Contesting Aviation Expansion: Depoliticisation, Technologies of Government and Post-Aviation Futures

This book examines the strategies used by public authorities to expand the UK aviation industry, highlighting the failure of these practices to address community resistance and environmental concerns. It advocates for a radical rethinking of our attitudes towards aviation in terms of sufficiency, degrowth, and alternative hedonism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Bristol University Press

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate strategies employed by public authorities in the United Kingdom to expand the aviation industry amidst growing political opposition and the detrimental effects of flying on local communities and the environment. Through extensive genealogical investigations, the authors unveil the shortcomings of governmental practices and technologies aimed at depoliticizing aviation and facilitating airport expansion. They critically analyze the dominant logics governing UK airport expansion, advocating for a radical reorientation of our attitudes towards aviation, emphasizing sufficiency, degrowth, and alternative hedonism. This transformative approach seeks to pave the way for a more sustainable future, challenging the status quo and fostering a harmonious relationship between aviation and the environment.

Introduction:
The aviation industry has experienced significant growth in recent decades, driven by the increasing demand for travel and globalization. However, this expansion has come at a cost, with flying contributing to climate change, noise pollution, and negative impacts on local communities. In response to these challenges, public authorities have sought to expand airports to accommodate the growing demand for air travel.

Political Opposition:
However, the expansion of airports has faced significant political opposition from local communities, environmental groups, and other stakeholders. These groups argue that the expansion of airports is detrimental to the environment, disrupts local communities, and exacerbates social and economic inequalities. As a result, public authorities have been forced to navigate a complex web of political challenges to achieve their goals.

Technological Solutions:
In response to the political opposition, public authorities have turned to technological solutions to depoliticize aviation and facilitate airport expansion. These solutions include the development of new aircraft technologies, such as quieter engines and more fuel-efficient planes, as well as the implementation of airport expansion plans that prioritize sustainability and minimize negative impacts on local communities.

Genealogical Investigations:
The book's genealogical investigations reveal the shortcomings of these technological solutions. While technological advancements have indeed reduced the environmental impact of flying, they have failed to constitute an effective political will to counter community resistance and environmental protest. The authors argue that governmental practices and technologies designed to depoliticize aviation have generally failed to address the root causes of opposition and have instead served to reinforce the dominant logics of airport expansion.

Radical Rethinking:
To address these challenges, the authors promote a radical rethinking of our attitudes to aviation in terms of sufficiency, degrowth, and alternative hedonism. They argue that we need to move beyond the mindset of endless growth and consumption and towards a more sustainable future that balances economic development with environmental protection.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book provides a valuable insight into the strategies used by public authorities to expand the aviation industry in the United Kingdom. It highlights the challenges faced by public authorities in navigating political opposition and the negative impact of flying on local communities and the environment. By advocating for a radical rethinking of our attitudes towards aviation, the authors lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future, where the benefits of air travel are reconciled with the needs of the planet and its inhabitants.

Weight: 546g
Dimension: 240 x 162 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781447344285