Contested Futures: A Sociology of Prospective Techno-scienceNik Brown, Brian Rappert, Andrew Webster In a unique volume, Contested Futures brings together a group of scholars to examine the relationships between social action and the future. Rather than speculating upon what the future might bring, the volume interrogates the metaphors and practices through which the future is mobilized as an object of present day action and agency. The book shifts the analytical gaze from looking into the future to looking at the future as a sociological phenomenon in its own right. Futures are thus contested in as much as they register differences of interest, time frame or organizational and political form. Contestation is also evident in the ascendancy of certain discourses, languages and metaphors which foreclose some futures whilst facilitating others. But futures are far from being simply linguistic abstractions, and in fact can often be seen to harden into material entrenchment as expectations become scripted into 'path dependency' and 'lock in'. Contested Futures is an invaluable analysis for both academics and policy actors seeking a better understanding of the ubiquity of futures-discourse in the context of today's uncertainties. |
Contents
PAST FUTURES | 16 |
From Performativity to Prehension | 21 |
From Promise to Requirement | 43 |
Copyright | |
10 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Contested Futures: A Sociology of Prospective Techno-Science Nik Brown,Brian Rappert Limited preview - 2017 |
Contested Futures: A Sociology of Prospective Techno-science Nik Brown,Brian Rappert No preview available - 2020 |
Common terms and phrases
action actor-network theory actors agency agenda analysis argument become behaviour Bentrom biotechnology breakthrough Callon Cambridge chapter character choice cloning configuration constructed Contested Futures contingencies create cultural decision disclosure discourse discovery Dolly dynamics economic electricity embedded emerging environmental enzyme example expectations feminist forecasting future images future studies Gammese genetic counselling genetic diagnostics HDTV healthcare human ideograph impact implications important interactions Internet Latour Lente Löhnberg London metaphors models Moore's Law narrative infrastructure Netherlands networks Oankali organisations Orlans particular performance political possible PPL Therapeutics present problems product creation processes programme Project Team promises relations representations rhetorical role Roslin Institute scenarios science and technology scientific scientists social society Sociology sociotechnical specific speed story strategic studies technical progress technological developments technological progress technoscience tele-working temporal theory uncertainties University of Twente University of York University Press utopia vision xenotransplantation