Why We Need a Political Technology Assessment

Abstract

This paper's central argument is that the frameworks of Responsible Innovation (RI) and Technology Assessment (TA) are rooted in an antiquated political and geopolitical paradigm, necessitating a conceptual overhaul. This argument is supported by two primary reasons. First, RI and TA are not neutral towards technological innovation; instead, they inherently align with a specific political and geopolitical model—the liberal world order (LWO). This model is currently experiencing significant challenges and crisis. We explore this through a literature review of RI and TA in Section 1 and a subsequent political and geopolitical analysis in Section 2. The second reason, as highlighted in Section 3, is that the very essence of our technologies has dramatically transformed over the past twenty years. We now live in a world dominated by intricate global engineering systems that are not only political but also geopolitical in nature. These systems, being transnational, influence the decisions and interactions of nations. The current LWO framework struggles to grasp and manage these influential global systems effectively. Section 4 builds on the findings from Sections 2 and 3, presenting a reinterpreted version of Rodrik’s trilemma. This reformulation is designed to consolidate and expand upon the insights gained in the preceding sections. Section 5 revisits the issues identified earlier in the paper, emphasizing the urgency to revamp both TA and RI, particularly in light of the unique challenges posed by the Anthropocene era. As we embark on this reassessment, the invaluable insights that philosophical reflection brings to the table should not be underestimated.