Imagining Technology-Mediated Social Change? A Critique of the Theory of Sociotechnical Imaginaries

The theory of sociotechnical imaginaries (STIs) has become one of the leading theories or paradigms in the social sciences for analysing technological change and the resulting societal transformations. Promising a non-deterministic, agency-centred account of technologically mediated societal change, this perspective has gained traction across multiple fields, from Science and Technology Studies to energy research to science communication. This paper develops a theoretical critique of the theory of STIs and assesses the extent to which it represents a realistic account of technological change in contemporary societies. It will be demonstrated that the theory of STIs neither provides new and relevant insights into the ‘social embeddedness’ of technology, nor offers a compelling account of its own object of study, namely, sociotechnical imaginaries. It will also be shown that this perspective suffers from several conceptual and methodological shortcomings, resulting in ambivalent and inconsistent perspectives, as well as empirical analyses marked by confirmation bias. Finally, consideration will be given to how the theory’s own premises deprive it of any political potential in relation to the collective control of technology and technological change.