This international anthology presents case studies of historical and contemporary transformations of large technical systems such as railways, telecommunications, electricity, and automobiles. The authors, working at the forefront of historical and social science research on the dynamics of large technical systems, analyze how and why these systems undergo change. Because of their important roles in contemporary society, large technical systems such as railways, airlines, road systems, telecommunications, and electric power network share drawing considerable academic and political interest. In this collaborative study on processes of change in large technical systems, the contributing authors present historical and current case studies of transformation within these systems. Working at the forefront of historical and social science research on the dynamics of large technical systems, the authors specifically analyze how and why the systems undergo change. In some cases, new technologies are solving old problems and presenting opportunities for system growth. In other areas, new regulatory approaches have brought competition and deregulation, often posing challenges to system builders. The authors also show how the breakup of national boundaries and new corporate strategies for global management of technology are transforming systems in ways that will have significant impacts on all consumers

Cinzia Caporale is head of the `Research Ethics, Bioethics, Biolaw and Biopolitics’ research unit at the Institute of Biomedical Technologies of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR). She is the Coordinator of the CNR Research Ethics and Bioethics Committee and represents CNR on the topic of Research Integrity on the international level. She is adjunct professor of Bioethics at Sapienza University of Rome and a member of the Italian National Bioethics Committee. She is the President of the Ethics Committee of L. Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases and of the U. Veronesi Foundation and Director of the scientific journal The Future of Science and Ethics. She has been Chairperson of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee for two mandates. Under her presidency the `Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights’ was elaborated and adopted.

Ilja Richard Pavone gained his PhD in International Law and Human Rights at Sapienza University, Rome. Currently he is Senior Researcher of International Law at the National Research Council of Italy, Rome, where he coordinates the research unit in "International, European and National Biolaw". He is also Professor of Environmental Law at The Tuscia University, Viterbo. In the past, he has taught at the universities of Rome (Sapienza), Venice (Venice International University), Macerata and Siena. He has been visiting professor at Queensland University, New York University, Bochum University and Max Planck Institute. He is author of over 50 publications, essays and articles in International Law and European Union law, with a particular focus on Bioethics, Human Rights, International Health Law, and Environment Protection.