Subalterns of technopoly: brokering techno-power in academic sociology

Drawing on responses to a small-scale sensitizing sociological probe of 'te chnological stratification' in academic sociology, this article considers t he role of academic staff delegated to oversee the distribution of informat ion and communications technology resources within their departments betwee n the years 1987-1996. From their recollections as local 'gatekeepers' of t he new knowledge technologies, these 'subalterns of Technopoly' perceived t hemselves as relatively powerless 'techno-power brokers' unable to make a s ignificant difference to the 'technological stratification' they encountere d in their working environments in that period.