Dear all,
We invite contributions to our open panel Policy instruments and the =
making of sociotechnical futures: production, circulation and effects =
convened by =
Aykut Stefan (Universit=C3=A4t Hamburg), Bilel Benbouzid (Universit=C3=A9 =
Gustave Eiffel), Marlyne Sahakian and myself (Universit=C3=A9 de =
Gen=C3=A8ve) at the 2022 EASST Conference=C2=A0 =
in Madrid (July 6=E2=80=939). =
Abstracts are expected by February 1, 2022, using the submission =
platform: https://easst2022.org/callforsubmissions.asp =
.=20
Policy-making and public debate in technological societies are =
characterized by heavy reliance on science-based visions of probable, =
desirable or potentially catastrophic futures. Policy instruments play a =
key role therein, as sites where such futures are produced, circulated =
and put to work in the governance of very diverse sociotechnical matters =
at multiple sales. As such, they offer an interesting vantage point from =
where to examine the politics of technoscientific futures.
In keeping with fruitful developments at the crossroads of political =
sociology and science and technology studies (Voss & Freeman 2016, =
Halpern et al., 2014), our panel seeks to shed light onto instruments =
and future-making practices in different policy sectors (climate change, =
energy, agriculture, digital technologies, urban development, and =
industries) and thereby on how instruments and future-production devices =
circulate from one sector to another.=20
Papers are invited to consider instruments and issues at different =
scales - global, national and local. We welcome in particular =
comparisons across sectors and levels of intervention. They can focus on =
their production, circulation or effects in regard to future-making =
practices, techniques, or knowledge. Papers can deal with one specific =
policy instrument or compare different instruments, in one or in =
multiple sectors. We welcome, for example, papers examining the use of =
impact assessments or scenarios in one sector (i.e. in environmental or =
digital governance) and / or looking at how they migrate across sectors.=20=
Authors are invited to explore, among other issues:=20
What kinds of knowledge, actors, and scales are privileged by / for =
different policy instruments in the production of futures?=20
How do different instruments frame temporal and geographical scales in =
the production of futures?=20
What tensions and conflicts can be observed?
How do different policy instruments foster the circulation of futures =
across social arenas?
What effects do they produce in public debate?=20
How is the production of future-knowledge imbricated in conflictual =
processes of collective construction of futures?=20
We hope to cover as many instruments and sectors as possible to foster =
potential comparisons during the debate and in future work. On this =
basis, this panel aims at initiating a research programme gathering =
scholars from STS and other thematic domains of expertise, raging from =
energy to AI, around policy instruments and future making practices.
Paper submissions should be in the form of abstracts of up to 300 words =
in English.
They should include the paper=E2=80=99s main arguments in regard with =
the panel proposal, its empirical basis, as well as its contribution to =
STS.=20
When submitting your paper on the submission platform =
(https://easst2022.org/openpanel.asp =
), please select panel 030.=20
Papers will be reviewed by the convenors.=20
The submitting author will be considered as the presenting author.=20
For any inquiries concerning the panel topic to write to: =
nicolas.bayalaffite@unige.ch
Please do not hesitate to circulate through your relevant networks.=20
Best wishes,=20
Nicolas Baya-Laffite, Aykut Stefan, Bilel Benbouzid, Marlyne Sahakian
=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=
=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93=E2=80=93
Nicolas Baya-Laffite
Associate Professor of Science and Technology Studies
Department of Sociology, School of Social Science
University of Geneva=20
UniMail - bureau 4324
40, bd du Pont-d=E2=80=99Arve
CH - 1211 Geneva 4
+41 (0) 2237 98887=
