On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Standard

On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa. / Enns, Charis; Bersaglio, Brock.

In: Antipode, Vol. 52, No. 1, 01.2020, p. 101-123.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Harvard

Enns, C & Bersaglio, B 2020, 'On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa', Antipode, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 101-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12582

APA

Enns, C., & Bersaglio, B. (2020). On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa. Antipode, 52(1), 101-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12582

Vancouver

Enns C, Bersaglio B. On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa. Antipode. 2020 Jan;52(1):101-123. https://doi.org/10.1111/anti.12582

Author

Enns, Charis ; Bersaglio, Brock. / On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa. In: Antipode. 2020 ; Vol. 52, No. 1. pp. 101-123.

Bibtex

@article{401fa98d3a9045bf8f34b38b76c8cd02,
title = "On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa",
abstract = "This article responds to a preference for short-term history in research on the infrastructure turn by engaging with the longue dur{\'e}e of East Africa{\textquoteright}s latest infrastructure scramble. It traces the history of LAPSSET in Kenya and the Central Corridor in Tanzania, revealing the coloniality of new and improved transport infrastructure along both corridors. This exercise demonstrates how the spatial visions and territorial plans of colonial administrators get built in to new infrastructure and materialise in ways that serve the interests of global capital rather than peasant and indigenous peoples being promised more modern, prosperous futures. The article concludes by suggesting that a focus on the longue dur{\'e}e also reveals uneven patterns of mobility and immobility set in motion during the colonial scramble for Africa and reinforced after independence. These “colonial moorings” are significant as they shape political reactions to new mega-infrastructure projects today and constrain the emancipatory potential of infrastructure-led development.",
keywords = "Central Corridor, LAPSSET, Coloniality, Infrastructure, Infrastructure-led development, Territorial design",
author = "Charis Enns and Brock Bersaglio",
year = "2020",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1111/anti.12582",
language = "English",
volume = "52",
pages = "101--123",
journal = "Antipode",
issn = "0066-4812",
publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the coloniality of 'new' mega-infrastructure projects in East Africa

AU - Enns, Charis

AU - Bersaglio, Brock

PY - 2020/1

Y1 - 2020/1

N2 - This article responds to a preference for short-term history in research on the infrastructure turn by engaging with the longue durée of East Africa’s latest infrastructure scramble. It traces the history of LAPSSET in Kenya and the Central Corridor in Tanzania, revealing the coloniality of new and improved transport infrastructure along both corridors. This exercise demonstrates how the spatial visions and territorial plans of colonial administrators get built in to new infrastructure and materialise in ways that serve the interests of global capital rather than peasant and indigenous peoples being promised more modern, prosperous futures. The article concludes by suggesting that a focus on the longue durée also reveals uneven patterns of mobility and immobility set in motion during the colonial scramble for Africa and reinforced after independence. These “colonial moorings” are significant as they shape political reactions to new mega-infrastructure projects today and constrain the emancipatory potential of infrastructure-led development.

AB - This article responds to a preference for short-term history in research on the infrastructure turn by engaging with the longue durée of East Africa’s latest infrastructure scramble. It traces the history of LAPSSET in Kenya and the Central Corridor in Tanzania, revealing the coloniality of new and improved transport infrastructure along both corridors. This exercise demonstrates how the spatial visions and territorial plans of colonial administrators get built in to new infrastructure and materialise in ways that serve the interests of global capital rather than peasant and indigenous peoples being promised more modern, prosperous futures. The article concludes by suggesting that a focus on the longue durée also reveals uneven patterns of mobility and immobility set in motion during the colonial scramble for Africa and reinforced after independence. These “colonial moorings” are significant as they shape political reactions to new mega-infrastructure projects today and constrain the emancipatory potential of infrastructure-led development.

KW - Central Corridor

KW - LAPSSET

KW - Coloniality

KW - Infrastructure

KW - Infrastructure-led development

KW - Territorial design

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074756125&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/anti.12582

DO - 10.1111/anti.12582

M3 - Article

VL - 52

SP - 101

EP - 123

JO - Antipode

JF - Antipode

SN - 0066-4812

IS - 1

ER -