Sciences and the State: a critical note on some theoretical propositions

The profusion of theories within science and technological studies sometimes makes it hard to find lines of direction or stable points of support. The question of the relations between scientific practices and the state affords an opportunity to appraise the differences between theoretical corpi. The present article explores three recent theoretical propositions. In the name of a neoliberal ideological foundation, the new production of knowledge has eliminated the notion of State from its conceptual horizon. Actor-network theory, suspending the structures instituted within the chain of actors, ignores the state-form. Lastly, regime of knowledge theory accords the state a special role as a source in managing the production of knowledge.

sciences; state; liberalism; actor-network; regimes