Discussions about technological sovereignty: Analyzing conceptual differences and justification strategies

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the study of conceptual differences in the interpretation of the concept — “technological sovereignty”. In recent years, many states have proclaimed the achievement of technological sovereignty as a strategic priority and one of the goals of long-term development. At the same time, in the scientific literature on this topic, in the presence of review publications and case studies, there is a lack of analysis of conceptual differences. In strategic documents, state concepts and public discourse, the articulation of the concept of “sovereignty” in the technological sphere varies from a variant close to autarky in meaning to a policy of maintaining a competitive environment and diversifying foreign suppliers of critical technologies. As a methodological basis for the study, we chose the concept of problematics developed within the framework of the French tradition of historical epistemology (J. Martin, L. Althusser, D. Lecourt). Its toolkit makes it possible to explicate the internal structure and interconnection of concepts within the framework of individual interpretations and the logic of justification strategies in public policy. On the example of the European Union, a new interpretation of sovereignty as an agency was demonstrated, in addition, its connection with the postulates of German ordoliberalism was investigated. The cases of Brazil and India represent two different models for justifying the policy of technological sovereignty in the context of understanding center-periphery relations in the global economy and postcolonialism.