Assignment
Thread 1: Modernism, Neoliberalism, and Infrastructure
The book distinguishes between two different ideologies that have shaped the development of modern infrastructure. One of these is a centralized and monopolistic ideology (let's call this ideology "modernist") and the other emphasizes private ownership and liberalization of infrastructure (let's call this ideology "neoliberal"). Can you explain in more detail these ideologies and the consequences of these two ideologies for how infrastructure is developed? Can you give some examples?
Which of these ideologies do you think is preferable?
In the prologue we have a series of vignettes concerning different types of infrastructure. What do these vignettes reveal about infrastructure?
How do these vignettes relate to the above discussed ideologies?
Can you think of other examples that illustrate these same issues?
What moral concerns are expressed by this collection of vignettes?