Using actor-network theory in agent-based modelling

In developing countries, the institutions responsible for territorial planning are faced with rapid urbanization and inherent waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management issues. WEEE management can be considered a typical socio-technical system; consequently, understanding the dynamics of the actors involved over the course of specific historical trajectories proves valuable when it comes to devising more sustainable future-oriented actions. This chapter proposes a method for incorporating actor-network theory (ANT) into agent-based modelling (ABM), specifically posing and answering the question of how to elaborate such a method. This combination was originally developed to build a simulation-based artefact to enhance systemic decision-making among policymakers in order to achieve more sustainable WEEE management in developing countries. ANT-ABM accounts for environmentally and historically grounded actions, thereby allowing the designer to develop more contextualized models congruent with socio-technical systems.