Roundabout Way Towards High Mobility. Dialectics of Mobility in the History of Mankind

Abstract

The objective of the study described in the article is a long-term analysis of the quantitative and qualitative parameters of spatial mobility of the population and forecasting its future prospects based on the use of the dialectical method, methods of historical and statistical analysis, which is necessary to understand the required directions and rates of development of transport systems appealed to provide opportunities to meet the needs in spatial movements in the present and creating conditions for increased mobility in the future.Based on statistical data, the study underlines the already high but still tending to grow level of spatial mobility of the population in modern society. It is concluded that mobility has turned to be an urgent need in modern society, and the need to move has become one of the most important human needs. The revealed changes in spatial mobility in the historical retrospective highlights the non-linear nature of mobility, which can be considered within the framework of the dialectical triad «thesis – antithesis – synthesis». The paper identifies the prospects for the growth of spatial mobility of the population in the context of digitalisation. Also, a new concept is introduced that of «spatial-digital mobility», defining must-to-have characteristics of transport systems to provide for the required level of spatial-digital mobility. In addition, the study argues for the significant role of construction of high-speed surface infrastructure for implementation of the growing potential of spatial mobility of the population and analyses the relevant parameters of the Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030 with a forecast for the period up to 2035. It is concluded that the deepening of socio-economic modernisation will be accompanied by a further increase in spatial mobility of the population, which requires the accelerated development of innovative transport.