Modern infrastructures through the lens of classical sociology: Unpacking ambiguities

Abstract

Infrastructure—as a concept, word, and physical construct—is deeply intertwined with the shaping of modern societies. The term infrastructure emerged amidst the context of rapid societal changes brought by the Industrial Revolution, evolving from an initial specialized usage associated with railway development to a broader concept materially encapsulating “sociotechnical imaginaries of modernity”. Therefore, an intriguing connection exists between the spread of the notion of “infrastructure” and the roots of sociology as a social science discipline that is worthy to explore. This article delves into the historicity of this concept in relation to classical sociological thought, focusing on the often-implicit notion that “modern” infrastructures developed to collectively organize and support social life on a given territory in enduring ways, indeed, to create “society.” Through a historical-sociological approach, we closely look at specific trajectories of infrastructures of/in modernity and discuss the ambiguities that arise from tracing their historical developments and revisiting classical understandings in the present. Specifically, we focus on shifting world-regional dependencies, collective and individual tensions, and dynamics of rise and decline.