Going South. How STS could think science in and with the South?

Abstract

Social studies of science (STS, science studies) have played an important role in the renewal of social sciences in the course of their institutionalization. However, especially in France, where the authors are working, they have paid only limited attention to the research on science done in the South. The diverse perspectives developed from/on the South would, if taken into account, broaden the discussion of knowledge, its places and circulation. In particular, we think that postcolonial approaches provide relevant tools for this reflection and that they give the means for a more mature globalization of STSrelying on a better integration of the Global South to the science studies landscape. Our proposal is developed as such: 1) understanding why science studies have shown little interest in the South until recently, 2) analysing the processes which have enabled the move of STS to the South, 3) mapping the challenges of the "creolization" of STS that mixes post-colonial approaches with science studies approaches.

Dependent or not? From a daily practice of Earth observation research in the Global South to promoting adequate developmental spaces in science and technology studies

“…It supports a critical discussion of outdated simplistic centre-periphery models, such as those that premise the unidirectional and global diffusion of what is often described as Europe's technologies, "science, rationality, progress, and enlightenment" (Pollock and Subramaniam, 2016). At the same time, the paper suggests that in some instances, alternative paths that are suggested in postcolonial STS discourses should be continuously revisited against what might inadvertently be rejected by adding studies to the new "fronts" of STS research and in-depth fieldwork in the South, as discussed by Dumoulin Kervran et al (2018). The case of agency towards capacity building in EO research in Nigeria promotes a stronger sensitivity towards niches or rather communities of practice (CoPs) that in some experience-based instances support static and universalist models in addressing the consequences of colonial histories.…”

“…Sub-Saharan Africa then is the geopolitical area that is usually most often confronted with determinist stereotypes about being a mere passive recipient of socially determining innovation and science from the Global North (Macola, 2016;Mavhunga, 2017). This issue can in part be translated to the dated but still applied model of a self-referential and basic research-producing core in Europe and North America that stands in theoretical contrast to dependent institutes in large parts of a peripheral Global South (Hwang, 2008;Dumoulin Kervran et al, 2018).…”

“…STS research itself has been further developed in the South, and social science studies use STS approaches towards studying scientific practices in parts of the global South (such as bioscience). Questions of power, the consequences of colonialism, hybridisations, unbundling the dichotomies of South and North, essentialising the latter, and science between the poles of liberation and features of colonialism are part of the latest discourse (Dumoulin Kervran et al, 2018). Here, much of what is at stake in postcolonial STS relates to thoughts also Chakrabarty (2000) had, where "European thought and history", as embodied in various concepts, are reconsidered.…”

“…Following this, this paper addresses an already existing "impasse" regarding developmental paradigms (Schurr and Verne, 2017:126). It contributes to visualising both asymmetries and promising symmetries in global knowledge production (Dumoulin Kervran et al, 2018) towards environmental, societal and economic challenges by critically discussing opportunities for developing a niche that can suggest a way forward in building capacity for global EO research through pronouncing the case of local agency. The paper further critically discusses how the niche eventually brings postcolonial STS research even closer to developmental discourses and the community's transnational responsibilities.…”

Resumen de tesis. Las implicaciones de las políticas de ciencia y tecnología en la investigación científica en el Ecuador durante el periodo 2007-2017

“…Desde hace algunos años se habla de la globalización de los ECTS, haciendo referencia al proceso de homogenización e interrelación de la actividad científica y tecnológica y basándose en el creciente número de trabajos de investigación producidos en este campo en las principales potencias científicas. En consecuencia, esta globalización se aprecia sobre todo en la investigación desarrollada en Europa y Estados, si bien, en los últimos años se advierte que existe un mayor interés por parte de los centros metropolitanos de estas regiones en las dinámicas de la producción del conocimiento en los países no tan desarrollados (Dumoulin Kervran et al, 2019). A pesar de que ya se había proclamado que "la ciencia debe ser puesta en su sitio" (Livingstone, 2004;Seth, 2009), lo que se denominó como el "giro espacial", la noción de globalización acerca de la internacionalización de la investigación científica, sigue estando enfocada mayoritariamente en los países "centrales" y en la articulación de las políticas científicas nacionales en función de la circulación de los modelos teóricos y prácticos procedentes de los países más desarrollados económica y tecnológicamente.…”