Infrastrukture zračenja: etnografija elektromagnetskog zagađenja u Zagrebu
Radiant Infrastructures: An Ethnography of Electromagnetic Pollution in Zagreb

Summary/Abstract: This paper is based on research conducted for a master’s thesis, which focused on exploring urban disputes and narratives of fear arising from mobile infrastructure in a neighborhood in Zagreb. Theoretical frameworks of the anthropology of infrastructure and pollution were applied, starting from the relational dimension of infrastructure and humans, or the social effects of infrastructure. Since the narratives of fear were manifested through protests and other activities, this phenomenon was viewed through the lens of spontaneous ecological activism that evolved into a form of digital activism. Instead of the idea of technological advancement and making the lives of the residents of the neighborhood easier, the mobile infrastructure symbolized uncontrolled radiation. The technology was perceived as a form of surveillance, a management mechanism, direct violation of privacy, and a type of biocontrol. The methodology consisted of media ethnography, i.e., discursive analysis of cyberspace – media portals and the YouTube channel “Kvart Vrbani”. The results of the research conducted in 2023 showed that misunderstanding electromagnetic radiation was a significant reason for citizen protests, highlighting the need for better public communication by scientists and decisionmakers when placing mobile infrastructure in a specific area. The paper contributes to understanding of infrastructure as a large under-researched area, and may be useful in gaining new insights into how scientific and technological imaginaries interact with cultural, political as well as economic practices in a community.

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