We explain what technocracy is, how it originated and what its philosophy is. In addition, we explain its general characteristics, uses and examples.
Technocracy proposed applying the steps described in the scientific method.
What is Technocracy?
The term technocracy literally means “government of technology”which translates into the attempt to apply government methodologies to politics that are governed by empirical and experimental data, rather than ideological considerations.
Those who pursue this goal are considered “technocrats” and usually belong to scientific or technological sectors of knowledge.
Initially, this term described the doctrine that proposed applying the steps described in the scientific methodon which the exact sciences are based, to the field of solving social problems, instead of economic, political and philosophical approaches to the subject.
Today, the term is also used to describe the tendency towards political administration apparently devoid of the influence of social groups (oligarchy), attached rather to the disciplines and specific expertise of specialized knowledgeand at the same time the tendency that rejects the political consideration of non-quantifiable and measurable variables.
See also: Functionalism.
Origin of the term Technocracy
The word technocracy comes from the Greek words tekhné (technique, art) and krátos (power, mastery)and was used in the 1930s to describe the growing influence in society of technical production specialists (such as physicists, chemists, and engineers) who were in charge of the industrial segments of society.
In this way, it was thought that if the dynamics of production of consumer goods could be controlled, the political dynamics of industrial society could also be governed.
Background of technocracy
Comte proposed replacing the exercise of politics with that of technology.
The philosophical origins of technocracy date back to the 19th century, in particular to the essays of the French philosopher Claude-Henri Rouvroythe Count of Saint Simon, who expounded in his treatise on the Reorganization of European Society (1814), the thesis that if the sciences, whatever their field of interest, were nothing more than a set of problems awaiting solution or phenomena waiting to be observed, then the scientific method on which they were based could be applied to the field of politics and serve to resolve man’s social problems.
Thus, Rouvroy proposed replacing the government of men with “the administration of things”and in that exact principle the spirit of technocracy is defined.
A second precedent to highlight was the thought of the philosopher Auguste Comtewho, based on his observation of industrial society as a consequence of a historical human evolution, proposed replacing the exercise of politics with that of technology, since those who could manage the production process would also manage the entire industrial society.
Technocratic Philosophy
For the technocratic mentality, truth and rationality are synonymous.
Technocratic philosophy is heir to the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, especially positivism that He placed his faith in human reason and scientific progress as sources of future well-being of humanity and resolution of all social problems.
This proved to be fallacious, since New inventions brought with them new complicationsbut at the same time new solutions for old problems.
For the technocratic mindset Truth and rationality are practically synonymousso that all those irrational or subjective aspects of the human being are relegated in their considerations about society.
Distrust in the individual
One of the principles common to all technocratic doctrine is distrust of the individual, corruptible and susceptible to manipulationincompetence or emotionality, betting rather on theory and the empire of knowledge.
The technocratic dream is to ensure that political functioning responds to the laws of what is required as machines or scientific processes do, that is, in a controlled and predictable manner.
Technocratic neoliberalism
The University of Chicago is a leading center of technocrats.
Neoliberal technocracy or technocratic neoliberalism was the name given to the political-economic aspect that promulgated the resurgence of liberalism in the late twentieth centurysupported by theoretical concepts and a university class specialized in administration and economic theories.
A prominent center of technocrats of the 70s was The University of Chicago and its “Chicago Boys”a group of advisors who participated in the economic measures of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Technocracy in the 21st century
In a world as determined by technology as that of the 21st century, technocratic thinking is a part of common political philosophies.
This trend It usually displaces political powerinstead of advising it, and replacing it with decision models resulting from theoretical calculations and speculations, granting power to the sectors that exercise the greatest control over scientific or technological development, which are usually large transnational corporations.
The future technocracy
Science fiction dystopias explore how science ends up controlling man.
Many dream (terrifyingly or happily) of a future world in which the exercise of politics is not necessarythus freeing us from its vices (and virtues), since it will have been replaced by life management models supported by future technologies. Many science fiction dystopias explore this possibility: that science ends up controlling man and not the other way around.
Objections to technocratic thinking
While technocratic thinking It can be seductive because of its emphasis on effectiveness and planning.many sectors criticize the moral, ethical and humanistic consequences of replacing these values of political practice, focusing on calculations and forecasts to achieve specific objectives. This may well create models incompatible with civilized life, despite meeting scientific standards of demand.
Uses of the term technocracy
Technocracy can refer to a government that has lost touch with social reality.
Today the term “technocracy” is used as a synonym for those models of government in which the specialized theoretical conception of society predominates over social considerations, or those that They focus their interest on quantifiable development and tangible thereof.
It is also used with a derogatory consideration to refer to Government models that have lost touch with social realitywhich remain in specialized theories and scientific models.
Examples of Technocracy
Full technocracy has never been applied, so There are no examples as such of a 100% technocratic government model.but technocratic tendencies can be pointed out within capitalist democracies (cases of Mexico or Ecuador during certain stages of the 20th century) or even non-democratic models such as the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, whose economic precepts were dictated by American specialists in economic matters (technocrats).