The Material Politics of Infrastructure Networks Infrastructure Design and Territorial Transformation in Belgium, 1830–40s

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-362
Author(s):  
Greet De Block
Keyword(s):  
Public Works ◽  
Railway Network ◽  
Societal Transformation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Infrastructure Networks ◽  
Material Politics ◽  
Infrastructure Design ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Territorial Transformation ◽  
Material Layout

AbstractThis article delves into the processes of territorial transformation by foregrounding the material dimension of infrastructure. The entry of the research is infrastructure network design and planning. We will trace the concepts of territorial transformation inscribed into the material layout of large technical systems by analyzing the discourse of engineers and policy makers involved in the conception of infrastructure networks. In so doing, the material politics of infrastructure networks will be studied: How did engineers and policy makers design infrastructure to generate a specific territorial transformation? Moreover, how did technological plans hold the idea that one could influence modernization processes by means of a territorial transformation instigated by infrastructure? The neutral status of technology is thus fundamentally challenged by showing that engineers, in association with policy makers, were essential actors in the planned transformation of the territory as they organized infrastructure networks according to specific ideas relating spatial and societal transformation. The article focuses on two decades after the independence of Belgium (1831), when engineers conceived comprehensive networks of rails, waterways, and roads. The material politics of two major public works initiatives will be analyzed: (1) the centrally positioned railway network that connected all industrial centers within the territory as well as with the markets of neighboring countries, positioning Belgium into Europe as international turntable, and (2) a network of roads and canals in peripheral, so-called unproductive, regions that had to integrate these regions within national borders, and indeed extend these borders, as well as buffer and govern the side-effects and risks generated by the accelerating industrialization in the central parts of the nation.

Discipline for the Unemployed; Laissez-Faire for Business (1873–1920)

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-38
Author(s):  
Frank Stricker
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Full Employment ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Federal Spending ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Unemployed People ◽  
Charity Organization ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Over Time

There was virtually no federal spending to counteract five major depressions or substantial unemployment in between. Unemployed people received almost no public or private assistance, and they were the target of nasty stereotypes. This chapter analyzes those who promoted negative views, including classical economists who claimed that unregulated markets tended to produce full employment, and charity organization leaders like Josephine Shaw Lowell who believed that poor people needed to be disciplined. The chapter also discusses defenders of the working class, including economist John Commons and reformer Jacob Coxey, who wanted public works for the unemployed. Over time more policy-makers gained a compassionate and scientific comprehension of unemployment, but federal policy in 1920 was not very different from what it had been in 1880.

scholarly journals Assessing Resilience of Urban Critical Infrastructure Networks: A Case Study of Ahvaz, Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadi Alizadeh ◽  
Ayyoob Sharifi
Keyword(s):  
Service Provision ◽  
Design Pattern ◽  
Critical Infrastructure ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Infrastructure Networks ◽  
The Past ◽  
The City ◽  
Different Parts

Cities around the world increasingly recognize the need to build on their resilience to deal with the converging forces of urbanization and climate change. Given the significance of critical infrastructure for maintaining quality of life in cities, improving their resilience is of high importance to planners and policy makers. The main purpose of this study is to spatially analyze the resilience of water, electricity, and gas critical infrastructure networks in Ahvaz, a major Iranian city that has been hit by various disastrous events over the past few years. Towards this goal, we first conducted a two-round Delphi survey to identify criteria that can be used for determining resilience of critical infrastructure networks across different parts of the city. The selected criteria that were used for spatial analysis are related to the physical texture, the design pattern, and the scale of service provision of the critical infrastructure networks. Results showed that, overall, critical infrastructure networks in Ahvaz do not perform well against the measurement criteria. This is specially the case in Regions 1, 2, 4, and 6, which are characterized by issues such as old and centralized infrastructure networks and high levels of population density. The study highlights the need to make improvements in terms of the robustness, redundancy, and flexibility of the critical infrastructure networks in the city.

scholarly journals Renewable Energy Policies: Bibliometric Review and Policy Implications

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-417
Author(s):  
Valeria Annibaldi ◽  
Alessia Condemi ◽  
Federica Cucchiella ◽  
Massimo Gastaldi ◽  
Marianna Rotilio
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Security ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Energy Policies ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Bibliometric Review ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Renewable Energy Policies ◽  
Critical Aspects

AbstractThe energy policies of the Union States should promote energy security, energy efficiency, decarbonisation, research, innovation and competitiveness. In addition, over the last few years, the research on these topics has significantly enlarged and received increasing attention from policy makers interested in focusing and accelerating socio-technical systems towards sustainability. The scientific productivity of European Union States about the Renewable Energy policies is here evaluated. For each selected policy, positive and critical aspects are noted to assess the possibility of any changes that could lead to an increase in the renewable energy exploitation.

scholarly journals A critique and potency of socio-technical systems theory: a quest for broadband growth and penetration

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
Karikoga Gorejena ◽  
Nehemiah Mavetera ◽  
Mthulisi Velempini
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Technical Systems ◽  
Technical Model ◽  
Decision Making Tool ◽  
Model Approach

