افاق للعلوم
Volume 10, Numéro 4, Pages 377-389
2025-09-21
Technology As A Social Actor And Its Impact On The Formation Of Power In Contemporary Societies
Authors : Alaoui Samia .
Abstract
This article analyzes the central role of technology as a social actor in transforming power dynamics within contemporary societies. Moving beyond the traditional instrumental view, technology is understood as an active agent capable of influencing and reshaping social, political, and economic relations. Through Bruno Latour’s Actor-Network Theory, technology is recognized as a structuring element within social networks, participating in the distribution and recomposition of forms of power. The rise of digital platforms, the massive use of data, and artificial intelligence profoundly alter the centralization and delegation of decision-making, giving rise to hybrid and often asymmetrical forms of power. The social consequences are manifold, involving mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion, as well as the creation of new hierarchies. Moreover, these transformations pose major ethical and political challenges, particularly regarding regulation, responsibility, and digital sovereignty. Finally, the article emphasizes the need for democratic governance of technologies to ensure that their development serves the collective interest, protects fundamental rights, and promotes a fairer and more inclusive society.
Keywords
Social technology, Distributed power, Digital platforms
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