Highways, Hearts and Hitler: The Autobahn and the Seduction of Power

I am interested in roads for all sorts of reasons: as connectors of regions, peoples and places; as corridors that help spread genes, ideas, beliefs, technologies - as well as disease and violence.

The importance of networks, and the socio-economic impacts they have, is something I’ve worked on for many years. The Silk Roads, of course; but I’ve also done research on Andean and Mesoamerican road networks, and in more recent times, as senior advisor for a World Bank project on The Web of Transport Corridors in South Asia to help shape infrastructure investment and understand its impact (both positive adn negative).

I am at a big wedding this weekend; but over a good macchiato, I read a terrific new paper about the importance of roads and the link to political power. This time in Nazi Germany.