Morgan Mouton: Urban Change Under Pressure. Electricity Supply and Modernity in Greater Manila.

Since the end of the 20th century, the Manila metropolitan area has been undergoing ‘urban transformation’. This term refers to a set of interrelated phenomena, including the consolidation of the middle classes, the establishment of service companies and the development of a consumer-oriented economy – the latter being strikingly illustrated by the proliferation of shopping centres, which are key urban features in the Philippine capital region. These factors have led not only to a transformation of the urban landscape, but also to the internationalisation of the economy and the emergence of new lifestyles.

This thesis proposes to examine this urban change in Greater Manila through the lens of the electricity sector. The phenomena described have significant implications for energy policy: a substantial increase in electricity demand, higher expectations regarding service reliability, and new approaches to infrastructure planning and deployment. However, the relationship between urban change and the electricity sector is two-way, and tensions can be observed regarding tariffs or the quality of the grid, insofar as these factors constrain the economic and social transformations taking place in the Philippine capital.

 By drawing on various strands of literature—on the middle classes, the political economy of urban production, and major technical networks—this thesis examines the socio-technical developments of the electricity supply in Greater Manila. To this end, it draws on the concept of ‘modernity’, which helps to understand the emerging norms and representations surrounding the provision of the service. Consequently, the thesis identifies the gaps between the ideals of modernity and existing practices. In doing so, it analyses the tensions generated by these misalignments and discusses the challenges of universalising the network, ensuring the homogeneity of its coverage, evolving its form (large centralised network or ‘post-reticular’ structure) and adapting to environmental constraints.

Members of the jury

• Yves Boquet, Professor at the University of Burgundy
• Kathryn Furlong, Professor at the University of Montreal (rapporteur)
• Sylvy Jaglin, Professor at the University of Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (Director)
• Loraine Kennedy, Research Director at the CNRS, UMR CEIAS
• Dominique Lorrain, Emeritus Research Director at the CNRS, UMR LATTS
• Hélène Reigner, Professor at the University of Aix-Marseille
• Éric Verdeil, Professor at the IEP in Paris (rapporteur)