Following its mobilisation by practitioners, the notion of social acceptability has been sparking... more Following its mobilisation by practitioners, the notion of social acceptability has been sparking interest and causing embarrassment among social scientists. This article contributes to the recent effort to clarify and question this notion, taking a national programme of sociotechnical experimentation dedicated to smart grids in Japan as a case study. Although four “Smart Communities” have been designated, the peculiarity of this programme is the fact that the Japanese state is the initiator and supervisor of the experimentation. The latter is part of the state and private sector led strategy for producing the social acceptability of smart grids and their related products, equipments and services. This article analyses the concrete policy tools implemented, with a specific focus on the knowledge they are based upon. Smart Communities mobilise results from research in behavioural sciences (social psychology, behavioural economics) and marketing techniques in order to ensure the passive and active acceptance of users. The implementation of socio-technical experimentation allows for a hybrid way of producing social acceptability which is also part of a broader process of governmentalisation of practices that use energy which is paradoxically not based on ecological arguments.
In recent years, " smart cities " have rapidly increased in discourses as well as in their real n... more In recent years, " smart cities " have rapidly increased in discourses as well as in their real number, and raise various issues. While citizen engagement is a key element of most definitions of smart cities, information and communication technologies (ICTs) would also have great potential for facilitating public participation. However, scholars have highlighted that little research has focused on actual practices of citizen involvement in smart cities so far. In this respect, the authors analyse public participation in Japanese “Smart Communities”, paying attention to both official discourses and actual practices. Smart Communities were selected in 2010 by the Japanese government which defines them as “smart city” projects and imposed criteria such as focus on energy issues, participation and lifestyle innovation. Drawing on analysis of official documents as well as on interviews with each of the four Smart Communities’ stakeholders, the paper explains that very little input is expected from Japanese citizens. Instead, ICTs are used by municipalities and electric utilities to steer project participants and to change their behaviour. The objective of Smart Communities would not be to involve citizens in city governance, but rather to make them participate in the co-production of public services, mainly energy production and distribution.
Behaviour change policies have been gaining momentum since the 2000s, especially in the energy co... more Behaviour change policies have been gaining momentum since the 2000s, especially in the energy conservation field. At the same time, studies about energy consumption behaviours and practices have been increasing. They are usually categorised into two approaches, namely behavioural and socio-anthropological, which have both gained legitimacy and become institutionalised. However, despite the availability of the two perspectives, energy conservation polices mobilise behavioural sciences much more than socio-anthropological approaches. While this issue has already been discussed by scholars, this paper sheds some light on it by drawing upon an empirical study on the rise of behaviour change in Japan’s energy conservation policy. Indeed, the challenges faced by Japan, that is drastically reducing its energy consumption while supporting economic growth, are no different to those of most OECD countries. Furthermore, Japan’s strategy has similarly long been dominated by techno-economic approaches. Thus, the Japanese case provides a valuable insight into how energy conservation policies change and utilise the behavioural sciences. Drawing upon literature in public policy analysis and policy transfer, I argue that the success of the behavioural sciences can be explained by the coherence of their discourse – and the “mismatch” of socioanthropological ones – with the culture and expectations of energy conservation policymakers. Three interrelated factors explain this coherence. First, the translation of the behavioural sciences into economics increased their legitimacy and made them appear more scientific in the eyes of policymakers. Second, recent transformations in their methodology enhanced the accuracy and reliability of their results, thus providing practical tools to policymakers. Third, behavioural approaches deliver concrete levers of actions which are compatible with the pursuit of economic growth. For these reasons, and in contrast with socio-anthropological approaches, the behavioural sciences are considered as “practical knowledge” by policymakers.
Following its mobilisation by practitioners, the notion of social acceptability has been sparking... more Following its mobilisation by practitioners, the notion of social acceptability has been sparking interest and causing embarrassment among social scientists. This article contributes to the recent effort to clarify and question this notion, taking a national programme of sociotechnical experimentation dedicated to smart grids in Japan as a case study. Although four “Smart Communities” have been designated, the peculiarity of this programme is the fact that the Japanese state is the initiator and supervisor of the experimentation. The latter is part of the state and private sector led strategy for producing the social acceptability of smart grids and their related products, equipments and services. This article analyses the concrete policy tools implemented, with a specific focus on the knowledge they are based upon. Smart Communities mobilise results from research in behavioural sciences (social psychology, behavioural economics) and marketing techniques in order to ensure the passive and active acceptance of users. The implementation of socio-technical experimentation allows for a hybrid way of producing social acceptability which is also part of a broader process of governmentalisation of practices that use energy which is paradoxically not based on ecological arguments.
