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This paper focuses on the relationships between innovation and democracy at city level.Focusing on the case of San Francisco, it discusses a particular way of imagining the city in theterms of permanent innovation. In the city of permanent innovation, individual urban problemsare to be solved by a permanent supply of technological solutions. Imagining the city in thoseterms has political implications, pertaining to the representation of social groups and publicconcerns on the one hand, to the public interventions deemed legitimate on the other hand.We contend that the democratic ordering at play in the city of permanent innovation is basedon the permanent reconstruction of social identities, and on local experimental interventions. InSan Francisco, these forms of urban action are controversial. Proponents of interest-baseddemocratic politics and anti-eviction activists voice counter-propositions for the definition ofurban democracy. By contrast, these counter-propositions help us characterize the politicalproject of the city of permanent innovation, which we label real-time democracy.

An examination of nanotechnology as a lens through which to study contemporary democracy in both theory and practice. In Democratic Experiments, Brice Laurent discusses the challenges that emerging technologies create for democracy today. He focuses on nanotechnology and its attendant problems, proposing nanotechnology as a lens through which to understand contemporary democracy in both theory and practice. Arguing that democracy is at stake where nanotechnology is defined as a problem, Laurent examines the sites where nanotechnology is discussed and debated by scientists, policymakers, and citizens. It is at these sites where the joint production of nanotechnology and the democratic order can be observed. Focusing on the United States, France, and Europe, and various international organizations, Laurent analyzes representations of nanotechnology in science museums, collective discussions in participatory settings, the making of categories such as “nanomaterials” or responsible innovation” in standardization and regulatory arenas, and initiatives undertaken by social movements. He contrasts American debates, in which the concern for public objectivity is central, with the French “state experiment,” the European goal of harmonization, and the international concern with a global market. In France, public debate proceeded in response to public protest and encountered a radical critique of technological development; the United States experimented with an innovative approach to technology assessment. The European regulatory approach results in lengthy debates over political integration; the United States relies on the adversarial functioning of federal agencies. Because nanotechnology is a domain where concerns over anticipation and participation are pervasive, Laurent argues, nanotechnology—and science and technology studies more generally—provides a relevant focus for a renewed analysis of democracy. The open access edition of this book was made possible by generous funding from Knowledge Unlatched.

The dissertation analyzes nanotechnology as a macro political entity comprising objects, futures, concerns and publics, and examines sites where it is problematized. Focusing on operations defining public problems and ways of dealing with them, the analysis of the problematizations of nanotechnology is a path for the description of both the assemblage of nanotechnology and the enactement of democratic order. The study of the problematization of nanotechnology is conducted through the description of experiments and demonstrations involving technologies of democracy, using fieldwork in France, the United States, and international organizations. The dissertation considers successively some operations of replication and stabilization of expert-based technologies of democracy; processes using technologies of democracy to define "nano" objects and "responsible" nanotechnology futures; and examples of social and scholarly engagement in the critique of technologies of democracy. Thereby, processes of representation of, public management of, and social mobilization about nanotechnology are examined. Different problematizations of nanotechnology can then be reconstructed. The dissertation discusses four of them, and uses the empirical work in order to propose a realist critique of nanotechnology.; La thèse analyse les nanotechnologies comme une entité politique macro comprenant des objets, des futurs, des motifs d'inquiétude et des publics, et examine des sites où cette entité est problématisée. En se penchant sur les opérations définissant les problèmes publics et les façons de les traiter, l'analyse des problématisations des nanotechnologies permet de décrire à la fois l'assemblage des nanotechnologies et la construction de l'ordre démocratique. L'étude des problématisations des nanotechnologies est menée via la description d'expériences et de démonstrations impliquant des technologies de démocratie, sur la base d'enquêtes de terrain menées en France, aux États-Unis et dans des organisations internationales. La thèse considère successivement des opérations de réplication et de stabilisation de technologies de démocratie, des processus utilisant des technologies de démocratie pour la définition d'objets " nano " et de futurs " responsables ", et des exemples d'engagement de mouvements sociaux et du chercheur lui-même dans la critique des technologies de démocratie. Ceci permet d'étudier des exemples concernant la représentation des nanotechnologies, leur administration, et la mobilisation sociale à leur égard. Différentes problématisations peuvent alors être reconstruites. La thèse s'intéresse à quatre d'entre elles, et s'appuie sur le travail empirique pour proposer une critique réaliste des nanotechnologies.

The dissertation analyzes nanotechnology as a macro political entity comprising objects, futures, concerns and publics, and examines sites where it is problematized. Focusing on operations defining public problems and ways of dealing with them, the analysis of the problematizations of nanotechnology is a path for the description of both the assemblage of nanotechnology and the enactement of democratic order. The study of the problematization of nanotechnology is conducted through the description of experiments and demonstrations involving technologies of democracy, using fieldwork in France, the United States, and international organizations. The dissertation considers successively some operations of replication and stabilization of expert-based technologies of democracy; processes using technologies of democracy to define "nano" objects and "responsible" nanotechnology futures; and examples of social and scholarly engagement in the critique of technologies of democracy. Thereby, processes of representation of, public management of, and social mobilization about nanotechnology are examined. Different problematizations of nanotechnology can then be reconstructed. The dissertation discusses four of them, and uses the empirical work in order to propose a realist critique of nanotechnology.; La thèse analyse les nanotechnologies comme une entité politique macro comprenant des objets, des futurs, des motifs d'inquiétude et des publics, et examine des sites où cette entité est problématisée. En se penchant sur les opérations définissant les problèmes publics et les façons de les traiter, l'analyse des problématisations des nanotechnologies permet de décrire à la fois l'assemblage des nanotechnologies et la construction de l'ordre démocratique. L'étude des problématisations des nanotechnologies est menée via la description d'expériences et de démonstrations impliquant des technologies de démocratie, sur la base d'enquêtes de terrain menées en France, aux États-Unis et dans des organisations internationales. La thèse considère successivement des opérations de réplication et de stabilisation de technologies de démocratie, des processus utilisant des technologies de démocratie pour la définition d'objets " nano " et de futurs " responsables ", et des exemples d'engagement de mouvements sociaux et du chercheur lui-même dans la critique des technologies de démocratie. Ceci permet d'étudier des exemples concernant la représentation des nanotechnologies, leur administration, et la mobilisation sociale à leur égard. Différentes problématisations peuvent alors être reconstruites. La thèse s'intéresse à quatre d'entre elles, et s'appuie sur le travail empirique pour proposer une critique réaliste des nanotechnologies.

http://www.csi.ensmp.fr/Items/WorkingPapers/Download/DLWP.php?wp=WP_CSI_018.pdf; Describes two examples (in France and in the US) of replication of the Danish procedure of the consensus conference for public participation in nanotechnology, and argues that emphasis on the evaluation of the participatory procedure should not be made at the expense of richer analysis of the problematisation of public participation fostered by such policy instruments.

http://www.csi.ensmp.fr/Items/WorkingPapers/Download/DLWP.php?wp=WP_CSI_011.pdf; Presents a case study on public participation in controversies on nanotechnologies in France, and proposes an analytical typology.