Memo+41+Draft+Overview

TITLE: Pirates, Politics and Science: Knowledge Construction during the Golden Age

ABSTRACT Aims: To point out how “Western science” contains a significant amount of information that is non-western and that was generated by lay individuals, many of home came from overlooked social groups. Furthermore, to demonstrate the ways in deviant groups are not truly “deviant” and their exploitation by state powers.

Methods: Archival analysis

Expected Results: During the period of colonial development non-normative social groups existing on the fringes of contemporary society were able to make significant contributions to science and technology, which have been over looked with the passing of time. Furthermore, individuals from marginalized social groups were able to become a powerful economic force as a result of access and appropriation of technology. Furthermore, deviant groups – such as pirates – were not really as deviant as their contemporaries made them out to be.

Expected significance and circulation: Will demonstrate the influence and impact that non-normative social groups are able to have on science and technology and as a result of science and technology. Will circulate primairly among historians (of sts, colonial and circum-Atlantic history) and among anthropologists and policy studies individuals studying indigenous knowledge.

OVERVIEW What the study aims to accomplish: To point out how “Western science” contains a significant amount of information that is non-western and that was generated by lay individuals, many of home came from overlooked social groups. Furthermore, to demonstrate the ways in deviant groups are not truly “deviant” and their exploitation by state powers.

How the study will accomplish these aims and why the proposed research is the best approach: Archival analysis is the only way in which to conduct this historical study. A comparative study will flesh out any areas that have been left bare in the archival record.

Where you will obtain data: Various archives in England, the United State and the Caribbean that carry records of correspondence between merchants and ship captains, as well as government records and newspaper records.

Why the study is important: Piracy is a popular subject in mainstream media and film as well as in pop history. However, there are many facets of this community that have been overlooked. In additional to exploring a new dimension in trans-Atlantic history, this project also makes a considerable contribution to science and technology studies and the sociology of knowledge. Likewise, while we have acknowledge the role of indigenous knowledge in colonialism to some degree – after all, what American elementary school child doesn't know the story of the first Thanksgiving and the three sisters - discussion of indigenous contributions to Western science is largely colloquial. This project addresses the knowledge gap in the construction of Western science. It acknowledges that some of the roots of institutionalized science lie within the activities of social groups who are generally credited with making little to no beneficial contributions to society. This case study can be used to provide additional support to discussions of lay contributions to scientific knowledge; it also makes a significant contribution to the study of experts/expertise and how expertise relates to Western science practices. Perhaps one of the largest contributions that this study provides is an analysis of the ways in which technology can shape and alter lives.

Who will carry the study out, with what expertise and preparation: I will carry out the study, providing a novel perspective with my STS background, which greatly diverges from the typical historical study. My interdisciplinary background will allow me to take on this unique study, with its many distinct and overlapping components to offer a unique analysis.

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE State of the phenomena: There is still a considerable disconnect between the practice and construction of science. Likewise, the development and appropriation of indigenous knowledge has become a recent hot topic.

State of the social and cultural studies literature on the phenomena: Topically there have been many publications on piracy, however most of them are pop culture and not academic. Theoretically the field of colonial history and postcolonial studies are rich, but no one has approached the issue with the same, or similar, case studies. Likewise, this literature will contribute to the emerging field of indigenous knowledge and politics as exemplified by Vandana Shiva's Biopiracy.

PREPARATION AND WORK THUS FAR Record and expertise of researcher: Several publications and referred conference talks. Excellent classroom performance, both as an instructor and student. Excellent recommendations and years of research experience, including contemporary policy studies.

Preliminary findings: Considerable – however many of them have not been confirmed or published in academic journals and are in need of verification. Included are: evidence of a cordial relationship and knowledge exchange between buccaneers and indigenous people in central America, documented evidence that maps and charts created by a known buccaneer were used by the British government for their accuracy until fairly recently, suggested evidence that buccaneers made significant modifications to ships in remote locations with few tools.

Pilot studies: None

METHODOLOGY AND PLAN OF WORK Conceptual framework: I will approach the above questions from a postcolonial standpoint by analyzing the role of a marginalized colonial class. In addition my investigation will be guided by the sociology of knowledge as well as work in the social construction of technological systems (SCOT). Primarily Pickering, Turbull, Harding and Knorr-Cetina. Most likely inclusion of Shiva as well.

Research questions: 1.Who participated in the production of colonial/Western science? 2.Who contributed to the rise of interest in colonial science? 3.How did individuals or social groups from outside of the hegemonic power create scientific or technical knowledge? 4.What types of knowledge did these individuals/social groups produce? 5.What information produced by criminals or indigenous persons was appropriated by Western science and how did this appropriation occur? 6.How has this appropriated knowledge impacted the development of colonial and contemporary science and society?

Site justification: Based off of the best preserved and most relevant collections of correspondence and records. As the subjects I am studying are primarily of British, French and Spanish nationality, the state archives of those nations will be my main focus.

Study components: Literature review, archival analysis, discourse mapping and analysis

Schedule of activities: literary review, archival research, archival research, discourse mapping and analysis, analysis of current policy and science practice in relation to archival material, dissertation writing

Evaluation and validity: use only documented material, making sure that the source is credible. Ideally facts would be cross checked and referenced.

Research ethics: Share work with colleagues in several fields – mainly STS and circum-Atlantic history in order to ensure accuracy.

DISSEMENATION Conference presentations: IASTS, 4S, AAA, Atlantic World Conference, Social Science History Association

Publications: Dissertation, book, articles in journals and a history channel special. I plan on using an international marking campaign which involves the distribution of antique class bottles with promotional fliers in them, that will then be dropped off into the Hudson bay.

Cross-expertise dialogue: Discussions with circum-Atlantic history, colonial history, cultural anthropology (and perhaps material anthropology), selling me idea of a pirate theme park to Disney World

Policy work: Perhaps influencing the ways in which science is conducted as far as including lay people and non-scientists person, influencing the ways in which indigenous knowledge is used or appropriated.