Hierarchies of happiness: Railway infrastructure and suburban subject formation in Berlin and Cairo around 1900

Railway infrastructure at the turn of the 20th century played a pivotal role in shaping suburban subjectivities and social distinctions for middle-class residents in both Berlin and Cairo. The study reveals that trains and stations were not merely transportation hubs but integral to practices that fostered a sense of happiness, health, and differentiation from urban lower classes. By analyzing contemporary publications, the research demonstrates how train rides—associated with reading, rationalizing technology, and appreciating historic landscapes—contributed to the formation of suburban identities in both cities. This comparative approach underscores shared historical processes of subject formation while acknowledging differing power structures, advocating for a more integrated study of European and non-European urban histories.

Prestel, J. B. (2015). Hierarchies of happiness: Railway infrastructure and suburban subject formation in Berlin and Cairo around 1900. City, 19(2-3), 322–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/13604813.2015.1015277