Shhh! Noisy cities, anti-noise groups and neoliberal citizenship

Abstract

As the world becomes increasingly urban, with denser cities, residents become subject to greater amounts of noise. Since the late 19th century, people have formed groups to oppose urban noise generated by industrialization, motor vehicles and jet-planes. This article gives the first detailed account of online noise-abatement groups through a case study of Quiet Australia. It maps the key aims of this group, which are to mobilize community support, raise awareness of noise-related problems, gather and exchange expert information, and promote political participation to reduce noise. I argue that there exists a moral geography of noise in which excessive noise-making is seen by Quiet Australia members as morally inappropriate and uncivilized behaviour, which leads to social disintegration. I theorize that such noise-abatement groups seek what I have termed a ‘residential ethics’ or consideration of others through either state-led or neoliberal self-governance to restore social order and uphold social ‘decency’.