Equipe > chercheurs > Michel Callon

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CALLON M., 1986, «Some Elements For A Sociology of Translation : Domestication of theScallops and the Fishermen of St-Brieuc Bay», in LAW J. (ed.), Power, Action and Belief : a New Sociology of Knowledge?, London, Sociological Review Monograph: Routledge and Kegan Paul, p.196-223. Texte publié en français : CALLON M., 1986, «Éléments pour une sociologie de la traduction : la domestication des coquilles St-Jacques et des marins pêcheurs dans la baie de St. Brieuc», L’Année Sociologique, numéro spécial La sociologie des Sciences et des Techniques, 36, p.169-208.
This paper outlines a new approach to the study of power, that of the sociology of translation. Starting from three principles, those of agnosticism (impartiality between actors engaged in controversy), generalised symmetry (the commitment to explain conflicting viewpoints in the same terms) and free association (the abandonment of all a priori distinctions between the natural and the social), the paper describes a scientific and economic controversy about the causes for the decline in the population of scallops in St. Brieuc Bay and the attempts by three marine biologists to develop a conservation strategy for that population. Four ‘moments’ of translation are discerned in the attempts by these researchers to impose themselves and their definition of the situation on others: (a) problematisation: the researchers sought to become indispensable to other actors in the drama by defining the nature and the problems of the latter and then suggesting that these would be resolved if the actors negotiated the ‘obligatory passage point’ of the researchers’ programme of investigation; (b) interessement: a series of processes by which the researchers sought to lock the other actors into the roles that had been proposed for them in that programme; (c) enrolment: a set of strategies in which the researchers sought to define and interrelate the various roles they had allocated to others; (d) mobilisation: a set of methods used by the researchers to ensure that supposed spokesmen for various relevant collectivities were properly able to represent those collectivities and not betrayed by the latter. In conclusion it is noted that translation is a process, never a completed accomplishment, and it may (as in the empirical case considered) fail.

CALLON M., LATOUR B., (ed.), 1985, Les scientifiques et leurs alliés, Paris, Pandore, 255 p.
A partir de cas empruntes a la physique (Frankel et Pickering), a l'astronomie (Pannekoek), a la genetique (Brannigan) et la statistique (MacKenzie) et grâce a une longue recension de la litterature anglaise et americaine (Strapin), certaines sciences sont offertes ici avec toutes les alliances qui les rendent possibles et interessantes.

CALLON M., COURTIAL J., TURNER W., BAUIN S., 1983, «From Translation to Problematic Networks : an Introduction to Co-word Analysis», Social Science Information, (22), p.191-235.
Empirical studies of the sociology of science have called into question the distinction between internal & external influences on the development of science. An alternative basis for the distinction is sought through the concept of translation. The function of the language of scientific writings is not only to convey information, but also to convince the reader that interest in its subject is appropriate. The analysis by John Law of a specific scientific article ("Enrolement et contre-enrolement: les luttes pour la publication d'un article scientifique," see abstract, this section) illustrates this process. The definition of a problem involves linking together words that represent previously existing networks of interest into a common reality that unites these networks. The coword analysis methodology generates models of these networks, which are illustrated for a sample of 172 articles indexed by 1 of 3 key words in a datafile. The identification of problematic networks through this method also identifies key actors in the formation of networks. A concept of internal/external can exist for any specific network without being defined for the sciences as a whole.

CALLON M., LATOUR B., (ed.), 1982, La science telle qu’elle se fait. Une anthologie de la sociologie des sciences de langue anglaise, Paris, Pandore.
Autour de la sociologie des connaissances scientifiques, cet ouvrage rassemble quelques unes des études publiées en langue anglaise au cours des quinze dernières années et a pour but de présenter des faits scientifiques analyses en detail par des sociologues et des historiens qui n'établissent a priori aucune frontière infranchissable entre les facteurs sociaux et cognitifs. En suivant les controverses, les conflits d'interprétation, les doutes, les coups de force, on assiste à l'élaboration de connaissances et on se convainc progressivement que pour apprécier la science faite, il faut étudier la science en train de se faire.

CALLON M., LAW J., 1982, «On Interests and their Transformation : Enrolment and Counter-Enrolment», Social Studies of Science, 12 (4), p.615-625.
A way of treating interests which differs from those of both Woolgar and Barnes is here recommended. This third `enrolment' or `networking' theory approach notes that actors attempt to enlist one another in a variety of different ways, including the transformation of imputed interests. Some of the strategies adopted in this process are considered. Overall, it is suggested that interests should not be imputed to actors as background causes of action, but rather that they should be seen as attempts to define and enforce contingent forms of social order on the part of actors themselves.

