Plurality in understandings of innovation, sociotechnical progress and sustainable development: An analysis of OECD expert narratives

Abstract

Deterministic theory and discourse on sociotechnical progress ignore the existence of multiple and equally viable pathways towards progress, obscure socioeconomic and environmental conflicting interests and values, and overshadow socially inclusive deliberative choices about policy strategies. Demystifying techno-determinism, by incorporating a plurality of understandings to policy appraisal, becomes a matter of not only democratic accountability but also of analytical rigour. This article analyses the normative and ontological understandings on scientific and technological pathways among a group of experts interviewed at one key Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, using Q-methodology. The three main framings detected do not correspond exclusively to any single innovation and development theoretical framework - namely Innovation Systems, Learning Systems, Catch-Up models or the science, technology and society approach. Each narrative organizes an array of policy understandings based upon different theories and practices. As these forms of discourse highly influence global policy recommendations, their plurality should be made explicit, negotiated and integrated into policymaking.

Reframing sociotechnical imaginaries: The case of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

“…Aggregated, these are the protagonists portrayed in 73% of the analysed articles. These results reinforce the consideration present in previous studies towards the constitution of a corporate, elitist vision of the future into policy-making and public reason (Schiølin, 2019), eliciting a highly selective sociotechnical imaginary of technology to the rescue of economy (techno-fix) that shapes how a 4IR is being assembled in the public sphere (Morgan, 2019; Savaget and Acero, 2018; Smallman, 2018).…”

Building the UK vision of a driverless future: A Parliamentary Inquiry case study

“…These theoretical concepts have been used to critique the framing of national technological projects. The rhetoric of challenges encourages what van Loon (2002) calls a 'politics of urgency'; the rhetoric of being in a race (Kaldewey, 2018) legitimises sociotechnical solutions (Flink and Kaldewey, 2018), so that technologies are offered as instrumental solutions to identified societal problems (Savaget and Acero, 2017). The desirability of the goals, such as improved safety or reduced pollution, is appropriated by the solution, presenting itself as logically necessary and inevitable.…”

From Certificates to Performance: A Paradigm Shift and Its Consequences for Higher Education Research

“…But, especially international collaborative research needs time for coordination as the implementation of a European graduate survey shows most recently (Meng 2018. One solution avoiding misunderstandings between researchers and policymakers can be seen in detecting different frames of communication within public debates (Savaget & Acero 2018). And last but not least, international research groups will also have to address and reflect seriously the possible unintended consequences of their proposed educational reforms (Krücken 2014;Merton 1936).…”