What the study found
The study found that when governments define and mistranslate epistemological uncertainties into technical and managerial problems, system resilience can be strained. It also describes a process the author calls the “mistranslation of uncertainties,” in which epistemic diversity is marginalized and policy legitimacy deficits in implementation can be amplified.
What the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that this mistranslation can potentially erode sociotechnical resilience. The study suggests that co-producing epistemological translation and social order, including deliberation and social feedback, can support democratic legitimacy and resilient governance of sociotechnical systems.
What the researchers tested
The article uses two comparative case studies of sociotechnical disasters: a nuclear safety failure and pandemic digital surveillance. It draws on Funtowicz and Ravetz’s post-normal science framework and introduces three types of uncertainties.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis visualizes uncertainty mistranslation as a pathway to legitimacy deficit. It also illustrates how mistranslation develops from a monolithic, technocentric understanding of uncertainties, and it proposes a framework of “resilience for legitimacy” that embeds resilience work and co-production of responses within institutional practices.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed study limitations. The findings are presented through two case studies, so the summary reflects those specific sociotechnical disasters and the framework used in the article.
Key points
- The study says mistranslating epistemological uncertainties into technical and managerial problems can strain system resilience.
- It identifies a process called “mistranslation of uncertainties,” linked to marginalized epistemic diversity and legitimacy deficits.
- The article examines two case studies: a nuclear safety failure and pandemic digital surveillance.
- It uses Funtowicz and Ravetz’s post-normal science framework and introduces three types of uncertainties.
- The authors propose a framework of “resilience for legitimacy” based on deliberation, social feedback, and co-production.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Uncertainty mistranslation can weaken sociotechnical resilience
- Authors:
- Changdeok Gim
- Institutions:
- SUNY Korea
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-03
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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