Ontohegemonical Objects, Infrastructure of Hegemony and Stabilisation of Desired Future

• In Event: Future of Politics and Politics of the Future - I

Abstract

The aim of the presentation will be to "rewrite" and draw together the two traditions: actor-network theory and theory of hegemony (Gramsci, Laclau, Mouffe). Therefore, my proposal is a radicalisation of the Third Wave of STS (Collins/Evans). In such STS 4.0 approach politics is an active shaping of the condition of possibilities of both technoscience and democracy for the stabilisation of desired future.
I would like to show that we stabilize desired future by creating and installing onto-hegemonical objects. Those are a ontological and material objects and simultaneously a nodal points for discourses to mobilize and networks hubs which stabilize given reality. In ANT these nodal points can be associate with concepts like “obligatory passage point”, “punctualisation” or “blackboxing”. In theory of hegemony , we can describe these nodal points as a “empty and floating signifiers”. In both approaches a stabilizing of reality is a crucial, it has both: ontological and political dimension. The key to this stabilization is the existence of nodal points around which the assemblage can be focused. Those are potent to achieve hegemony, who are able to establish robust and flexible ontohegemonical networks which combined new and previously installed political objects and set conditions for the future to come.
In conclusion I would like to ask what ontohegemonic objects we should install, how we can do it, and will we be able to monitor it?

Author

• Andrzej Wojciech Nowak, Philosophy Institute Adam Mickiewicz University