Responsibility through Anticipation? The ‘Future Talk’ and the Quest for Plausibility in the Governance of Emerging Technologies

In anticipatory governance (AG) and responsible innovation (RI), anticipation is a key theoretical and practical dimension for promoting a more responsible governance of new and emerging sciences and technologies. Yet, anticipation has been subjected to a range of criticisms, such that many now see it as unnecessary for AG and RI. According to Alfred Nordmann, practices engaging with ‘the future’, when performed under certain conditions, may reify the future, diminish our ability to see what is happening, and/or reproduce the illusion of control over the future. Several authors have stressed that these critiques fail to capture the heterogeneous character of anticipatory practices, and yet research on the question of what particular kind of socio-epistemic engagements with ‘the future’ AG and RI aim to enact through anticipation remains fragmentary and their underlying rationale under-theorised. This article aims to advance the theoretical characterisation and problematisation of anticipation as key interventive tools for AG and RI. By distinguishing between four modes of anticipation and heuristically testing them against Nordmann’s critiques, the article argues that despite his assessment failing to recognise the heterogeneity of anticipatory practices considered valuable for AG and RI, it reinforces the relevance of performing certain modes of anticipatory exercises, namely critical-hermeneutic ones. Thus, anticipation continues to be a necessary heuristic dimension for AG and RI. More concretely, the article maintains that such anticipatory heuristics may find their radical constructive and critical-reflective character in the dynamics of inclusive scrutiny and negotiation about the (im)plausibility and (un)desirability of the envisioned or (co-)created futures.

Sustainable Infrastructure 4.0 - Value Chain Integration through Federated Digital Platforms

Twenty-first century infrastructure needs to respond to changing demographics, becoming climate neutral, resilient, and economically affordable, while remaining a driver for development and shared prosperity. However, the infrastructure sector remains one of the least innovative and digitalized, plagued by delays, cost overruns, and benefit shortfalls [1-4]. The root cause is the prevailing fragmentation of the infrastructure value chain [5]. To support overcoming the shortcomings, an integration of the value chain is needed. This could be achieved through a use-cased-based creation of federated digital platforms applied to infrastructure projects. Such digital platforms enable full-lifecycle participation and responsible governance guided by a shared infrastructure vision.

The Importance of Full Constitutional Complaint as the Eff ective Mechanism for Restoring Human Rights in Constitutional Justice

The report is related to pointing out the advantages of full constitutional complaint and its peculiarities and characteristics. The model of full constitutional complaint contributes to the principle of responsible governance and relevant authorities. Among other advantages, full constitutional complaint is the important instrument that contributes to make courts’ best practices come together and share the experience. Establishing of the full constitutional complaint will contribute in order to increase human rights sensitivity and human rights approach in general courts system while discussing and deciding individual court cases. Besides, the full individual constitutional complaint mechanism will contribute to provoking interest towards Constitutional Court justice.

Responsible Governance of Biosecurity in Armenia

This chapter analyses a case study of responsible governance of dual use life sciences and biosecurity in Armenia. It is based on materials presented during a Responsible Research and Innovation Course in Armenia, held on 17–19 May 2019. The course was organised as part of the ISTC Targeted Initiative (TI) on CBRN Export Control and Dual Use in Central Asia. The focus of the case study is on ethical aspects and how collective responsibility for biosecurity can be organised, in order to prevent innovation from undermining international law prohibiting hostile uses of life sciences.

From a Colonial Chaplaincy to Responsible Governance: The Anglican Church of Australia and Its Ecclesiological Challenge

Habits and institutions gradually emerged in earliest Christianity. They were soon enrolled in the Roman empire and subsequently into various forms of Christendom. The English Christendom lasted many centuries and in the period of empire planted the Anglican Church in Australia. This Christendom model was fractured decisively in New South Wales in the first half of the nineteenth century. The recent Royal Commission into abuse in institutions has brought to light serious abuse in the Church and associated it with a form of clericalism. The Commission identifies this issue but does not offer any analysis of its character or causes, which has the effect of diminishing the contribution that the Commission might have made to addressing the problem. A preliminary attempt is offered in this article.