Mapping complexity as a qualitative approach to operationalizing actor-network theory

This paper explores the Cartography of Controversies as a methodological extension of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to investigate complex socio-technical systems empirically. Through a case study on regulating clinical trials in Brazil, focusing on legislative debates over PLS 200/2015 and PL 7082/2017, the study demonstrates how controversy mapping can visualize the interactions of heterogeneous networks that shape and are shaped by regulatory processes. The findings show that regulation functions as both an actant and an outcome of interwoven relationships, highlighting socio-technical assemblages' dynamic and performative nature. This approach underscores the utility of cartography for operationalizing ANT, enabling a richer understanding of fluid and evolving phenomena in qualitative research.