Notes on:  Callon, M. The Sociology of an Actor – Network: The Case of the Electric Vehicle. In Callon, M, Law, J and Rip, A. (1986). Mapping the Dynamics of Science and Technology. Sociology of Science in the Real World. London: The Macmillan Press Ltd. Dave Harris How do laboratories actually produce knowledge, make discoveries and then diffuse them, or develop technical devices which go on to conquer markets. It is not that there is a specific scientific method which is decisive, nor is there a greater rigour or logic in successful developments — scientific controversies revealed that other factors are involved, apart from intellectual ones. Scientific controversies are 'impure and heterogeneous' (19 and we have to look at 'interests, strategies, and power relationships which do not stop at the laboratory door' (20). Yet they have influence and this has been not explained satisfactory. It's not enough to look at supporting political interests, or even resources that researchers have been able to gather [including the study by Latour and Woolgar 1979]. Nor is economic demand sufficient. The social and economic contexts are themselves transformed and reconstructed.: 'Laboratories simultaneously rebuild and link the social and natural contexts upon which they act'. This can best be understood through the concepts of 'actor – world, translation and the actor – network'. Actor world Science and technology constantly undermines sociological conceptions of the world by introducing unpredictability and new associations. Sometimes they can construct a world. This might be seen with the development of the electric vehicle (VE L). Plans were first produced in 1973 [by theEDF , the responsible body in France] promoting the precise characteristics of the vehicle and 'the social universe in which the vehicle would function' (21). The EDF began with a history of post-industrial consumers and new social movements and the prediction of new and radical demands for the future, involving the replacement of the internal combustion engine as a symbol of an industrial civilisation that was no past. It was responsible for air pollution and noise, although it was linked to a consumer society and cars became linked to status. Electric cars would make the car more commonplace, decreases performance and make it 'a simple useful object' making it more available, and less an item of social distinction. New kinds of batteries would be required. Public transport would be electrified first and then private transport. Particular manufacturers would be asked to develop the motor and the batteries, including traditional carmakers. The government would produce suitable regulations and offer subsidies. So far all is familiar, although new actors on the scene are 'accumulators fuel cells and electrodes electrons catalysts and electrolytes' (22), who are all required to play their part. This lease the suggestion there is a whole 'actor – world'. EDF's apart and a prime mover, but there are no favourites. Even existing carmakers are reduced in influence in the new venture and so are social groups who have invested in prestige cars. New ingredients are the electrons, the new consumers who reject the old symbolism and are willing to adopt electric transport, including public transport, those who are willing to impose regulations that noise pollution, accumulators who are about to have their performance improved. They do not exist in the hierarchy and 'in the absence of one ingredient, the whole would break down' (23). Scientific, economic and political factors interact throughout. Translation This was how to represent and understand this new actor world, and how to estimate this reality. No-one knows at first. Actors might actually resist their assigned place (especially powerful car production companies). What is needed is translation. There are three components: Translator-spokesman. each social organisation has to translate requirements and objects, companies, fuel cells and consumers, attributing identity interests roles and projects. There is translation rather than fixed roles and enrolment based on some understood reality and the might be options and choices. Translators can be spokesman for the entities, speaking in the name of Renault, for example. Callan claims that expression of interests and thoughts and desires can be seen with social entities but also with 'the other elements that constitute an actor world… Accumulators… Cells… Electrons' (25), for example by demonstrating technical improvements and their potential. There might be resistance and different definitions, for example when Renault argues against electric vehicle and doubts the possibility of high-performance electric engines, basing its counter-attack on recently acquired 'electrochemical expertise' and new contacts with the administration. Electrification was restricted to public transport, and some groups refuse to participate [nonhumans can't do this surely?]. Translation as 'a geography of obligatory points of passage'. Some elements can make themselves indispensable by obliging other elements to consent, using methods that include 'seduction to pure violence by way of simple bargaining' (26). 'Problematisation' is an important strategy: EDF posed a problem of pollution and then saw electric vehicles as a solution, which raised further problems about equipping the vehicle with suitable batteries, which then led to problems of research into hydrogen catalysis and so on, a whole passage through necessary points. Laboratories are able to place themselves at strategic points. Translation as displacement. The imposition of itineraries brings movement and inevitable displacement. Reports memoranda and documents are produced, and acted upon and reacted to. They need to be circulated via meetings and study sessions. Materials and money are involved. Centres of translation are required with their own forms of communication and aggregation to focus these displacements. If successful, roles are created and options restricted. In these ways translations solidify actor world's and soon black box them, constructing a 'seemingly natural order' (28). We can now see how society and technical objects relate together simultaneously. Actor – world's can be more or less 'extended heterogeneous and complex'. The concept of actor – network explain the dynamics and internal structure. First the complexity of actor worlds involve necessary translation and simplification, focus on, in this case, transport systems. For practical purposes, complexities can be excluded, black boxes constructed. Instability means 'a swarm of new actors'(29), Third World countries that raise the price of precious metals, for example. Each entity therefore is itself enclosed in a set of other entities, and this is usually exposed by controversy or trial of strength, often met with attempts to re-stabilise. These activities involve the construction of networks. The categories that joint networks are not just sociological ones, although these are important and – exchange, power and domination especially, but often all at once and some that do not apply at all, especially the ones between nonhumans. The point is to make events predictable and stable. Networks reinforce each other, when one party is attacked, otherwise they remain as 'a mass of silent others' providing strength and credibility. Indeed, transformation might be affected by testing the strength or resistance of particular networks — is it better to change the expectations of users, or the structure of Renault? We'll change be brought from outside, with the connection of the VE L network to other transport networks like those of rail or air. Translation is crucial to describe the actual mechanism of construction, and it also shows contingency. It handles complexity as well because it includes elements that are both human and nonhuman and the heterogeneous ways in which they are combined. Outcomes are unpredictable because translations are continuous and contested, and not just apply logical rules or scientific methods. Particular aspects of networks become important in order to form relationships in black boxes [but the others remain latent].