Social Perspectives on Mobility

Globalisation is heavily dependent on physical transport, as people and goods travel over longer distances and with higher frequency. Movement and mobility have become integrated parts of late modern identity and practice, and a state of flux can be sensed everywhere. Bringing together the latest interdisciplinary theoretical approaches with empirical case studies analysing and appraising innovative policies from Scandinavia, this volume demonstrates that mobility research is a key issue within social enquiry. It addresses three broad themes. Firstly, mobility as a constructed social reality, examining how individuals construct notions of mobility in their everyday life and practice. Secondly, mobility as spatial co-ordination and transgression, and finally, mobility as a policy theme, where the contributors explore recent developments in transport policy at national and European levels, suggesting ways forward for both research and policy. In the final section of the book new visions for research into sustainability and mobility are laid out.

Contents: Introduction: mobility research - a growing field of social enquiry, Lise Drewes Nielsen, Henrik Gudmundsson and Thyra Uth Thomsen. Mobility as Constructed Social Reality: Parents' construction of traffic safety: children's independent mobility at risk?, Thyra Uth Thomsen; Structural stories, mobility and (un)freedom, Malene Freudendal-Pedersen; Reflexive mobility - a critical and action oriented perspective on transport research, Lise Drewes Nielsen. Mobility as Spatial Co-ordination and Transgression: Impacts of infrastructure investment on logistics and transport - examples from the fixed links of the Great Belt and Oresund in Denmark, Leif Gjesing Hansen; Involving freight transport actors in production of knowledge - experience with future workshop methodology, Per Homann Jespersen and Lise Drewes Nielsen. Mobility as a Policy Theme: Mobility as a policy concept, Henrik Gudmundsson; The institutionalisation of European transport policy from a mobility perspective, Anne Jensen; New conditions for decision-making and co-ordination in transport? Corporatisation and division in the Danish railway sector, Claus Hedegaard Sørensen; Democracy, civil society and automobility: understanding battles against motorways, Maria Figueroa; Epilogue: mobility, sustainability, and beyond, Henrik Gudmundsson, Thyra Uth Thomsen and Lise Drewes Nielsen; Index.

Thyra Uth Thomsen is Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. Lise Drewes Nielsen is Professor in the Department of Environment and Social Studies at Roskilde University, Denmark, and Henrik Gudmundsson is Senior Researcher at the National Environmental Research Institute in Denmark.