Call for proposals for Green Capitalism? Exploring the Crossroads of Environmental and Business History
A conference October 30 and 31, 2014, at the Hagley Museum and Library in
Wilmington, Delaware sponsored by the Center for the History of Business,
Technology and Society and the German Historical Institute - DC.
This conference hopes to point to fresh opportunities for joining the
insights of environmental and business history. We are especially
interested in providing historical perspectives on a question of obvious
relevance today: Can capitalism be green - or at least greener? Our title
- "Green Capitalism?" - is admittedly drawn from contemporary discourse.
But we are convinced that history can provide invaluable insights into the
complex and changing relationship between business and the environment.
We invite papers that consider in specific historical contexts the extent
to which the business enterprises that are central to capitalism operated
in an environmentally sound or detrimental manner by the way they dealt
with their refuse, by managing their use of resources, and mitigating or
ignoring any harmful impact on those who handled their products or are
affected by their waste. Though business activities have had many
deleterious environmental consequences, businesses sometimes have acted to
protect the environment, reduce their direct and indirect environmental
impact, and promote environmental reform in society. That is true now,
but it also was sometimes the case long before the rise of modern
environmentalism.
Papers can take many forms. We expect that many papers will focus on the
history of particular firms. Others may analyze historical controversies
about the use of resources or the cultural, political, and environmental
factors that have shaped how business treats the environment. Given the
global nature of business activity and environmental concerns, we
encourage papers that take a transnational perspective on these issues.
The papers may address any area of the world in the industrial era,
roughly after 1800.
Papers might consider, among others, the following questions:
* In what instances, and in what ways, has business mitigated pollution
and other harmful environmental impacts, for what reasons and objectives,
and in what political, economic, and social contexts?
* What were the intended and unintended consequences of the innovations
instituted by businesses to mitigate their impact on the environment?
* Why and in what context has business or business organizations advocated
for government regulation of environmental conditions?
* When, and in what specific episodes, have there been conflicts among
businesses and business sectors over environmental and energy issues?
* When and why have businesses sought to encourage changes in consumer
behavior that have environmental implications?
* In what ways have business interests drawn on or adapted environmental
concerns to their business strategies?
* How has privatization of resource allocation functions once reserved for
public agencies (e.g. energy distribution, water procurement) influenced
engagement with environmental issues by business?
* How has the globalization of business activity affected the terrain of
environmental concerns: where products are made, used, regulated, and
discarded or recycled?
* How has the location of environmental and resource concerns in local,
regional, national, or international contexts influenced business
initiatives?
* How have business initiatives around the environment been shaped by
local and national conditions, regulatory regimes, legal institutions,
and/or political culture?
The program committee includes: Adam Rome (University of Delaware), Yda
Schreuder (University of Delaware), Hartmut Berghoff (German Historical
Institute), Erik Rau (Hagley Museum and Library), and Roger Horowitz
(Hagley Museum and Library).
Proposals may be up to 500 words in length, and should include a summary
of the paper's argument, the sources on which it draws, and the larger
historiographic context or contemporary debates with which it engages. A
short c.v. or resume should accompany the proposal. The deadline for
receipt of proposals is May 1, 2014 and should be sent via email to Carol
Lockman, clockman@Hagley.org. Presenters will receive travel support to
cover most costs to attend the conference.
Wilmington, Delaware sponsored by the Center for the History of Business,
Technology and Society and the German Historical Institute - DC.
This conference hopes to point to fresh opportunities for joining the
insights of environmental and business history. We are especially
interested in providing historical perspectives on a question of obvious
relevance today: Can capitalism be green - or at least greener? Our title
- "Green Capitalism?" - is admittedly drawn from contemporary discourse.
But we are convinced that history can provide invaluable insights into the
complex and changing relationship between business and the environment.
We invite papers that consider in specific historical contexts the extent
to which the business enterprises that are central to capitalism operated
in an environmentally sound or detrimental manner by the way they dealt
with their refuse, by managing their use of resources, and mitigating or
ignoring any harmful impact on those who handled their products or are
affected by their waste. Though business activities have had many
deleterious environmental consequences, businesses sometimes have acted to
protect the environment, reduce their direct and indirect environmental
impact, and promote environmental reform in society. That is true now,
but it also was sometimes the case long before the rise of modern
environmentalism.
Papers can take many forms. We expect that many papers will focus on the
history of particular firms. Others may analyze historical controversies
about the use of resources or the cultural, political, and environmental
factors that have shaped how business treats the environment. Given the
global nature of business activity and environmental concerns, we
encourage papers that take a transnational perspective on these issues.
The papers may address any area of the world in the industrial era,
roughly after 1800.
Papers might consider, among others, the following questions:
* In what instances, and in what ways, has business mitigated pollution
and other harmful environmental impacts, for what reasons and objectives,
and in what political, economic, and social contexts?
* What were the intended and unintended consequences of the innovations
instituted by businesses to mitigate their impact on the environment?
* Why and in what context has business or business organizations advocated
for government regulation of environmental conditions?
* When, and in what specific episodes, have there been conflicts among
businesses and business sectors over environmental and energy issues?
* When and why have businesses sought to encourage changes in consumer
behavior that have environmental implications?
* In what ways have business interests drawn on or adapted environmental
concerns to their business strategies?
* How has privatization of resource allocation functions once reserved for
public agencies (e.g. energy distribution, water procurement) influenced
engagement with environmental issues by business?
* How has the globalization of business activity affected the terrain of
environmental concerns: where products are made, used, regulated, and
discarded or recycled?
* How has the location of environmental and resource concerns in local,
regional, national, or international contexts influenced business
initiatives?
* How have business initiatives around the environment been shaped by
local and national conditions, regulatory regimes, legal institutions,
and/or political culture?
The program committee includes: Adam Rome (University of Delaware), Yda
Schreuder (University of Delaware), Hartmut Berghoff (German Historical
Institute), Erik Rau (Hagley Museum and Library), and Roger Horowitz
(Hagley Museum and Library).
Proposals may be up to 500 words in length, and should include a summary
of the paper's argument, the sources on which it draws, and the larger
historiographic context or contemporary debates with which it engages. A
short c.v. or resume should accompany the proposal. The deadline for
receipt of proposals is May 1, 2014 and should be sent via email to Carol
Lockman, clockman@Hagley.org. Presenters will receive travel support to
cover most costs to attend the conference.