Politics and technology in the works of Lewis Mumford

Abstract

Relations and interactions between politics and technology is one of the central themes in the works of Lewis Mumford. Although sometimes presented in a not very systematical manner, Mumfords findings and standpoints had a big impact on formulating modern approaches to social study of technology (including research of technology in political science). This article aims to identify and systematize most important segments of Mumfords views on politics and technology: city as (political) community, status, functions, and significance of utopias, difference between authoritarian and democratic techniques, concept of mega machine as well as notion of socio-technical complex, and also to point out the influence of these views on modern research of the problem.

Odnos između politike i tehnologije jedna je od centralnih tema u opusu Luisa Mamforda. Iako u nekim segmentima izloženi na nedovoljno sistematičan način, Mamfordovi stavovi izvršili su veliki uticaj na formiranje savremenih pristupa proučavanju tehnologije sa aspekta društvenih, pa i političkih nauka. Cilj ovog članka je da identifikuje i sistematizuje najvažnije segmente Mamfordovog viđenja ovog problema: grad kao političku zajednicu, status, funkciju i značaj utopije, razliku između autoritarne i demokratske tehnike, koncept mega mašine i zamisao socio-tehničkog kompleksa, kao i da ukaže na njihov uticaj na današnja proučavanja odnosa između politike i tehnologije.