Development of transnational land transport infrastructure in Asia, 1980-2008: an application of the Finger-Kuennecke framework of co-evolution and coherence between technology and institutions Concept note for the first chapter of the thesis, DO NOT QUOTE!

In 1980, national land transport networks in Asia were unconnected between each other and across national borders, financed from public budgets, and tightly controlled by national road and railway administrations. Today, a Trans-Asian transport network is emerging that is governed by an ecosystem of local, national and international, and private sector institutions, and that are an integral part of an emerging international, intermodal transport network. Not only the physical infrastructure networks, but also the systems of organizations, institutions and actors have completely changed. A key institutional feature of this change process have been “grand plans” of international organizations and development banks which typically cover hundreds of interdependent infrastructure projects. Examples include the Asian Highway (map 1) and the Trans-Asian Railway. Grand plans provide a good background against which to assess the performance and development of transnational network infrastructure (TNI).