Actor-Network Theory - Essay Example

ID # Actor Network Theory: Its uses and linkage to Diplomatic Relations Due to the advent of information technology in all the fields of human life, a number of sociologists have studied social aspect of the technology and science. Sociologists have proposed many theories for studying the humans and their complex dealings with the technology. Among these, the common theory which has emphasized on the complexity of these dealings is, “Socio-Technical Systems” perspective (Lee). This perspective postulates that the socio - technical system is such a system where technical aspects within the organization, such as IT softwares, are interconnected with the social aspects, such as conducts, behaviors and interactions of participants. The system’s function is determined by the ways these two aspects form, apt and augment each other (Lee). The Actor Network Theory is derived from the socio-technical perspective (Walsham). The purpose of this essay is to explore the actor network theory, its benefits, and the ways it can be linked to the diplomatic relations. To understand the actor network theory, the relationship between the society and technology aspects can be exemplified. For instance, when a person does something like driving a car or writing some kind of document on a word processor, then there are a number of factors that impact the person how he performs all these tasks. When a person drives a car, his drive is affected by some factors, such as traffic rules and regulations, the cars steering capacities, and the previous driving understanding and capability. Or if a person is writing on the word processor then it is affected by his previous understanding, the word processor’s functionality, and the system capability to support processor etc. These influences are interrelated with each other, as people do not act or perform tasks in a vacuum, but are affected by a number of adjoining factors (Hanseth, Aanestad and Berg). The actor network theory is mainly concerned with these factors and their relationships and influences. Actor network theory, which is also known as “enrollment theory” or “sociology of translation” was developed by Bruno Latour, Michel Callon, and John Law during the mid of 1980s (Latour) (Law) (Callon). Actor network theory is a theoretical framework which explores the communal socio-technical processes. This notion is rooted from the socio-technical perspective, and it advocates that scientific work is basically similar to the other social undertakings. It disapproves the “natural” justification of scientific works, as realists argue and the “cultural” account of scientific work, as social constructionist argue. On the other hand, it proclaims that science is a course of diverse production where the social, theoretical, literal, and technical aspects are perplexed together, or in simple words, they are put side by side, and are translated. It does not make the differences between the science and technology, as Michael defines it, def. “There are no humans in the world. Or rather, humans are fabricated – in language, through discursive formations, in their various liaisons with technological or natural actors, across networks that are heterogeneously comprised of humans and nonhumans who are themselves so comprised. Instead of humans and nonhuman we are beginning to think of flows, movements, arrangements, relations. It is through such dynamics that the human (and the nonhuman) emerges” (Michael 1). The ANT inculcates that how to design the patterns of elements which is known as network and it affects, forms and determines any action. These elements are also associated with other networks and so on (Monteiro 76). There are three basic concepts related to ANT, actor, network, and translation. The actor can be explained as the active agents which are dependent on each other and they have no existence without these linkages, where they translate their determination into the action, and it includes all human and non-human factors. All the actors are involved in aligning their strategies or interests with others and with effective configuration, the actor network is created. And these actors are defined in terms of their connections in a network and within other networks that what they really are and can do (Fountain). The networks are sequences of diverse human and nonhuman factors linked in a way to describe the ways how things are and how relations are arranged. They depend on the people, texts or codes, and machines (Goodman and Watts). Translation is basically the formation of actor-network, which has four steps, problematization, interessmant, enrollment, and mobilization. During problematization, the focal actor determines the interests of others, which are in congruence with its interest, and set its “obligatory passage point” that is such a condition which has to be followed by all actors for interest attainment (Callon). While in second step of translation, the actors try to persuade other actors to be aligned with the focal actor’s interests (interessmant) (Callon). Enrollment is a step where the actors accept the focal actor’s interests while in mobilization, the network is maintained by persuasion. Different actors are involved in diverse processes in the translation, but the focus should be on the focal actor for precision (Sarker, Sarker and Sidorova). Figure 1: ANT Key Concepts and Translation Moment. Image Source: (Hassard, Law and Lee; Latour; M. Callon) The ANT theory is usually criticized that it has only theoretical basis and is not employed in practice, but it is not the case, as Nimmo has presented its methodological implications for the social research, where the complex social structures can be understood (Nimmo). It has many implications in many fields of study, such as sociology, management studies, anthropology, geography, organizational studies, philosophy, and economics (Cressman). Majorly, it can deliver the comprehensive charter for clarifying the complications involved in any phenomenon and recognize possible participant actors, their associations and how and why they are/are not translated into the network. For example, in advanced IT, ANT can be used for comprehending the complex association between humans and technological actors (Atkinson, Eldabi and Paul). Actor network theory is widely used for understanding the social side of technologies. As Haque and Mantode has evidenced that there are a number of ICT steps taken, which were unsuccessful, due to the fact that the social side of technology was ignored and there was more reliance on the information system rather than the information, the system conveys. They argued that it is crucial to examine the system through socio-technical system, thus, they used actor network theory to explore the mediation process and emphasize the complexity in technology based resolutions (Haque and Mantode). This entails that the ANT is useful for the purpose of governance in technology era and the organizational setting, where the strategies are the outcome of these interactions in network (Montenegro and Bulgacov). In addition to this, ANT also pinpoints the leadership implications, as leaders must know their position in the network for identifying and supporting the relationships with others as well as for motivating the actors for any transformation. As Latour and Callon contended that fruitful change needs a shared notion, a surrounding maintained network, and the resolving the clashes by cooperation (B. Latour; M. Callon). Moreover, the application of the ANT has also been studied for many other sectors and fields of study to be informed of all the highlights and complex issues in any network, such as the IT solutions implementation in the healthcare sector (Cresswell, Worth and Sheikh). Overall, it has much implications in implementation of IT solutions in any organization in terms of leadership needed and the comprehension of complex networks involved in the technology based solutions. Actor network theory can also be linked to diplomatic relations, as the international relations are kind of diplomatic relations, and there is much use of digital technology in these relations among nations. This has entailed the implications of ANT in International Relations (Nweke). The diplomacy is a method by which the foreign policy objectives are made and attained, as in this, the main task is to exchange information and negotiation. Using ICT solutions for the purpose of diplomacy objectives is called as e-diplomacy, which undertakes and highlights the ‘electronic’ to be a method to fulfill the country’s national interests in ‘diplomatic relations’. The networks are used to shape these relations in more meaningful ways (Nweke). Actor networks is used to develop thinking about what actually diplomats strive and do. ANT can explain the ways how to develop successful diplomacy, as successful diplomacy needs to draw important actors into a stable relationship, which change the situation by benefiting the originator. Networking is said to be the main function of diplomats. ANT is linked to the diplomatic relations in a way that it argues, altering communication arrangements are vital features shaping the form of diplomatic relations and its organizational procedures and actions. These diplomatic relations are understood by the networks and the theory suggests the ways in which these relations are shaped by changing the communication arrangements, as it has implications in building the networking strategies at national level (Kim). This concluded that act network theory has much of its theoretical and practical implications. Works Cited Atkinson, C.J., et al. "Investigating Integrated Socio-technical Approaches To Health Informatics." Methods of Information in Medicine (2001): 285-293. document. Callon, M. "The Market Test in Actor Network." Law, J. and J. Hassard. Actor-Network Theory and After. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999. Electronic. Callon, Michel. 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Sarker, S., S. Sarker and A. Sidorova. "Understanding business process change failure: An actor-network perspective." Journal of Management Information Systems 23.1 (2006): 51-86. Walsham, G. "Actor-Network Theory and IS Research: Current Status and Future Prospects." Information Systems and Qualitative Research (1997): 466-480. Document. Read More