Gobernanza, ciencia, tecnología y política: trayectoria y evolución

Abstract

The concept of governance has gained momentum in the political arena, both in the academic realm and in the daily management. The concept sees its origin in the North-American political science school and public administration. Europe has imported the concept as a means to develop new strategies for the management of the relationships between public and private affairs as well as between government and society. The concept is complex both in its foundations and instruments and very likely aims to bridge the social protection system with the strong liberalism. The introduction of the concept within the science and technology domain has been pushed by the European dynamics. The European policies have driven its integration into the social discourse, essentially through a follower attitude, lacking any analytical reflection and deep analysis of its meaning and consequences. In this context, the concept seems to be tightly linked to a systemic and complex vision of the management of science and technology that has to be confronted to the existence of a series of levels. It seems pertinent to delve into the relationship of the concept of governance with other fundamental aspects of the scientific and technological issues as being demanded by the principles inspired in the «reflexive modernization » idea: risk, precaution, uncertainty, sustainability, innovation linked to the intervention of users and consumers.