-like projects on political topics) focus on breadth of topics. Marxists.org itself acts as an encyclopedia; similarly, there are wikis on activist history. They emphasize neutrality and citations. These sites often have strict editorial controls, glossaries, and formal reference systems.

Common “Destination” Features: Across types, we identified features that make a site a destination rather than a mere throwaway post. Rich taxonomy and navigation (clear sections, topical indices, search) lets users dig into archives (as with TNI’s extensive topic links or Libcom’s tags). High content depth (e.g. long essays, primary documents, educational materials) encourages return visits. Cross-linking and “related content” systems (Jacobin’s “Further Reading” links, or site-wide tags linking articles on the same theme) keep readers browsing. Author and topic pages, timelines, reading lists and glossaries all add layers for exploration. For example, Jacobin’s author pages list all articles by a writer along with their topics, while Libcom’s homepage features an “On This Day” widget and archives of classic texts.

Calls to Action and Community: True destination sites often build community – by newsletter signups, forums, events or campaigns. Activist sites weave in many CTAs (“Get involved”, petitions, donations), making them hubs for organizing. Community-generated sites add commenting and social features. By contrast, pure publications may only add a newsletter or social links (e.g. Jacobin has a mailing list sign-up and social icons), whereas movement sites like BLM or XR center on participation pathways.

Patterns by Category: From our survey, we see distinct patterns:

• Magazines blend polished visuals and narratives with subscription models. They emphasize analysis, ideology and storytelling. They often lack deep archives of primary sources or user discussion.
• Archives/Libraries prioritize volume and access of texts. They forego bells and whistles for maximal content, with volunteer-run ethos.
• Think Tanks/Research Groups position themselves as bridges between activists and academia, featuring reports and strategic guides. Their tone is formal and visionary (e.g. TNI’s “world of peace, equity and democracy” vision).
• Propaganda Sites offer one-sided “news” without much user navigation; they typically do not aim for inclusive engagement features.
• Activist Org Sites act as movement hubs: urgent language, events calendars, calls to join/fundraise, and often rich story/media content to inspire. Extinction Rebellion’s urgent header – “This is an emergency” – illustrates the hard-political branding.
• Communities are social in design. They rely on collective intelligence (comments, shared links) more than editorial curation.

Each model serves different user needs. A reader might visit Jacobin for analysis and theory; MIA for historical texts; XR’s site to sign up for protests; and DailyKos to debate or share grassroots stories.

Which Model Fits BuiltToResist.com?

Without duplicating manipulative tactics, BuiltToResist appears most akin to an activist/movement hub with research resources. Its name suggests a platform for sustained resistance organizing. The best model is a hybrid: it should combine the engagement and urgency of a movement/activist site with the depth and breadth of a research/archive site. In practice, that means:

• Research Institute & Scenario Desk: Include in-depth analyses, strategy papers or scenario reports on political trends, as a think-tank would. This lends authority and foresight. (Emulate TNI’s or IPS’s research style.)
• Radical Archive & Historical Library: Host an open archive of primary-source materials (manifestos, historical speeches, protests documentation) and timelines. This builds a foundation of collective memory. (Similar to Marxists.org or Libcom in mission.)
• Independent Magazine/Political Encyclopedia: Offer evergreen articles, commentary, and “encyclopedic” topic pages. Perhaps a wiki-like glossary of concepts. Tagging each piece thoroughly for discoverability. (Think Jacobin’s mix of news and analysis with Wikipedia’s structure.)
• Movement Directory: Include a directory of allied organizations, event calendars, and tools for activists (guides, training resources). This mirrors MoveOn or XR style, helping users transition from reading to doing.
• Community Features: Enable discussion (moderated forums or comment sections) and user contributions (e.g. guest blogs or reports). Solid newsletters/RSS can syndicate content and attract return visitors.

Taken together, BuiltToResist should not feel like a shallow blog; it must be a comprehensive hub. It should feature “evergreen” educational content (glossaries, reading lists, toolkits) alongside breaking updates. It should adopt clear calls to action (petitions, donate, volunteer) à la activist sites. Crucially, it must maintain transparency and a non-manipulative tone (e.g. publish reports, finances, be open-sourced where possible).

Proposed Information Architecture for BuiltToResist.com

Below is a detailed outline of site sections and content types that blend the best features:

• Home – Featured news and announcements, rotating banner with urgent slogan/mission, quick links to major actions or reports.
• About – Mission/vision, history of the project, team bios, editorial policy.
• News & Analysis – Timely posts on current events, with filters by topic/region. Each article shows author, date, and topic tags. Related articles automatically linked (as in Jacobin).
• Research & Reports – A library of in-depth publications: briefing papers, scenario analyses, white papers. Organized by theme (economy, climate, inequality, etc.) and searchable. Possibly download PDFs and abstracts.
• Archives / Primary Sources – A repository of foundational texts: manifestos, historical essays, legal documents, transcripts. Searchable chronologically and by tags (like Marxists.org). Include timelines (“On This Day in Resistance”) and digitized pamphlets or oral histories.
• Topics (Encyclopedia) – A set of subject pages (e.g. “Capitalism”, “Anti-Imperialism”, “Mutual Aid”) that summarize key concepts and link to relevant articles and sources. Acts like a mini-encyclopedia or glossary of concepts.
• Authors / Contributors – Profiles of writers and researchers. Each profile lists all their contributions and fields of expertise (topics).
• Events & Training – Calendar of upcoming webinars, meetings, protests. Registration forms or sign-ups integrated. Videos or materials from past events.
• Reading Lists & Education – Curated bibliographies, recommended books/articles/videos on various topics. Possibly educational modules or MOOCs.
• Tools & Resources – Activist toolkit (how-to guides, graphics, media kits), external resource directory (links to allied projects, legal aid, etc.).
• Get Involved / Actions – Clear CTAs: petition forms, donation portals, volunteer signup. Campaign pages with specifics of ongoing initiatives. (Language like “Join the movement” or “Take action!”.)
• Community – Forum or comment sections, moderated discussion boards. Options for user-submitted content or local group pages. RSS feeds for updates. Newsletter signup.
• Media & Gallery – Embedded videos, podcasts, infographics. Possibly a blog for lighter content or personal stories.
• Contact / Transparency – Contact form, board of directors, financial reports, credits (in the spirit of accountability).

Each section would be reachable via a top navigation and a sitemap. Site-wide search is crucial. Design should balance readability (clean typography for long texts) with expressive imagery and slogans (as seen on XR, BLM). For example, bold headers like XR’s “This is an emergency” or BLM’s empowerment quotes should headline major sections to reinforce mission. Images like the ones from Jacobin or BLM (, ) can illustrate featured stories without distracting from content.

This hybrid IA ensures BuiltToResist is both a knowledge repository and an action hub: users can research policies and history, learn terminology, and immediately plug into campaigns or communities. By merging the best of a think-tank’s depth, an archive’s breadth, and an activist site’s mobilizing force, the platform becomes a full-fledged destination for sustained political engagement.

Sources: Analysis informed by site explorations and public descriptions. For example, Jacobin’s own homepage calls itself “a leading voice of the American left”; the Marxists Internet Archive site is volunteer-run and free; Extinction Rebellion’s site stresses crisis and demands; and Black Lives Matter emphasizes transformative vision and community funding, illustrating how these features manifest in practice.