Issues of science and technology are intertwined with politics, economics, and social issues. It’s not just about what we do with the power of science and technology, it’s about who holds that power and to what ends is it used.
But STS itself is not political. It is simply a field that thinks critically about the inner workings of science, technology, and society. However, its arguments are often used by groups with various political agendas to support their positions.
I’ve noticed, though, that the way this happens doesn’t always align clearly with our ideas of a Left-Right political spectrum. In fact, it turns out that STS can help us understand those politics in new ways.
For those who enter STS from the political Left, traditional science can be seen as being on the Right. Alternative views on science are thus sometimes viewed as feminist, or spiritual, and can thus define themselves as opposing male, colonialist, industrial science and technology. The concern here is that we are moving toward an elitist, capitalist dystopia that will destroy the planet with industry and war.
For those who enter STS from the political Right, traditional science can be seen as a power-grab by those who wish to control society. Alternative views on science are thus sometimes viewed as libertarian or conservative, and can thus define themselves as opposing centralized, oppressive science and technology. The concern here is that we are moving toward a controlling egalitarian dystopia like Brave New World or 1984.
But beyond this the Left-Right analogy breaks down. What about issues of the limits of technology? Is it a left or a right position to be for or against the creation of an artificial intelligence that surpasses humans? How about the right to surgically implant computer chips under one’s skin?
And how about issues of the environment? Is it on the Left or the Right to oppose science and technology (to stop creating problems), or to promote it (to solve problems)? Is it liberal or conservative to eradicate a species of mosquito to help a population of humans?
What about critiques of capitalism’s relationships with science and technology? Would it be on the Left or Right to favor new currencies like Bitcoin or Time Banks? Are the profit motives of pharmaceutical research a concern of the Left or the Right?
Not only do these questions start to fall quickly outside the realm of our Left-Right spectrum, but by asking them we start to see critiques of that spectrum.
Take, for example, cultural diversity. Is encouraging diversity a Left or Right interest? STS might take this from the perspective of homogeneity. In one way, homogeneity of culture is considered conservative, or on the Right. Keep populations separate or segregated, and maintain the homogeneity of culture within those groups — thus preserving cultural diversity, although limiting people. In another way, homogeneity of populations is considered progressive, or on the Left. Bring populations together and eliminate discrimination so that they become one homogenous group — thus benefiting from cultural diversity, although changing it. Increased interaction and intermingling while maintaining discrimination (limiting people to their own group) is not supported by either side, and indeed seems to frequently result in conflict when it extends beyond brief tourism. So, by asking this question we see encouraging diversity is not a single Left-Right issue, but several issues that can be looked at in other ways.
Clearly, many political issues don’t fit into the Left-Right spectrum, and perhaps that’s a primary reason why political systems are currently breaking down in the United States and elsewhere. But it’s helpful to see how the critical thinking of STS can offer us alternative viewpoints. As we deal with conflicts over our economies, our environment, our resources, and our social systems, we should keep in mind that the science and technology we have at hand to address these problems can be used both apolitically and politically, depending on the will of those who control it. STS is in a position to give us perspective on this process. But to get the unbiased information we want, we need to take note of our own politics — and political paradigms — we bring with us.