EBHA 2011

15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Athens, 24-26 August 2011

Business, Finance and the State in 20th Century: European
Comparisons in Historical Perspective.
Crises and Transformation.

The theme of the conference refers to the debate and discussion of economic crises and recessions in the 20th century, stimulated by the onslaught of the first severe recession of the 21st century. The Contradictions of globalisation have set in motion a process of introspection and questioning about the role of business, finance and the state and a need to study the past, rethink concepts and processes, find keys to understanding the present and working towards a solution for the future. Relations between business and the world of finance, on the one hand, and state and finance, on the other, are of particular importance and their study continues to generate useful comparisons, experiences and new perspectives. The role, strategies and practices of the corporate and other sectors of business prevalent in the West need to be re-examined. Alternative patterns of economic structures and synergies, various industries, as well as various degrees and forms of state intervention are resurfacing as potential solutions, in order to induce economic activity and preserve the tissue and peace of societies. They have implications for entrepreneurial initiative and business organisation as well as changes in corporate strategy and governance.
The conference will focus on:
How crises have affected and created challenges for different types of business, especially, but not only, during the 20th century. We would be interested to explore the response of entrepreneurs and firms to development opportunities, structural constraints, organisation requirements, technology, communication, governance, networking, legitimacy strategies, identity and image.
What relations with banks, on the one hand, and with the state, on the other, were established and how they were transformed, across different sectors, e.g. big corporate and smaller non- corporate, family run enterprises, entrepreneurial networks. What was the impact of such changes on scope, strategy and image of the firms, across global, regional, national and sector boundaries. What was the role of the financial system in handling the effects of crises.
Response of the banking and financial sector and system to crises. Direct impact and wider consequences on society and institutions.
Development of sectors, and branches which have traditionally attracted lower interest, e.g. tourism, in several of its forms e.g. transport, hospitality, recreation construction; the leisure industry and cinema and their impact on the economy and society in normal times and in crisis conditions.
Development of institutions with pronounced social characteristics such as co-operatives, and other non-profit organisations across time and space and their impact on the economy and society in normal and in crisis conditions.
Formal and informal relations between States and business, on a European, national or regional level and changes observed across time in institutions.
Importance and impact of banking and business strategies and policies on wider social and cultural issues across time. Corporate Responsibility initiatives.
Effects of crises on business ethic and corporate values and wider implications.
Good papers on related topics for earlier periods will also be considered.

Proposals for papers and or sessions related to the theme of the conference are welcome, although paper and/or session proposals not directly related to it will also be considered. For paper proposals, please submit a title and abstract of no more than 400 words (one A4 page) along with a one page CV to mail:ebha2011proposals@eap.gr Session proposals should include a brief abstract of the session along with a one-page abstract and a one-page CV for each participant.

Deadline for all proposals is 15 January 2011.

New deadline for proposals: 5 Febuary 2011

For further details please see the conference website: http://ebha.eap.gr