The purpose of this paper is to appraise the conventional business model of broadband growth and penetration, underscore the shortcomings of such models to introduce a socio-technical based model as a more real and sustainable solution to low broadband uptake. Recent studies on both conventional business model and socio-technical model approach to broadband growth and penetration are reviewed. The socio-technical systems theory (STST) itself is critiqued, and postulates founded by first proponents are questioned for possible refinement. Finally, the potency of the STST approach to broadband is brought to light. The importance and complexities of broadband are discussed. The paper culminates in a proposed framework for broadband growth and penetration which can be used as a decision making tool by policy makers. This resulting proposed framework integrates the conventional business model and the socio-technical model, as well as the attributes and repercussions of a socio-technical environment. Keywords: socio-technical systems theory, broadband, conventional business model, sustainable, repercussions, attributes. JEL Classification: 033, 040

scholarly journals Developing Goals and Indicators for the Design of Sustainable and Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Urban Spaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9677
Author(s):  
Liu Yang ◽  
Koen van Dam ◽  
Lufeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Urban Design ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Infrastructure Design ◽  
Goal System ◽  
Specific Project

This paper aims to provide a framework for policy-makers and transportation and urban design professionals to evaluate alternative urban plans and infrastructure design, allowing them to select a set of locally relevant indicators to help assess scenarios considering sustainable development and overall system performance improvement in line with specific project goals. Using methods of systematic review, content analysis, multi-criteria analysis, and expert consultation, a three-level goal system is proposed, leading to the generation of 64 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), both qualitative and quantitative, and an indicator set of 227 items. To allow stakeholders to apply their own set of indicators, the approaches and tools of measuring these indicators as well as the ways of using this indicator set are presented to assist decision-makers in evaluating and choosing optimal plans and designs.

Does America Really Need More Infrastructure?: Lessons from the Debate About the Role of the Railroads in the Development of the American West

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic History ◽  
American West ◽  
Gross National Product ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Policy Debate ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
Rail Network

This article compares and contrasts two debates about the role of infrastructure in American economic growth and development. The contemporary policy debate revolves around the extent to which the observed decline in public works investment since 1960, measured as a proportion of gross national product, has been a cause of the coincident decline of productivity over the same period. An earlier debate in the economic history field revolved around whether the railroads were “indispensable” to America's economic growth and how the building of a rail network affected the shape of that growth. The comparison reveals that just as the first debate went down many blind alleys, so did the second one. At the same time, however, after a long period of discussion and gestation, some firm conclusions arose in both controversies. In the infrastructure case, the overall consensus is that America is probably investing enough in infrastructure overall but that the question is too broad to be meaningful for policy makers. As a result, the focus has shifted to specific kinds of investments in specific areas.

scholarly journals Understanding The Influence Of Complementary Innovations On Niche Formation In Large Energy Technology Systems The Case Of Distributed Electricity Storage In Ontario’s Electricity System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Hiscock
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grid ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Exploratory Case Study ◽  
Electricity System ◽  
System Transition ◽  
Niche Formation ◽  
Technical Systems

This exploratory case study finds evidence that the development of a storage technology niche in Ontario is being strategically managed through different stages by stakeholders within the system. It suggests that the complementary relationship between storage innovations and smart grid transitions supports the strategic management of a storage niche. It also suggests that the development of this niche supports the electricity system transition to smart grid. The study employs the Technology Innovation System (TIS) and Strategic Niche Management (SNM) analysis frameworks predominantly used by authors to study systems in Europe. By presenting empirical data from a jurisdiction outside of Europe, this research contributes to the growing theory on the formation of niches and the influence of complementarity on innovations in large technical systems. It also offers insights to practitioners within this sector, including the new entrants, incumbents and policy makers. Further research is recommended to determine the generalizability of these findings.

scholarly journals Sustainable Consumption and Production: Exploring the Links with Resources Productivity in the EU-28

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo Pineiro-Villaverde ◽  
María Teresa García-Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Public Works ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Sustainable Consumption And Production ◽  
The Eu

In the framework of the European Union’s Sustainable Development Policy, the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns has been a key issue. The explanation is given by their capacity to address social and economic development within the carrying capacity of ecosystems and decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation. The EU has established an extensive range of proposals on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), which include an energy- and resource-efficient economy, circular economy, waste prevention and recycling, among others. This paper contributes, by using both factorial and regression analysis, to the identification of fundamental constructs that define SCP in the EU-28, their links with resource productivity and the role of governments and enterprises in its improvement by means of investment in research, development and innovation over the period 2001–2018. Some recommendations to policy-makers are proposed in the paper in order to take actions directly on SCP, such as promoting the use of recycled raw materials in public works, or imposing the need for Ecolabel certification to contract with public administration.

Transition Model

2011 ◽  
pp. 329-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysen Eren
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Feedback Mechanism ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Transition Model ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Resilient Communities ◽  
Technical Systems

Peak oil and climate change are two of greatest challenges facing humanity at the beginning of 21st century. They are urging humanity to re-think and consider changing on many personal, social, ecological, and economic fronts. Transition and resilience are key concepts initiating this change to prepare communities to forthcoming challenging times. Transition Movement and the claimed model behind it, Transition Model, have been established to overcome these challenges by transforming communities and settlements. Transition Movement is a community-driven initiative aiming to build ecology friendly resilient community and settlements. Its fast spread has sparked the attention of policy makers, academicians, and practitioners. Relatively little research has been done, however, to understand the dynamics of Transition Movement. Here, I focus on transition and resilience concepts in relation to socio-ecological and socio-technical systems, investigate Transition Movement and Transition Model, and analyze their characteristics and fundamental processes. I classify Transition Movement both as a socio-ecological and a socio-technical system. I claim that Transition Model is not a model but rather a methodology. I question its validity and sufficiency as a methodology and point the improvement areas from systems point of view. I introduce two, non-existent but necessary systems to adapt: a feedback mechanism, and an improvement cycle based on projects and resilient indicators. Finally, I comment on the future of Transition Model and suggest areas for further research. The chapter is concluded with the question how Transition Model can be adapted by the cities, transforming them into resilient communities, ready for the ecological and economical challenges.

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