Description:
Over the past several years, the politicization of science and technology—that is, the subordination of scientific and technological development to political judgment and interests—by neo-conservatives in the United States has emerged as a high-profile and contentious issue. On issues including destabilization of scientific consensus on climate change, the assertion of “Intelligent Design” as a scientific theory in competition with evolution, and the moral and ethical implications of contraceptive, reproductive and genetic technologies, the American Right, including the Bush administration, has been very active in bringing its influence to bear on crucial legislative, funding and regulatory decisions pertaining to science and technology. Their tactics have included dismantling the apparatus of disinterested scientific advice to legislators; suppressing and distorting independently-generated scientific results; systematic discrediting of research by “unfriendly” scientists and organizations; prejudicial appointments to scientific advisory, funding and regulatory agencies; and exaggerating or manufacturing scientific debate where there really is none; and promoting and mobilizing so-called “fringe” or “pseudo” science where it suits political purposes.
This Media@McGill funded project monitors and tracks the anticipated migration of the politicization of science and technology into Canada, as neo-conservatives settle in for what appears to be an extended stay in government at the federal level. In previous work, Darin Barney had investigated the implications of the Right’s politicization of technology for a critical theory and politics of technology, produced a typology of strains of neo-conservative politicization on these issues, and also documented preliminary indications of Canadian neo-conservatives’ interest in this area.
The current project, which funds provided here would seed, enables to establish an apparatus by which ongoing politicization of science and technology by Canadian neo-conservatives can be tracked as it occurs over the next few years. Supported by a strategic research grant from the Beaverbrook Fund for Media@McGill.
