Drivers and Carriers of Globalisation: Technology, economics and business in transnational and comparative perspective

The program aims to enhance inter-university research cooperation between economic, technology and business historians (and other interested scholars) working on globalisation in the Flemish-Dutch research community.

Research Directors

• Dr. Torsten Feys (Universiteit Gent)
• Dr.ir. Erik van der Vleuten (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven)


Description of the theme

This program aims to enhance inter-university research cooperation between economic, technology and business historians (and other interested scholars) working on globalisation, economic development and technological change. The contrast between a comparative and a transnational approach forms a challenge and a source of inspiration. At this moment, various large projects are almost finished (BINT, Tensions of Europe) and new programs are being developed. In due course this large group may split up into separate programs. The intention for the coming period is that more Flemish researchers become involved in this program, which especially in the field of business history should open new opportunities. The new program comprises:


• An international turn: transcending nation-centered history, the program spotlights the intertwined processes of globalisation, regional integration, and national development from  comparative and transnational perspectives.


• In this process of internationalising previously national research outlooks, the program juxtaposes two available research strategies: the comparative and transnational history perspectives. National comparisons were used in constructing an international historical database on economic growth and development, in studying the role of labour unions in the emergence of the welfare state, in studying the development of economic inequality in Latin America, and in studying the pace of technological change in several East Asian countries (to mention just a few examples). A transnational approach focusing upon connections and entanglements cutting across nation states (rather than taking nation states as discrete units of analysis) was applied in studying transnational infrastructures, the circulation of technology-related knowledge and consumer practices, the dynamics of transnational economic regions (the Rhine economy), and the carriers of (post)colonial relationships. . Eindhoven, Ghent, and Rotterdam historians took a leading role in articulating and developing a transnational history perspectives.


• New insights in the intertwined economic and technological aspects of national development and intra-national integration. These insights will profit from a more explicit study of economic growth and technology diffusion within their socio-cultural and institutional contexts.


• Central questions of the program include: what were the prime determinants of (de-) globalisation and regionalisation from the mid-nineteenth century onwards? How, and by whom, did these processes take shape? How did the role of the nation state change in response to these processes? What can be said about the tensions, conflicts, and welfare effects generated by these processes?

Focus points in the program

• Regional integration (Europe’s hidden technological, economic, and business integration; the transnational Rhine economy);
• Colonialism and development;
• Varieties of Capitalism in OECD countries and beyond;
• Sustainable development in past and future;
• Income inequality between states, within states, and between regions.

Background

The program has three different ancestors: (a) historical national accounts; (b) history of technology and (c) the evolution of national business systems (BINT). The BINT-project (Bedrijfsgeschiedenis in Nederland in de twintigste eeuw) had as its main focus the competitiveness and changing characteristics of the Dutch business system during the twentieth century. This project is reaching its final stages and will cease to exist as a separate research program in the Posthumus Institute.

The program is embedded in several international networks, such as the pan-European research network and program Tensions of Europe. The Role of Technology in the Making of Europeand its offsprings (e.g. the ESF-EUROCORES program Inventing Europe and the current Making Europe bookseries) and the ESF research networking program GlobalEuroNet. The International Economic History Association promoted and supports the NWO-investment program An International Historical Database on Economic Growth and Development (Groningen), which aims to collect and analyse quantitative data in the field of long-run growth and development in an international comparative framework and to make this accessible for larger audiences.

Examples of projects being carried out

• Modern Times. European Capitalism in the Second Industrial Revolution 1900-1950. Herman de Jong (RUG);
• Outport and Hinterland: Rotterdam Business and the Ruhr Industry, 1870-2000. Hein Klemann (EUR).
• State and Economy in Modern Indonesia's Change of Regimes. Thomas Lindblad (UL);
• Globalizing Europe. Economic History Network (Herman de Jong together with prof. S. Battilossi (Carlos III));
• European Ways of Life in the 'American Century': Mediating Consumption and Technology in the Twentieth Century (EUWOL). Ruth Oldenziel (TUe);
• Europe goes critical: The Emergence and Governance of Critical Transnational European Infrastructures (EUROCRIT). Erik van der Vleuten (TUe);
• Exploring the international dimensions of infrastructures. A Historical Perspective. Johan Schot (TUe);
• Convergence and Diversity: food history in Europe since the late 18th century. Peter Scholliers (VUB);
• An historical analysis of the Flemish third-world moveme nt. Guy Vanthemsche (VUB);
• The Colonial Origins of Inequality: A comparative analysis of colonial fiscal systems taxes in European colonies. Ewout Frankema (UU);
• Colonial Exploitation and Economic Development: The Belgian Congo and the Netherlands Indies Compared. Ewout Frankema (UU), Frans Bulenes (UA).

Participants

TUe
Prof. dr. Harry Lintsen  
Prof. dr. Johan Schot   
Prof dr. Ruth Oldenziel  
Dr. Erik van der Vleuten  
Dr. Mila Davids   
Drs. Suzanne Lommers  
Dr. Frank Schipper   
Dr. Vincent Lagendijk  
Dr. Irene Anastasiadou  
Dr. Geert Verbong   
Dr. Hans Buiter   
Dr. Arjan van Rooij   
Dr. Gijs Mom     
Dr. Eric Berkers   
Dr. Alessandro Nuvolari  

RUG
Javier Lopez Arnaut
Prof. dr. Jan Willem Drukker
Prof. dr. Rainer Fremdling
Dr. Herman de Jong   
Dr. Ben Gales     
Dr. Jan Pieter Smits    
Prof. dr. Marcel Timmer
Joost Veenstra  
Drs. Pieter Woltjer

UL
Farabi Fakih
Drs. Dennie Oude Nijhuis  
Dr. Catia Antunes   
Dr. Jeroen Touwen   
Dr. Thomas Lindblad   
Prof. dr. Richard Griffiths 
Van Thuy Pham 

UU
Dr. Ewout Frankema   
Dr. Erik Nijhof   
Dr. Bram Bouwens    
Drs. Wouter Ryckbosch
Prof. dr. Keetie Sluyterman  
Abdul Wahid  
Prof. dr. Jan Luiten van Zanden

EUR
Marten Boon
Drs. Jeroen Euwe
Prof. dr. Hein Klemann
Drs. Martijn Lak
Klara Paardenkooper
Joep Schenk  
Dr. Ben Wubs

Universiteit Maastricht
Ruud Geven     
    
UGent
Drs. Jan Frederik Abbeloos
Hanne Cottyn  
Prof. dr. Eric Vanhaute  
Drs. Stéphane Hoste   
Dr. Baz Lecocq   
Joris Mercelis    

KULeuven
Dr. Yves Segers   
Prof. dr. Erik Buyst  

VUB
Prof. dr. Peter Scholliers  
Drs. W.de Ridder     

UVA
Drs. Samuel Kruizinga   
Drs. Marijn Molema    

UAntwerpen
Jan Speybrouck   

Posthumus Institute
Last Modified: 03-04-2012