The worlds of expertise seem more threatened than ever in contemporary democracies. In times of “crack-up capitalism” (Slobodian, 2024), and especially since the election of Donald J. Trump in the United States, expertise is now under open and systematic attack, not least by national governments themselves. Funding cuts, censorship of certain research, questioning of scientific consensus and marginalization of academic institutions: what once seemed established and taken for granted is now being vigorously challenged by a wide range of actors, both in power and in opposition. Relatedly, recent technological developments, such as AI, are also profoundly reconfiguring the way expertise is practiced.

 

The three-day cycle will kick off with a public roundtable on 4 June, open to all with free registration. It will bring together a range of specialized scholars to discuss these contemporary issues in an accessible and open format. The round table will be followed by a workshop on the 5th and 6th of June.

 

Organised by the ICP's Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Law and co-funded by the ANTICIP project, part of the PEPR ‘Sous-sol bien commun’ program, the event aims to analyze new challenges in light of recent developments, without forgetting the tensions that have long plagued expertise. The aim is to interrogate these new configurations while situating them within the long history of expertise, where multiple trajectories intersect. In an age marked by “expertise influencers”, artificial intelligence and “lay expertise”, it is essential to rethink the place and legitimacy of knowledge in our societies.

 

Speakers :

• 4th of June – Public round table
• 4-7 pm – Salle des Actes
• > Free registration 
• 5th and 6th of June - Workshop