Actor-Network Theory, Bruno Latour, and Ecological Sociology

[rab90]

I've been researching graduate schools and am having trouble finding a sociology program, in the United States anyway, with a professor familiar with Latour's works. I'm interested in ecological sociology, i.e. interactions between society and wilderness; culture and nature (not that I like any of those dualisms!). So, that's why ANT comes to mind. Are there any sociology graduate programs that you feel might fulfill my interests (even if they aren't ANT related)? I'm willing to look at anthropology and interdisciplinary programs as well.

Thanks,

rab

[kbirch]

Have you looked at Michigan State at all? I don't know specifics, but they are big on environmental sociology. Also, I would try California, Oregon, and Washington schools, because they're generally environment-focused. Hope you find what you're looking for!

[socspice]

That might be a good reason to start exploring other theories!

But check into Hoffman at Buffalo, Perrin at UNC, Rojas at Indiana, Lizardo at Notre Dame (also Weigert, who looks at interaction with nature). I think Latour is most popular with the science studies crowd, so explore them too.

Edited January 29, 2012 by socspice

[tt503]

William Cronon at Madison comes immediately to mind. I also second the STS programs (Cornell's is very good and seems to draw on ANT a lot in the class I took).

[bodywithoutorgans]

Check out Jane Bennett at Hopkins. Writes about interactions with nature through engagements with Thoreau and about Latour's actant stuff with regard to nature in her "Vital Materialisms".

[rising_star]

Take a look at geography programs if you're looking into anthro and STS.

[bodywithoutorgans]

Check out Jane Bennett at Hopkins. Writes about interactions with nature through engagements with Thoreau and about Latour's actant stuff with regard to nature in her "Vital Materialisms".

Sorry-her book is "Vibrant Matter," not "Vital Materialisms". And she is in the Polt. Science Dept...

Edited January 30, 2012 by bodywithoutorgans

[borealis]

Latour himself is associated to Harvard's history of science department. But I would not necessarily limit myself to the ANT approach for understanding ecological sociology...

[rab90]

borealis, I agree. I wouldn't limit myself to such an approach. I don't have a problem with environmental sociology, per se. I think it puts out a lot of useful and interesting ideas. However, as it is currently established in academia, it doesn't typically look at the interactions between nature/culture and society/wilderness -- ANT has the ability to do so. I understand that within sociology this idea of non-humans influencing society is pretty controversial, especially within strong constructionist camps (an argument that I find fruitful most of the time). However, I'm not searching for a program with a strong emphasis in ANT, per se. ANT was the only model that came to my mind that would be: (1) available in academia; (2) would allow me to explore what I'm interested in. I guess I could always devise my own theoretical model haha, but, really... if you have any suggestions that aren't necessarily ANT-related I would be love to hear about them!

bodywithoutorgans, Bennett's "Vibrant Matter" is one of my recent favorites. I haven't put too much thought into political science, but I'll have to check John Hopkins out.

[jonathanmc]

Unfortunately, I think that University of Oregon would be a bad place to carry out any study of Latour. Judging by what I've seen via syllabi and publications from the faculty, the department is VERY Marxist, which isn't so great for anyone looking to do anything with ANT. I have been reading John Bellamy Foster's book Marx's Ecology recently, and while I haven't finished it, I think it opens up a backdoor to a Marxism which mirrors that of ANT. But yes, from what I've seen, most of the ANTs out there focus on science and technology studies or finance (Callon, for example). If anyone knows about any environmental sociology/anthropology/etc. programs in the US or Canada that has ANTs working there, please post it.