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Bio-objects' political capacity: a research agenda
Pieter Maeseele1, Kim Hendrickx, Vincenzo Pavone
1Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. pieter.maeseele@ua.ac.be
Croatian Medical Journal
|May 1, 2013
Summary
This study examines how politicization and de-politicization shape the understanding and governance of bio-objects in Europe. Analyzing science, policy, and media reveals how socio-technical factors create political relationships around these objects.
Area of Science:
- Science and Technology Studies (STS)
- Political Sociology
- Bioethics
Background:
- Understanding bio-objects requires examining their societal context.
- The dichotomy of politicization vs. de-politicization offers a novel framework.
- Existing research often overlooks the political dimensions of bio-object governance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of the politicization/de-politicization dichotomy for analyzing bio-objects.
- To investigate the production, circulation, and governance of bio-objects in European societies.
- To conceptualize "the political" through the lens of bio-objects and socio-technical configurations.
Main Methods:
- Discourse analysis of science, policy, public, and media.
- Examination of socio-technical configurations.
- Case studies of bio-object governance in European contexts.
Main Results:
- Bio-objects are actively configured across various societal domains.
- Socio-technical configurations play a crucial role in generating political relations.
- The politicization/de-politicization framework enhances understanding of bio-object dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Foregrounding politicization/de-politicization provides innovative insights into bio-objects.
- Bio-objects serve as a valuable entry point for studying contemporary politics.
- This approach deepens the conceptualization of "the political" in relation to life sciences and technology.
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