pluralactor

Pluralactor is a term used in actor-network theory (ANT) to describe a collective or assemblage that functions as a unified actor. In ANT, an actor is not necessarily a human individual but can be any entity, human or non-human, that has the capacity to act or exert influence. Pluralactors emerge when multiple entities, often of different types, align and coordinate their actions to achieve a common goal or create a shared effect. This collective entity then appears and behaves as a single, coherent actor in the network of relations.

The concept of the pluralactor challenges traditional notions of agency, which often attribute actions to singular, intentional subjects. Instead, ANT emphasizes that agency is distributed across networks of interacting elements. A pluralactor can be a diverse range of combinations, such as a scientific laboratory with its equipment, researchers, and protocols, or a political movement composed of individuals, organizations, and communication technologies. The key characteristic is the temporary or sustained unification of these disparate elements into a functional whole that can be treated as a distinct actor within an analysis. Understanding pluralactors is crucial for comprehending how complex systems operate and how power and influence are enacted through the aggregation and coordination of various components.