The concept of “infrastructure” has become increasingly central in social sciences and sociological theory, recognized as a foundational element that underpins modern and contemporary societies. Given its growing significance, this Special Issue addresses the need to explore both the material and immaterial dimensions of infrastructures in relation to power and social dynamics. This introduction outlines the central points of each article, emphasizing their contributions to understanding how infrastructures influence societal inequalities, power relations, and ecological challenges as well as analyzing the role of the concept within classical sociological thought.
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HenkeCRSimsB (2020) Repairing Infrastructures: The Maintenance of Materiality and Power. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
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NortonM (2023) The Punishment of Pirates. Interpretation and Institutional Order in the Early Modern British Empire. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.
