Subjectification, Technology, and Rationality – Sustainable Transformation of the Mobility Sector from a Governmentality Perspective

Abstract

Shared mobility services play an essential role in a sustainable mobility transition and unfold among so-called smart technologies. Although this can positively affect mobility, it also poses challenges for the development of sustainable urban mobility, for example, because the smart options are not equally available to all people or are inaccessible. Issues of social or ecological inequality as well as the digital exclusion of people in the mobility sector are increasingly becoming the focus of attention. Largely unexplored in this context is how the subjects of shared mobility services will be conceived, and what knowledge, skills, and resources they should bring to use smart and shared mobility services in the future. We contribute to closing this research gap by investigating the rationalities that sustainable smart and shared mobility transformation follow, which developments are triggered by the technologies, and in which ways identification offers address subjects. Foucault’s concept of governmentality is used as a theoretical perspective and nuanced with critical (feminist) literature on identity formation. Methodologically, this article works with qualitative content analysis of policy documents and an ethnographically oriented observation of registration conditions in various car-, bike-, electronic moped, and scooter-sharing services. The results show that subjects are addressed in a rather general way, and their (special) needs are hardly considered. Instead, they are addressed as flexible citizen-consumers and correspond with the rationality of (green) economic growth and the liberal paradigm. Accordingly, the technologies aim for innovation, fair competition, and the provision of public space by the state.