The author comments on several articles on East Asian science, technology and society (STS) published within the issue. One case study applied Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's notion of assemblages to the HIV harm reduction policy of Taiwan, which is said to reveal the complex nature of East Asian STS. Another article aims to demonstrate the perceived existence of some recognizable features of East Asian STS.
HARM reduction, SCIENCE & society, TECHNOLOGY & society, SOCIAL network theory
Abstract
How do we make sense of East Asian STS studies? This article traces the debates on this theme in earlier issues of East Asian Science, Technology and Society and analyzes the different perspectives displayed. The author addresses the so-called East Asian distinction by proposing a theoretical approach based on Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's notion of assemblages, which differs significantly from Latourian actor network theory. The concept's analytic advantages are illustrated by a case study of Taiwan's campaign to stem HIV transmission among injection drug users. It is hoped that the assemblage approach may enrich the scholarly repertoire of theory and encourage more studies that address the intricate relations among science, politics, culture, and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]