Approaching “the expert” in times of (digital) disruptions : towards a geography of expertise

Abstract

The demand for “experts” and “expertise” has never been higher than in the present time, characterized by complexities, uncertainties and (digital) disruptions. At the same time, expertise has never been more contested and attacked, particularly due to social media. In this paper, we delve into the social-scientific literature on expert(ise) and argue for a strong differentiation between knowledge and expertise. We outline a geography of expertise, to be developed at the intersection of the three relational categories “authority,” “trust,” and “coalitions” and pay particular attention to digital media as the key driver for the re-configuration of expertise and expert roles.