Governance, knowledge and Participation

Recommended Prerequisites

Fluency in written and oral English.

Knowledge of techniques and styles of academic writing.

Teaching Methods

This seminar rests upon the presentation and discussion of the state of the art and of a number of selected case studies within the three aforementioned areas. Every session starts with a short presentation by the lecturer of a case-study, followed by an open discussion by the students. At the beginning of each session, a student is designated to take notes and prepare a summing up and commentary on the session, to be presented in the following session. Bibliographical materials are distributed in advance. Evaluation includes a written essay.

Learning Outcomes

The main objective of this course is to promote the development of knowledge and skills related to 1) the forms of appropriating scientific knowledge and technologies of governing contemporary societies, in light of current debates on democracy and citizenship; 2) dominant and emergent biopolitical and technopolitical configurations; 3) modes of constitution of publics and participation in problematic or controversial situations, including those involving science, technology, health and environmental issues; 4) responses to situations characterized by risk and vulnerability.

Students should be able to identify and critically analyze the theoretical approaches in this field of study, as well as varied case studies which will allow them to be familiar with experiences and contributions from the Global North and South. Our purpose is to promote dialogue between diverse approaches and cases. 

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The course offers an extended introduction to the main theoretical trends, lines of research and debates concerning the following themes:

-The relationship between knowledge, technologies and governance, and the role of scientific knowledge and expertise;

- The plurality of forms and configurations of knowledge; conflicts, controversies and the construction of public knowledge;

- Public participation: how to include and construct the plurality of knowledges and actors;

- Citizen participation and deliberation.

These themes will be elaborated drawing on cases from the following key areas: health, emerging biosciences and biotechnologies and the environment.    

Head Lecturer(s)

João Carlos Freitas Arriscado Nunes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Essay (70%); attendance/active participation in seminars (30%) : 100.0%

Bibliography

Blondiaux, L.; e Sintomer, Y. (2002), “L’imperatif déliberatif”, Politix, Vol. 15, n. 57,pp 17-35.

Callon, M. et alii (2009). Acting in an Uncertain World: An Essay on Technical Democracy. MIT Press,

Da Costa, B.; Philip, K. (orgs.) Tactical Biopolitics: Art, Activism, and Technoscience. MIT Press.

Dowty, R.A.; Allen, B.L. (orgs.) (2011) Dynamics of Disaster: Lessons on Risk, Response and Recovery. Routledge.

Fung, A.; Wright, E. O. (2001), “Deepening Democracy: Innovations in Empowered Participatory Governance”, Politics Society 2001, 29, 5, pp. 5-41.

Mitchell, T. (2002) Rule of Experts: Egypt, Techno-Politics, Modernity Univ. of California Press.

Nowotny, H. et alii (2001) Re-Thinking Science: Knowledge and the Public in an Age o Uncertainty. Polity Press.

Pateman, C. (2012), “Participatory Democracy Revisited”, Perspectives on Politics, 10, 1, 7-19.

Santos, B.(2004, org.) Semear outras soluções: Os caminhos da biodiversidade e dos conhecimentos rivais. Afrontamento.