Specialization: Sociality and Materiality at a National Level

Description
This specialization focuses on studies of national European histories, engaging science and technology studies in a dialogue with broader historiographical theories of nationalism and historical sociology. STS ideas of social constructivism, ANT, reflexivity, boundary objects, trading zones and of intellectual appropriation of technology will be deployed in an attempt to bridge the gap from their inherently micro-level of description to the meso- and macro-level of history and political theory.
Our experience of similar projects in the case of Greece – through the study of its infrastructure evolution, the specific character of scientific establishments and curricula, the function of engineers, the relationship between the military and leading politicians– suggests that new light can be thrown on old questions and that totally new questions may arise. This list can easily be extended to cover topics such as the built environment, social measuring processes, natural history and archaeology – that is, to cover a series of components of the material and symbolic construction of a state. The above studies (neglected till recently, at least in the Greek case) can contribute to the determination of the specificity of the evolution of several social and national formations in a more substantial way than general schemes of development, and can bring a new understanding to the broad notion of modernity.
Comparative studies with relevant research projects on other European nations are beneficial in many ways and will be welcomed.

Core Literature
- W.Bijker, T.Hughes, T.Pinch eds, The social construction of technological systems, MIT 1987.
- W.Bijker, J.Law eds, Shaping Technology /Building Society , MIT 1992.
- M.Callon, B.Latour, 'Unscrewing the Big Leviathan', in K.Knorr-Cetina, A.C.Ciroucel (eds.) Advances in Social theory and Methodology, Routledge 1981.
- St. Woolgar, "The turn to technology in social studies of science," Science Technology and Human Values,16,1991, p. 20-50.
- R Mayntz, T.Hughes eds, The Development of Large Technical Systems, Campus Verlag 1988.
- M.Hard, A. Jamison eds, The intellectual appropriation of technology, MIT 1998.
- M. Thad Allen, G.Hecht eds, Technologies of Power, MIT 2001,
- Th. Misa, Ph.Brey, A Feenberg eds, Modernity and Technology, MIT 2003.
- M. Hard, A. Jamison, Hubris and Hybrids. A Cultural history of Technology and Science, Routledge 2005.
- P. Carroll, Science, Culture and Modern State Formation, California UP, 2006.
- E. Gellner, Nations and Nationalism, Blackwell, 1983.
- L Greenfeld, Nationalism: Five roads to modernity, Harvard UP 1992.
- G Delanty, E Isin eds, Handbook of Historical Sociology, Sage 2003.

Language of Instruction
English

Minimum and Maximum Number of Students
1-5

Thesis Topics Samples
- Infrastructure development at a national context since late 18th century in areas such as: roads construction, railway systems, energy production, telecommunications, prisons, statistical services, military armaments,
- Industrialization paths,
- Formation of engineering at a national level,
- Ideological appropriation of technology at a national level

Schedule of Introductory Course
8 three-hour meetings at the beginning of ESST's second semester.

Specialization Coordinator
Michalis Assimakopoulos, massim@central.ntua.gr

Lists of Possible Thesis Tutors
Michalis Assimakopoulos
Associate Professor of Historical Studies of Science
National Technical University Athens

Aristotle Tympas
Associate Professor
Philosophy and History of Science Department
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
tympas@phs.uoa.gr (www.phs.uoa.gr/hst)
Research Interests: History of Info/Bio Technology, Info/Bio Technology Policy

Web Link
ESST at the Graduate Program in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (GPHPST), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and National Technical University
www.hpst.phs.uoa.gr