14: Intersectionality and inclusion and exclusion in/by STI policies: Experiences from the Global South (Hemant Kumar, Swapnil Shukla)
Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) have undeniably emerged as key catalysts for economic and social progress. However, the generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge still lack inclusivity. This becomes further apparent when one directs their attention towards the STI sector in the countries of the Global South (GS). Given the challenges of low per capita income, high unemployment rates, and limited scientific and technological infrastructure, GS is now unable to allocate sufficient resources towards the establishment of a strong and inclusive STI sector. Unsurprisingly, the nature of the economy in this part of the world is largely informal. Although crucial in creating opportunities for the marginalized sections spanning gender, disability, economic status, caste, race, class etc., the informal sector is vulnerable to exploitation, explaining the wide social and cultural chasms observed in the GS. This anomaly may be countered by the formal STI sectors, by granting the requisite agency to the disadvantaged groups i.e. increased participation in STI workforce both at horizontal and vertical levels. The primary step towards including people from socially and culturally marginalised backgrounds in the mainstream STI sector is their assessment through the creation of reliable and pertinent indicators to develop a robust Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP). These indicators must take into account the intersectional nature of GS which pertains to the complex ways in which the social identities may overlap leading to the compounding experiences of discrimination and concurrent forms of oppression. Consequently, it becomes important to structure these indicators around inclusion and equity for any STI program to truly flourish. India's STIP (Draft policy 2020), which places a lot of focus on mainstreaming inclusion and equity within the STI ecosystem, could serve as an example of this. Further, mammoth resources, manpower and diversity of GS represented by key emerging economies is shifting the world order, where countries like India, Indonesia, and Brazil are leading the world through platforms such as the G20 summit. Thus, the relations between largely developed Global North (GN) and rapidly upcoming GS hold a potential to become symbiotic, enriching the STI sector with diverse ideas and approaches. Hence, a policy driven approach shaped by the intersectional nature of GS is of direct consequence to the development of “better worlds”. Furthermore, unequal access, capabilities and usage of technologies have transformed scientific knowledge into a power instrument. Recognizing this fact, it has become imperative to restore the said “power balance” by appropriate policy making and implementation, thereby providing the proverbial “justice”. Key points to be deliberated upon:
1. Situating marginalized groups in STIP formulation
2. Discriminating factors in STIP formulation viz. gender, disability, race, caste, religion, region, language etc. and their intersectionality
3. application and methods of intersectionality in STIP
4. How can positive discrimination make inclusive policies in STI?
5. Past, present and future indicators for STIP in achieving a better world.
Keywords: intersectionality, indicators, science, technology and innovation policy, Global South