Performing Technocapitalism
Bielefeld: Hans Böckler Stiftung transcript (2024), 298 pp.
Contains bibliogr. pp. 263-298
Series: Social and Cultural Geography, 21
ISBN 978-3-8394-6707-7 (pdf); 978-3-8376-6707-3 (print)
CC BY
"In Kenya, technology entrepreneurs and makers have to employ their work and emotions in order to re-script their peripheral positionalities within technocapitalism and make Kenya a place for technology development. Based on ethnographic research in makerspaces and co-working spaces in Nairobi, Alev Coban argues that postcolonial technology entrepreneurship is neoliberal and inherently political work. Technology developers, narratives, prototypes, and digital fabrication tools unite to achieve ambiguous Kenyan futures of technocapitalist market integration and decolonial emancipation in order to foster national well-being and disentangle Kenya from exploitative global structures." (Publisher description)
1 Introduction: The Postcolonial Making of Technology, 13
2 The Politics of Postcolonial Technology Entrepreneurship, 47
PART I
Storytelling: Affective Promises and Performances about Technology, 77
3 The Normativity of Kenya's Tech Story, 89
4 Tangible Tech Stories – The Embodied Performances of Visitor Tours, 113
5 Writing Media Stories – The Socio-Technical Care Work of Storytelling, 129
6 Marketing Poverty – The Conservatism of Social Impact Technologies, 139
Part I Conclusion: Technocapitalism – An Affective Economy of Promises and Performances, 169
PART II
Making: The Careful and Calculative Manufacturing of Professional Products, 177
7 Hustle – The Making of Technologies in Kenya, 189
8 Love – The Careful Making of Technologies, 201
9 Fear – The Calculative Making of Technologies, 219
10 Resisting – Incalculable and Unloved Working Conditions, 235
Part II Conclusion: Technocapitalism's Responsibilization to Calculate and Care (for Liberating Products), 245
11 Conclusion: Performing Technocapitalism, 249
2 The Politics of Postcolonial Technology Entrepreneurship, 47
PART I
Storytelling: Affective Promises and Performances about Technology, 77
3 The Normativity of Kenya's Tech Story, 89
4 Tangible Tech Stories – The Embodied Performances of Visitor Tours, 113
5 Writing Media Stories – The Socio-Technical Care Work of Storytelling, 129
6 Marketing Poverty – The Conservatism of Social Impact Technologies, 139
Part I Conclusion: Technocapitalism – An Affective Economy of Promises and Performances, 169
PART II
Making: The Careful and Calculative Manufacturing of Professional Products, 177
7 Hustle – The Making of Technologies in Kenya, 189
8 Love – The Careful Making of Technologies, 201
9 Fear – The Calculative Making of Technologies, 219
10 Resisting – Incalculable and Unloved Working Conditions, 235
Part II Conclusion: Technocapitalism's Responsibilization to Calculate and Care (for Liberating Products), 245
11 Conclusion: Performing Technocapitalism, 249