In recent years, " smart cities " have rapidly increased in discourses as well as in their real n... more In recent years, " smart cities " have rapidly increased in discourses as well as in their real number, and raise various issues. While citizen engagement is a key element of most definitions of smart cities, information and communication technologies (ICTs) would also have great potential for facilitating public participation. However, scholars have highlighted that little research has focused on actual practices of citizen involvement in smart cities so far. In this respect, the authors analyse public participation in Japanese “Smart Communities”, paying attention to both official discourses and actual practices. Smart Communities were selected in 2010 by the Japanese government which defines them as “smart city” projects and imposed criteria such as focus on energy issues, participation and lifestyle innovation. Drawing on analysis of official documents as well as on interviews with each of the four Smart Communities’ stakeholders, the paper explains that very little input is expected from Japanese citizens. Instead, ICTs are used by municipalities and electric utilities to steer project participants and to change their behaviour. The objective of Smart Communities would not be to involve citizens in city governance, but rather to make them participate in the co-production of public services, mainly energy production and distribution.
Behaviour change policies have been gaining momentum since the 2000s, especially in the energy co... more Behaviour change policies have been gaining momentum since the 2000s, especially in the energy conservation field. At the same time, studies about energy consumption behaviours and practices have been increasing. They are usually categorised into two approaches, namely behavioural and socio-anthropological, which have both gained legitimacy and become institutionalised. However, despite the availability of the two perspectives, energy conservation polices mobilise behavioural sciences much more than socio-anthropological approaches. While this issue has already been discussed by scholars, this paper sheds some light on it by drawing upon an empirical study on the rise of behaviour change in Japan’s energy conservation policy. Indeed, the challenges faced by Japan, that is drastically reducing its energy consumption while supporting economic growth, are no different to those of most OECD countries. Furthermore, Japan’s strategy has similarly long been dominated by techno-economic approaches. Thus, the Japanese case provides a valuable insight into how energy conservation policies change and utilise the behavioural sciences. Drawing upon literature in public policy analysis and policy transfer, I argue that the success of the behavioural sciences can be explained by the coherence of their discourse – and the “mismatch” of socioanthropological ones – with the culture and expectations of energy conservation policymakers. Three interrelated factors explain this coherence. First, the translation of the behavioural sciences into economics increased their legitimacy and made them appear more scientific in the eyes of policymakers. Second, recent transformations in their methodology enhanced the accuracy and reliability of their results, thus providing practical tools to policymakers. Third, behavioural approaches deliver concrete levers of actions which are compatible with the pursuit of economic growth. For these reasons, and in contrast with socio-anthropological approaches, the behavioural sciences are considered as “practical knowledge” by policymakers.
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of citizen involvement in smart cities so far. In this respect, the
authors analyse public participation in Japanese “Smart
Communities”, paying attention to both official discourses and
actual practices. Smart Communities were selected in 2010 by
the Japanese government which defines them as “smart city”
projects and imposed criteria such as focus on energy issues,
participation and lifestyle innovation. Drawing on analysis of
official documents as well as on interviews with each of the
four Smart Communities’ stakeholders, the paper explains that
very little input is expected from Japanese citizens. Instead,
ICTs are used by municipalities and electric utilities to steer
project participants and to change their behaviour. The
objective of Smart Communities would not be to involve
citizens in city governance, but rather to make them participate
in the co-production of public services, mainly energy
production and distribution.
them appear more scientific in the eyes of policymakers. Second, recent transformations in their methodology enhanced the accuracy and reliability of their results, thus providing practical tools to policymakers. Third, behavioural approaches deliver concrete levers of actions which are compatible with the pursuit of economic growth. For these reasons, and in contrast with socio-anthropological approaches, the behavioural sciences are considered as “practical knowledge” by policymakers.
of citizen involvement in smart cities so far. In this respect, the
authors analyse public participation in Japanese “Smart
Communities”, paying attention to both official discourses and
actual practices. Smart Communities were selected in 2010 by
the Japanese government which defines them as “smart city”
projects and imposed criteria such as focus on energy issues,
participation and lifestyle innovation. Drawing on analysis of
official documents as well as on interviews with each of the
four Smart Communities’ stakeholders, the paper explains that
very little input is expected from Japanese citizens. Instead,
ICTs are used by municipalities and electric utilities to steer
project participants and to change their behaviour. The
objective of Smart Communities would not be to involve
citizens in city governance, but rather to make them participate
in the co-production of public services, mainly energy
production and distribution.
them appear more scientific in the eyes of policymakers. Second, recent transformations in their methodology enhanced the accuracy and reliability of their results, thus providing practical tools to policymakers. Third, behavioural approaches deliver concrete levers of actions which are compatible with the pursuit of economic growth. For these reasons, and in contrast with socio-anthropological approaches, the behavioural sciences are considered as “practical knowledge” by policymakers.