Malve Jacobsen

Temporalities of Assembling Transport Systems: Presences and Absences in an Intermittent Process (revised version)

Introduction

Temporalities of assembling transport systems: presences and absences in an intermittent process (revised version). Explore the social & political dimensions of intermittent transport system assembly using the Dar es Salaam (DART) case. Understand how presences and absences shape infrastructure.

Abstract

Present absences and absent presences, both in material and discursive shapes, provide insights into the social and political dimensions of infrastructures and their processes of planning, implementing and stabilising. Taking the case of a transport system in Dar es Salaam (DART) whose planning and implementation process is highly intermittent, this article illustrates how the bus system exists in a constant (re‑)making by its (non‑)human actors. Due to translations of ideals, social interactions, and negotiations of power and by the presences and absences of material components and appearances, behaviours and discourses DART’s objects temporarily have different shapes. The text concludes with the idea that the various forms of presence and absence – expressed in different scripts – shape the technological system and intermittent process.

Review

This paper presents a highly original and conceptually sophisticated exploration into the complex temporalities of infrastructure development. The core argument, centred on "present absences and absent presences" in both material and discursive forms, offers a compelling analytical lens for understanding the social and political dimensions inherent in the planning, implementation, and stabilization of large-scale systems. By focusing on the intermittently developing DART transport system in Dar es Salaam, the article promises to provide rich empirical grounding for its theoretical claims, illustrating how such systems are not linearly constructed but rather exist in a constant state of (re-)making by a diverse array of human and non-human actors. This approach moves beyond conventional project management perspectives, highlighting the dynamic interplay of ideals, social interactions, power negotiations, and the fluctuating manifestation of physical and behavioural elements. A significant strength lies in the paper's innovative conceptual framework, which adeptly captures the often-overlooked discontinuities and indeterminate states in infrastructure lifecycles. The chosen case study of DART appears particularly well-suited to demonstrate how intermittency is not merely a barrier to progress but an active force shaping the evolving form and function of a technological system. The abstract details a multi-faceted analysis, considering the "presences and absences of material components and appearances, behaviours and discourses," suggesting a comprehensive approach to dissecting these temporal dynamics. This promise of illustrating how DART’s objects temporarily adopt different shapes due to these complex interactions offers a fresh perspective on the resilience and adaptability of urban transport systems in challenging developmental contexts. While the abstract clearly articulates a robust and intriguing theoretical foundation, the full paper will undoubtedly benefit from a meticulous unpacking of what constitutes these "different scripts" through which various forms of presence and absence are expressed. A detailed explanation of how these scripts operationalize and mediate the shaping of the technological system will be crucial for the paper’s impact. Overall, this article appears to be a timely and important contribution to the fields of infrastructure studies, urban planning, and development, offering a nuanced understanding of how sociotechnical systems are continuously constituted. It is highly recommended for full review, as it promises to deepen our understanding of non-linear processes in infrastructure assembly and their profound implications.

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