Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US Congress passed
the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (P.L. 107–56) which defines “critical” infrastructure (CI) as “systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United
States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a
debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health
or safety, or any combination of those matters (Sec. 1016(e)).”
The definitions above show that Governments are aware that infrastructure is not
only important, but that some of them are so essential (the term used is “critical”) that
without these critical links, the whole country, if not part only, practically stops
functioning. (e.g. are there many countries which could still function properly if
there was a general electricity power breakdown?). While UK defines 13 critical
infrastructure sectors, USA considers some 16 sectors (updated in 2018) from a
previous list of 18 in 2013.
The preceding section on social infrastructure, however, should have highlighted
that there are many components in the range of infrastructure which could be critical
to the smooth running of everyday life. Chapter 11 on resilience should certainly
give a better opportunity to reflect on all these components and help us
(or governments) decide on what we should call critical infrastructure sectors.
References
Bheenick, R., & Schapiro, M. O. (2006). The Mauritian export processing zone. https://doi.org/10.
1002/pad.4230110314.
Bowker, G. C. (2018). Sustainable knowledge infrastructures. In N. Anand, A. Gupta, & H. Appel
(Eds.), The promise of infrastructure. Durham: Duke University Press.
Carpintero, A. (2015). Solid waste management challenges & opportunities. May 2015 ed. [Leaflet]
UNEP/IETC: Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Critical National Infrastructure. (2020). https://www.cpni.gov.uk/critical-national-infrastructure-0.
Accessed 22 Jan 2020.
European
Commission.
(2020).
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=
CELEX:52004DC0702. Accessed 22 Jan 2020.
Hall, J. W., Nicholls, R. J., Hickford, A. J., & Tran, M. (Eds.). (2016). The future of national
infrastructure: A system of systems approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lewis, A. (1966). Development planning: The essentials of economic policy. London: George Allen
& Unwin.
Likosky, M. B. (2003). Dual legal orders: From colonialism to high technology. Global Jurist
Topics, 3, 2. Published Online: 2003-06-30 https://doi.org/10.2202/1535-167X.1087.
Proag, V. (2010). Sustainable development by design. The Journal of the Institution of Engineers
Mauritius, [online]. Available from: http://www.iemauritius.com/upload/files/sustainable_devel
opment_by_design.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2016.
Shute, N. (2009). Ruined city. Vintage Classics.
Tribe, J. (2011). Introduction to recreation, leisure and tourism organizations. Elsevier BV.
Zafar, A. (2011). Mauritius: An economic success story. In Yes Africa can: Success stories from a
dynamic continent (pp. 91–106).
32
1 Introduction to Infrastructure
the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (P.L. 107–56) which defines “critical” infrastructure (CI) as “systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United
States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a
debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health
or safety, or any combination of those matters (Sec. 1016(e)).”
The definitions above show that Governments are aware that infrastructure is not
only important, but that some of them are so essential (the term used is “critical”) that
without these critical links, the whole country, if not part only, practically stops
functioning. (e.g. are there many countries which could still function properly if
there was a general electricity power breakdown?). While UK defines 13 critical
infrastructure sectors, USA considers some 16 sectors (updated in 2018) from a
previous list of 18 in 2013.
The preceding section on social infrastructure, however, should have highlighted
that there are many components in the range of infrastructure which could be critical
to the smooth running of everyday life. Chapter 11 on resilience should certainly
give a better opportunity to reflect on all these components and help us
(or governments) decide on what we should call critical infrastructure sectors.
References
Bheenick, R., & Schapiro, M. O. (2006). The Mauritian export processing zone. https://doi.org/10.
1002/pad.4230110314.
Bowker, G. C. (2018). Sustainable knowledge infrastructures. In N. Anand, A. Gupta, & H. Appel
(Eds.), The promise of infrastructure. Durham: Duke University Press.
Carpintero, A. (2015). Solid waste management challenges & opportunities. May 2015 ed. [Leaflet]
UNEP/IETC: Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Critical National Infrastructure. (2020). https://www.cpni.gov.uk/critical-national-infrastructure-0.
Accessed 22 Jan 2020.
European
Commission.
(2020).
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=
CELEX:52004DC0702. Accessed 22 Jan 2020.
Hall, J. W., Nicholls, R. J., Hickford, A. J., & Tran, M. (Eds.). (2016). The future of national
infrastructure: A system of systems approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lewis, A. (1966). Development planning: The essentials of economic policy. London: George Allen
& Unwin.
Likosky, M. B. (2003). Dual legal orders: From colonialism to high technology. Global Jurist
Topics, 3, 2. Published Online: 2003-06-30 https://doi.org/10.2202/1535-167X.1087.
Proag, V. (2010). Sustainable development by design. The Journal of the Institution of Engineers
Mauritius, [online]. Available from: http://www.iemauritius.com/upload/files/sustainable_devel
opment_by_design.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan 2016.
Shute, N. (2009). Ruined city. Vintage Classics.
Tribe, J. (2011). Introduction to recreation, leisure and tourism organizations. Elsevier BV.
Zafar, A. (2011). Mauritius: An economic success story. In Yes Africa can: Success stories from a
dynamic continent (pp. 91–106).
32
1 Introduction to Infrastructure