Science and technology in society : from biotechnology to the internet

This thoughtful and engaging text challenges the widely held notion of science as somehow outside of society, and the idea that technology proceeds automatically down a singular and inevitable path. Through specific case studies involving contemporary debates, this book shows that science and technology are fundamentally part of society and are shaped by it. It draws on concepts from political sociology, organizational analysis, and contemporary social theory. It avoids dense theoretical debate. It includes case studies and concluding chapter summaries for students and scholars.