Technology and World Politics: An Introduction

by Daniel Mccarthy (Editor)

This edited volume provides a convenient entry point to the cutting-edge field of the international politics of technology, in an interesting and informative manner. Technology and World Politics introduces its readers to different approaches to technology in global politics through a survey of emerging fusions of Science and Technology Studies and International Relations. The theoretical approaches to the subject include the Social Construction of Technology, Actor-Network Theory, the Critical Theory of Technology, and New Materialist and Posthumanist approaches. Considering how such theoretical approaches can be used to analyse concrete political issues such as the politics of nuclear weapons, Internet governance, shipping containers, the revolution in military affairs, space technologies, and the geopolitics of the Anthropocene, the volume stresses the socially constructed and inherently political nature of technological objects. Providing the theoretical background to approach the politics of technology in a sophisticated manner alongside a glossary and guide to further reading for newcomers, this volume is a vital resource for both students and scholars focusing on politics and international relations.

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 2016

Reviews

[Ryan Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Technology and World Politics

Book 17 of 2023.

This one was an instant draw from the title alone. But using The Simpsons to debunk the Instrumentalist view of technology hooked me. Overall, this looks through different tools for studying the role of Science and Tech in International Relations. Further hooking me, the book deals with fields that are closely aligned with so much that I’ve worked on in my career (Internet Governance and Space-based communications) that I know several of the authors cited throughout the book.

The first section is dense, academic, imposing and theoretical. But the second half, “illustrations” shows applications of the IR theories to explain historical events and contexts.

The chapter on “Nuclear Technoaesthetics” focuses on the powerful impressions of nuclear tests on the physical bodies of the nuclear researchers; a New-Materialist way of explaining why we sought to “beautify” the bomb- first by bringing tests underground and then by not testing anymore at all.

The chapter “Extra-Terrestrial Technopolitics” uses Critical Theory of Technology to look at questions of Equitable Access to space resources. To what extent is it possible to “democratize space,” especially in the context of satellite imagery and the avoidance of space debris in a crowded LEO space. This is pretty useful laid up against Bowen’s “Original Sin,” which covers similar ground.