Changing Mobilities
Monika Büscher author Greg Marsden author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:21st Jul '26
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Climate change demands rapid and radical changes in the way people on Earth live and move. Mobility systems the world over must change; and they are changing. Massive global efforts are underway to make transport more sustainable. However, this is mainly focused on technological solutions, such as electrifying automobility, even air travel, and the pace and scale of change is insufficient. The inequalities of existing and changing mobility systems are inhuman. So, how can we change mobilities better? Which are the areas and dimensions where “better” matters most? And what approaches can we take – given that the initiatives already under way are pushing hard? What more can we do? And, most importantly, how can we do it, and do it fairly? Changing Mobilities explores key dimensions of change.
The book takes the reader on a journey, beginning with establishing the imperative to act. Having established the urgency to act, it reflects on the struggle for radical transformation between activism and vested interests and discusses the potential of different approaches. It then turns to exploring why change seems so hard, or is so strongly resisted, exploring issues of inter- and intra-generational inequities of consumption of mobility, finding within the macro narrative opportunities to build on by recognising these differences. The final part of the book reflects on the need to change not just behaviours but institutions. It does this by reviewing how institutions operate today and why they might resist adapting to the new reality. It offers a hopeful reading of how to overcome the barriers to radical change by recognising, exploring, and accelerating the change already here and the change potential that exists through agonistic experimentation. Change is going to happen as a result of global warming – this book argues that we need to move to a more adaptive and radical footing to enable society to continue to flourish.
This book is aimed at researchers, practitioners and citizens who want to bring about positive change for their communities. The book allows a deep dive into the systemic problem of climate change, but also provides examples of how research can work with communities to both think and act differently.
The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International license.
Changing Mobilities is a game changing book in the best way possible. It shows us the realities we face in transportation's contribution to the climate crisis. It analyses the massive yet also day-to-day transformations that need to take place in how we live. And it offers up hopeful possibilities of how we might get there. Büscher and Marsden build on decades of experience in real-world analysis and experimentation, each bringing unique perspectives that are beautifully woven together here. Anyone interested in our collective future should read this book and consider how to start changing mobilities in your own local context. The task before us is sobering yet inspiring, practical yet full of imagination, terribly daunting yet perfectly do-able if only we collaborate and work together. The message they leave us with: We can think and act differently – bolstered by ideas such as buen vivir and the mobile undercommons – to overcome obstacles and move beyond our deadly over-reliance on automobility.
Dr. Mimi Sheller, Dean of The Global School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, USA
This is an amazing book. It perfectly outlines the issue of sustainable mobilities and the urgent need to include research currently excluded from the mainstream knowledge system, for change to happen. It addresses the topic both theoretically and empirically and pushes theoretical thinking forward – toward what could be possible. Very importantly, it still manages to hold onto hope for the future.
Malene Freudendal-Pedersen, Professor in Urban Planning, Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark
A powerful and passionate argument for what buen vivir worldviews and their practices have to offer to our common future, and for the role that mobilities, divergent, dissenting, and shared, can play in its shaping. Evocative and clear sighted, wide-ranging and political, Changing Mobilities is transformative scholarship at its best.
Professor Carlos López Galviz, Chair in History and Social Futures, Lancaster University, UK
What a stunning read! Büscher and Marsden take a stand against climate change ignorance, fake news, and systematic disregard for facts, humanity, and justice. Two outstanding scholars show what the mobile risk society needs: science with a hot heart and a cool analytical mind – not ready to surrender!
Sven Kesselring, Professor in Sustainable Mobilities, Nuertingen – Geislingen University, Germany
ISBN: 9780415661928
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 560g
200 pages