Using History in International Business
Rolv Petter Amdam, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway
Teresa da Silva Lopes, University of York, United Kingdom
International Business research includes a small but expanding stream of literature with a historical dimension. This may be research that applies theory from International Business to historical data, uses archival data and historical methodology, or aims to develop theory based on historical studies. This track aims to attract scholars that aim at exploring the possibilities of using historical data and methodology to develop theory related to the academic field of International Business. The use of history in International Business is a relevant topic for the development of IB as an academic field in general, as well as for the understanding of how to develop a sustainable world. The track has an open and inclusive approach to research that intends to explore the richness that is embedded in past experiences and data to explore, develop, or test International Business theory. Among the non-exclusive list of topics that could be addressed within this broader umbrella are:
- The use of historical studies in guiding multinational enterprises in developing sustainability
- The lessons from the past about the relationships between multinationals and governments in developing a sustainable world
- The contribution of historical analysis to the nuanced understanding of the phenomena of globalisation and de-globalisation
- The use of historical evidence to assess the long-term impact of multinationals on host countries
- The rise of emerging markets and the processes of globalization of multinational firms from those markets
- Globalization and environmental and social sustainability by multinational enterprises in a historical perspective
- The strategic and organizational challenges multinational enterprises face in their internationalization processes
- Challenging, revising, or rejecting international business theories and concepts, such as cultural distance and internationalization models
- Developing detailed (comparative) business or varieties of capitalism histories
- The role of historical studies in enriching the knowledge about the development of International Business as an academic field