Historical institutionalism for critical transport studies: The politics of private railways in Tokyo

Critical transport studies view transport systems as socially constructed and politically situated, challenging the prevalent approach centered on technical efficiencies and utilities in transport research. However, existing approaches have not sufficiently emphasized the institutional path dependence and contingencies arising from historical decisions. This study addresses this gap by introducing historical institutionalism (HI) as a framework for interpreting institutional stability and changes in rail transit systems and transit-oriented development (TOD). HI reflects a scientific constructivist epistemology to explain the power dynamics and historical contingencies underlying institutions. It complements existing lenses that focus on historical details, class relations, or everyday situations. An HI analysis of Tokyo illustrates how path dependence and contingent decisions preserve and reinforce a globally rare institution that encourages private rail transit entities to profit from non-transport businesses. This institution permits land speculation and underserves less populous areas because it expects rail entities to be self-financed through profits rather than relying on subsidies. Its continuous reinforcement has led policymakers and the public to take it for granted and rarely consider alternatives. Such HI insights allow transport research to critically understand how policies stabilize, change, and diverge, thereby informing theories and policymaking.