In modern societies technologies are the basis for economic welfare. They shape the everyday life of human beings. In most cases, technologies are invented, implemented and applied in an unquestioned way. However, the experience of severe technical accidents, environmental catastrophes, and failed projects has led to a loss of the general confidence in the function and services of technological systems. 

What we observe today is a paradox attitude regarding technology. On the one hand, technology has become a vital part of societal infrastructures and is very much embedded and accepted into the individual practices of our everyday life. On the other hand, public resistance arises against technological developments in general or against large technical infrastructure projects in particular. The lack of confidence is related to the governance of technological systems, be it the invention, the implementation, the usage, or the regulation. It seems to be that a general distrust in institutions and in the respective processes of decision making has become a powerful global pattern in all parts of the world, which leads to a variety of strategies in coping with the paradox experience with technology: from attempts to avoid technologies via evolving ways of participation to open conflicts in the form of protest.

Session in English

Session organisers:

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Germany
Email: scherz@kit.edu