scholarly journals Editorial: Natur, Gesellschaft, Materialität: aktuelle Herausforderungen der Politischen Ökologie

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sören Becker ◽  
Antje Otto
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Production Of Space ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Dialectical Perspective ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. This editorial introduces different theoretical strands in political ecology both in English and German speaking contexts. Comparing Marxist with more relational and "new materialist" approaches, it is argued that the various theoretical approaches chosen induce different ways of how the relationship between society and nature, between material and culture is conceptualized. The dialectical perspective derived from Marxism is thereby contrasted with the more emergent, and relativist understandings of actor network theory and assemblage thinking. Besides, the six single contributions in this Special Issue are introduced and five areas for further research are laid out: (1) the multiplicity of materiality, (2) the opposition between dialectic and relativist thinking, (3) the tension between elements and entire socio-material configurations, (4) materiality in the production of space and (5) issues of materiality and power.

scholarly journals Techniques of Translating A Watchful Distance by Zhou Guoping in China

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 858
Author(s):  
Min Liu
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Sociocultural Perspective ◽  
Philosophical Literature ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Contemporary Philosopher ◽  
The Relationship

Chinese philosophical literature is rarely introduced to foreign countries (Pohl, 1999, p. 303). Zhou Guoping, as a contemporary philosopher and essayist, has created essays with both depth and readability, and thus his works are deemed to be worthy of translation. This article aims to elaborate on the translator’s techniques for transferring Zhou Guoping’s famous collection of essays A Watchful Distance. Divided into four sections, this article uses actor-network theory as its theoretical framework and analyses the translator’s position in translation activities from sociocultural perspective, gives corresponding translating techniques to problems related to creativity, conventionalised expressions, utterances and Chinese cultural elements in this book, and draws a conclusion upon the relationship between cultural homogeneity and corresponding translating techniques underpinned by actor-network theory. By discussing specific translating techniques used for Zhou’s book, this article fills up the gap in the transfer techniques of A Watchful Distance to overseas cultures. However, the limitation lies in that the number of Zhou’s works studied are restricted.

Understanding the Implementation of IT Governance Arrangements and IT Infrastructure Using Actor Network Theory

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
Hafizah Mohamad Hsbollah ◽  
Alan Simon ◽  
Nick Letch
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
It Governance ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Global Network ◽  
It Infrastructure ◽  
Network Approach ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Governance Arrangements

The implementation of IT governance (ITG) arrangements and its relationship to IT infrastructure has not received much attention in either the ITG or the information systems (IS) literature. Based on the premise that the foundation on which ITG is implemented lies in the interaction between ITG arrangements of structures, processes and relational mechanisms and IT infrastructure, the authors present a discussion of how actor network theory (ANT) can be used as an overarching theoretical framework of explanation. The authors propose a model of ITG implementation and discuss how ANT, in particular the local/global network approach, can be applied to understand the relationship that exists between ITG arrangements and IT infrastructure.

From the Sacred to the Sacred Object

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Sayes ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Social Thought ◽  
Bruno Latour ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Rene Girard ◽  
Michel Serres ◽  
Sacred Object ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

The philosophy of Bruno Latour has given us one of the most important statements on the part played by technology in the ordering of the human collective. Typically presented as a radical departure from mainstream social thought, Latour is not without his intellectual creditors: Michel Serres and, through him, René Girard. By tracing this development, we are led to understand better the relationship of Latour’s work, and Actor-Network Theory more generally, to traditional sociological concerns. By doing so we can also hope to understand better the role that objects play in structuring society.

From coal to cool: Reordering nature in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-163
Author(s):  
Anne Gry Sturød
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Tourism Destination ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Empirical Material ◽  
Rule Out

The article studies the transformation of a Kyrgyz coal-mining village into a tourism destination. By combining political ecology research approaches with concepts borrowed from Actor Network Theory (ANT), I attempt to show how nature-based tourism development contributes to a reordering of nature in certain ways rather than others. Supported by my empirical material, I suggest that this reordering of nature makes certain realities emerge, while others submerge. However, while some orderings of natures appear to be representing reality, it does not necessarily rule out multiple understandings of how nature “ought to look” or be used.

