CCS2põhist

CCS2põhist is a theoretical framework within digital historiography that examines how computational infrastructures and communications ecosystems shape historical narratives. The name combines CCS2, a hypothetical computational-causation model, with the Estonian-derived term põhist, signaling its focus on history and infrastructural context. The framework aims to bridge quantitative data analysis with interpretive historiography, treating technical systems as active agents in historical development rather than passive backgrounds.

Origins and scope: The term was introduced in the early 2020s by a group of researchers exploring how digitized archives, social networks, and platform architectures influence the production and dissemination of historical knowledge. It emphasizes a multi-scalar perspective that links micro-level traces (such as logs and metadata) to macro-level historical patterns.

Core concepts: CCS2põhist rests on three pillars: data-rich tracing of digital traces across time, graphical or network representations of infrastructural linkages, and narrative construction that situates events within the surrounding technological milieu. It also advocates iterative scenario modeling to explore alternate histories under different infrastructural configurations.

Methodology: Practitioners gather archival materials, digital-born sources, and platform data, applying network analysis, temporal modeling, and qualitative interpretation to generate histories that acknowledge infrastructural influence.

Criticism and reception: Critics warn against overemphasizing infrastructure at the expense of human agency, and note the risk of data bias, gaps, and determinism in interpretation.

See also: Digital humanities, computational history, platform studies, historiography.