Boundary objects and societal conflicts over technologies and the environment

Boundary objects have become a central conceptual point of reference for studying border-transgressing interactions between diverse, but intersecting social worlds in highly differentiated modern societies. With regard to their three components – interpretive flexibility, the structure of informatic and work process needs and arrangements, and, the dynamic between ill-structured and more tailored uses of the objects (Star 2010), boundary objects can be conceived of as means for societal integration and – as will be explored in this panel - conflict.

On one hand they may serve as "crystallization seeds" for relating arguments, discourses and practices from different societal spheres and sectors. As such they may create a sphere of engagement, a discursive space and argumentative repertoires that bear a potential for reflexivity and societal change. On the other hand, boundary objects may also create spheres of conflict. As societal conflicts emerge around cleavages, borders and differences, boundary objects may play a crucial role for understanding the structure and dynamics of conflicts. Furthermore, the creation of boundary objects could be a promising strategy for coping with societal conflicts in a reflexive, integrative and transformative manner. However, there are also critical perspectives that suggest analytical and empirical limits of boundary concepts. In practical respects, boundary objects bear the potential of social exclusion and stabilizing conflicts. And in analytical respects they might block out important aspects and functions of conflicts.

The proposed panel strives to shed more light on the relationship between societal conflicts and boundary objects from an interpretive perspective. More specifically, the panel will address a number of empirical and theoretical questions about the role of boundary objects in (the study of) societal conflicts around technological and environmental issues. Questions are, for example: what roles do boundary objects perform in societal conflicts around environmental and technological issues? When do boundary objects emerge in these conflicts? Under what conditions do boundary objects trigger productive and/or destructive conflict dynamics? In what respects, under what conditions and with what effects can conflicts themselves become boundary objects?

We invite proposals for empirical and theoretical papers that contribute to the critical understanding of the role of boundary objects in environmental and technological conflicts as well as the potentials and limitations of boundary objects as an analytical tool to interpret these conflicts.

More theoretical papers are also welcome: how can we conceptualize "boundary object" to interpret societal conflicts around environmental and/or technological issues – for example in the study of discourses, discourse coalitions and framing practices? What are the analytical potentials and limitations of the concept? What are the theoretical and methodological implications of conflict analyses that build on the notion of boundary objects?

The IPA Conference will only accept full panel proposals which means that we will need to include four or eight abstracts of papers in this proposal. We invite you to submit an abstract of no more than 300 words before the 15th of January. This will give us time to prepare a full proposal. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Reference: Star, Susan Leigh (2010) "This is Not a Boundary Object: Reflections on the Origin of a Concept", Science Technology Human Values 35: 601