scholarly journals The interface between political ecology and actor-network theories: exploring the reality of waste

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Swatiprava Rath ◽  
Pranaya swain
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
The Political ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Actor Network

<p>Human-environment relationship is a prominent discourse in many academic disciplines. Initial studies in social sciences viewed nature being independent of society but gradually researchers proved that both are related and dependent upon each other. Current studies confirm the association between humans and the environment which changes with time and space. Waste is part of the human environment and is ubiquitous. Climate change, environmental pollution, and vulnerabilities associated with it have been major concerns for policymakers, activists, and academicians across the globe over the past couple of decades. The report of International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2006 delineated waste management as an important part of urban infrastructure having close relation to issues of urban lifestyle, resource consumption pattern, income level, jobs, socio-economic and cultural factors. According to World Bank estimation in 2018, waste generation will increase from 2.01 billion tones in 2016 to 3.40 billion tones in 2050. However, despite its significance in the academic world, the waste remains under-theorized. The meaning and value of waste vary from person to person and also from culture to culture. Rapid urbanization and globalization have led to the social, economic and political crisis with an increased amount of waste. The multidimensional nature of waste creates the need for interpreting it in a distinct way. With the help of theoretical pluralism, this paper aims at explaining the concept of waste through the theoretical lens of political ecology and actor-network theory. The political ecology perspective aims at explaining the environmental issues by analyzing the political-economical causes and provides the alternative for solving the issue. The actor-network theory explains the environmental issues by studying the association among actors at various scales with a special focus on the power interest of the actors as the cause of such association. These two approaches can be integrated based on the pragmatic approach and can help in understanding the complex reality of waste. The paper views that societal problems like waste can be studied with the use of both these theories with a firm hold on the context as they tend to transcend the dualism between nature and society. </p>

Mediated Action and Network of Actors

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 21-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Díaz Andrade ◽  
Samuel Ekundayo
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Mediated Action ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Analytical Tools ◽  
Sociology Of Technology

Both actor-network theory and activity theory call attention to the coexistence of people and technology. Although both theories provide analytical tools to understand the nature of the reciprocal action-shaping of humans and nonhumans, each puts emphasis on different conceptual elements of human activity. In this paper, the authors examine both activity theory and actor-network theory and present their similarities and differences, limitations, and complementarities. Using the theoretical lenses of both theories, the authors trace the evolution of an ordinary artifact to illustrate how researchers on the sociology of technology and innovations can benefit from these parallel theoretical approaches.

scholarly journals Ekologia polityczna powietrza: o uwidzialnianiu miejskiego ryzyka

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-53
Author(s):  
Iwona Bojadżijewa
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Material Objects ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Urban Risk

In this text the author attempts to reconstruct contemporary disputes about air quality in Poland using the language of actor-network theory (ANT). The purpose is to show the process of making urban risk visible—in this instance, the risk of polluted air—through the development of hybrid alliances and the formulation of translations aimed at the final elimination of air pollution. The article consists of three parts and a theoretical introduction in which the author discusses the basic tools and concepts of ANT, as well as Latour’s programme of political ecology. In the first part, the author sketches the map of actors and actants involved in air-pollution discussions. Then she examines the role of things—material objects—in air pollution conflicts, with special emphasis on the agency of these non-human actants. Finally, she focuses on alternative translations, which are attempts to negotiate smog’s place in the hierarchy of the collective.

Mediated Action and Network of Actors

2013 ◽  
pp. 193-206
Author(s):  
Antonio Díaz Andrade ◽  
Samuel Ekundayo
Keyword(s):  
Activity Theory ◽  
Human Activity ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Actor Network ◽  
Mediated Action ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Analytical Tools ◽  
Sociology Of Technology

Both actor-network theory and activity theory call attention to the coexistence of people and technology. Although both theories provide analytical tools to understand the nature of the reciprocal action-shaping of humans and nonhumans, each puts emphasis on different conceptual elements of human activity. In this paper, the authors examine both activity theory and actor-network theory and present their similarities and differences, limitations, and complementarities. Using the theoretical lenses of both theories, the authors trace the evolution of an ordinary artifact to illustrate how researchers on the sociology of technology and innovations can benefit from these parallel theoretical approaches.

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