What is Infrastructure? Origins, Turns and Continuities of the Concept

Abstract

This article explores the history of the concept of infrastructure, from its origins in 19th-century French railway legislation, its adoption as a metaphor for characterizing the social world, to its international expansion in both military and civilian domains. Delving into the manifold meanings and contexts in which the term is employed, the author unveils a genealogy that weaves continuities with translations and transfers, marking its journey across diverse disciplinary, geographical, and political contexts.

Keywords

• public works
• railways
• management
• history
• infrastructural turns