Normativity in technology assessment

Introduction to the special topic

Abstract

Neutrality has long been considered a key prerequisite of technology assessment (TA). The need to stay neutral often obscured the importance of normative aspects of TA – be it in the findings or in normative settings in the TA process. The special topic addresses normativity in TA at three levels: (1) regarding TA’s role as policy advisor, (2) in the context of the research process, and (3) with respect to its “normative core”. The problem of normativity in TA gains significance in the light of recent authoritarian tendencies also in Western democracies.