THE UNMANAGEABLE MODERNITY. AN EXPLORATIVE STUDY OF MOTORIZED MOBILITY IN DEVELOPMENT

This thesis is an explorative study of a neglected area in International Political Economy and Development studies. Modernisation has provoked the global extension of motorized mobility, including mass automobility. The establishing of motorized transport systems is a core area in modern development. The theoretical framework of this study builds on a combination of theories in International Political Economy and the theory of Large Technical Systems. The study includes three empirical parts: a comparison of the historical evolution of motorization in Brazil and Tehran, a comparison of the handling of current urban transport problems in Rome and New Delhi, and a study of the views of three global vehicle corporations and one oil company regarding the future of motorized transport. It is concluded that there are no signs of any reflexive thinking among representatives of the state or the market about how to manage the fundamental crisis of motorized transport systems and their negative side effects. Hence, there is room for many new research initiatives in this field to improve sustainable and human development. (A)