CALLON M., 1980, «The State and Technical Innovation: a Case Study of the Electrical Vehicle in France», Research Policy, 9, p.358-376.
Certain innovations have the following characteristics: (a) considerable variety in the technological options that are available, and close links between technical choices and sociopolitical choices; (b) considerable diversity in points of view put forward by the numerous social groups involved; (c) an initial lack of determination of the market demand, which is built up at the same time as the equipment designed to meet it. These innovations lead to the emergence of new political actors who, by fighting to impose their technical choices are inevitably led to define the needs to be satisfied, the forms of social organisation to promote, and the action to be undertaken. Confronted by these actors, the state is powerless. It rarely has sufficient expertise to transform technical controversies into policy debate; it is undermined by internal divisions that prevent it from showing any coherent political will; it is trapped into deals that lead it to defend the most powerful groups. These are the convclusions that emerge from an analysis of different interventions of the French State to promote the electric vehicle. The study brings out the different strategies of the groups involved. It gives no special privilege to the role of the Government administration, and stresses the logical thread of the historical development of the project.

CALLON M., 1979, «L’État face à l’innovation technique. Le cas du véhicule électrique», Revue française de science politique, XXIX (3), p.426-447.
L’histoire des recherches entreprises autour du projet de véhicule électrique montre que l’Etat est comme impuissant devant les enjeux et les intérêts qui s’affrontent cette occasion. Incapable de décoder les controverses techniques pour faire apparaître les enjeux politiques qu’elles expriment et dissimulent, l’Etat n’est pas plus en mesure d’exprimer techniquement des orientations politiques. Quant aux acteurs qui produisent cette politisation de la technique, ils se situent en dehors du système politique traditionnel, occupent le terrain, imposent leurs formes de raisonnement, leurs critères d’évaluation et leur formulation des problèmes. Ils annexent Etat, tendant à lui dénier toute spécificité et ne voyant en lui qu’un ensemble de ressources particulières. Face à une innovation comme le VEL, l’Etat est politiquement velléitaire parce que techniquement dominé.

CALLON M., 1977, «Breaking down the organization; local conflicts and social systems of action», Social Science Information, XVI (2), p.147-177.
The approach proposed here to the study of the relationship between organizations & society is related to those used by Marx & Weber who, by different methods, related organizational structures to forms of social domination. Analysis of a research center & the different "logics of action" of the groups constituting it show many systems of action in conflict or in coalition. The meaning & the societal stakes of these systems are clarified. Studied is how scientific activity is related to the actions of a ruling class & tends to constitute a system of social domination whose stakes are the orientations of industrial development & the conditions of accumulation.

CALLON M., 1976, «Organisation locale et enjeux sociétaux», Sociologie du Travail, (3), p.233-255.
The approach proposed to the interactions between organizations & society resides with those of Marx & Weber, who, in different ways, related structures of organization & forms of social domination. In order to determine the meaning & social stakes of various logics of action within institutions, a research center & its component groups were studied. These groups display many systems of action, of both a conflictual & consensual nature. The result of the analysis is a view of scientific activity as impinging itself on the action of a ruling class & tending to form a system of social domination, the stakes of which are the trends of industrial development & the conditions of accumulation.

CALLON M., 1974, «Les firmes multinationales: un théâtre d'ombres», Sociologie du Travail, (2), p.113-140.
Discussed are the various scholarly opinions, including those of R. Vernon ("The Location of Economic Activity," Roneo 1972, 35, Sep) & of J. K. Galbraith, on multinational corporations (MNC's); MNC's are in apposition to nations. They have mainly been American, typified by political finance used to gain access to local resources, & centralized, highly technical organizations. Arguments are presented on whether the US MNC's or a coalition of MNC's dominate; whether the US domination is weakening; how the US government & MNC's interact. MNC's operate outside the national boundaries of the present. They have led to homogenized products made by monopolistic, oligarchical groups that emphasize organization over innovation. They are expressions of a new economic stage, technological capitalism, typified by neodiversification where both demand & competition are controlled, at least until local entrepreneurs & other corporations break the initial monopoly; in this case the mother country may become an importer. The relation between strategy & structure is discussed as are the importance of internal planning & the power of the combination of economic goods & scientific knowledge. New economic principles are coming into play. The MNC's certainly confront essential problems, but in the interests of the Uc. Sociologists should not participate in the polemical debates they have generated except to put them into perspective.

CALLON M., 1972, «Les modes de détermination de la politique de recherche d’une entreprise; rapports entre science et économie», Sociologie du Travail, (1), p.35-70.
The relationships which exist between res policy & the general policy of the enterprise are studied. Res policy is first considered as a partial policy of the enterprise, as a production of inventions, which deals with diff types of sci's, & as a segment of the general policy of the enterprise, with specific forms of relations between production & demand, specific forms of concurrence & of relationships between the general policy of the enterprise & the partial objectives of res. An analysis of the modalities of the determination of the res policy of a multinat'l metal enterprise is presented. The position of the specific enterprise within the metal industry is presented, & the mode of manag of res in the enterprise (admin'ive for one branch since 1967, pol'al for another branch since 1969, & professional with the creation of a fundamental res dept in 1969), & the mode of determination of innovations (by the "market" or by "technique") are analyzed. It is concluded that the several forms of relations between production & demand, the plurality of the forms of concurrence are the bases of the pol'al choices offered to the enterprise; a partial policy is part of a global policy, but is also influenced by specific determinations. A number of general propositions are advanced & the problem of generalization of the results of the method which was applied is evoked.

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