Introduction: science, technology and society studies - from the European and American north to the Latin American south

摘要

This introduction has two intentions. First, against a broad science, technology, and society (STS) studies background, it provides a brief description of state-of-the-art of STS studies in Ibero-America (that is, Latin America plus Spain and Portugal), as well as a reflection on some difficulties and recent initiatives linked to the promotion of such studies in the region. STS is a product of countries with high levels of economic and technological development, with dual aims of social criticism and deconstruction. Its transfer to peripheral countries raises problems and challenges concerning both education and research. Second, the set of papers that make up this special symposium issue are briefly summarized herein and then related to both the STS Ibero-American context and STS studies themes derived from Europe and the United States.