Thinking algorithmically: The making of hegemonic knowledge in climate governance

Algorithms – instructions for acting on data, executed by code are increasingly being enrolled into climate policy governance via the prediction of outcomes, evaluation mitigation and adaptation strategies, design practitioner actions. Yet political implications these technological changes in environmental only just beginning to be theorised. In this paper, we examine one particular facet emerging politics: relationship between thinking algorithmically hegemonic power. Drawing from Laclau Mouffe’s theorisation hegemony argue that algorithmic forms reasoning lend themselves towards producing hegemonising knowledge regimes, with important a democratic politics change. Recognising algorithms stand wider socio-technical assemblages structure create knowledge, call greater attention reliance within less than their epistemic commitments ways thinking, associated claims Through critical review scholarship at intersection digital studies governance, first identify three key involved algorithmically: induction, abstraction, optimisation. We then correspondence features conditions Mouffe propose form grounds hegemony: objectivity, universality, necessity. Better understanding what “thinking algorithmically” entails, knowing it affords excludes, is vital, argue, begin naming transformative potential new governance.