Sustainability transitions in business history
Background
Businesses today face unprecedented pressure to transform their operations in response to environmental crises, particularly climate change, and government policy. From the European automobile industry's mandated transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2035 to the emergence of entirely new manufacturing sectors like battery cell production in China, we are witnessing what may be the most significant industrial transformation since World War II. These changes are accompanied by substantial investments, for which the International Energy Agency estimates $2 trillion in clean energy investments globally in 2024, almost twice as much as in fossil energy.
Yet, as business historians have documented, the relationship between business and environmental sustainability is complex and often contradictory (Jones 2017). The same commercial enterprises that made modern life possible through new products and efficient production processes have also contributed significantly to making the world less sustainable (Bergquist 2019a). The institutional evolution and growth of firms since the first industrial revolution has been largely structured by their adoption of fossil fuels, creating technological and organizational lock-ins that now present significant barriers to change (Chandler 1980). Importantly, high-carbon industries have been active in reinforcing these lock-ins by spreading doubt about the rationales and feasibility of moving away from fossil energy (Oreskes and Conway 2010). Understanding these historical patterns is crucial for comprehending both the challenges and opportunities in current transitions.
While business history research exploring the role of business in creating and addressing environmental challenges has expanded in recent years (Berghoff and Rome eds. 2017; Bergquist 2019b), the field has yet to fully engage with the growing academic and public conversation about sustainability transitions, i.e. systemic changes needed to address environmental crises (Köhler et al. 2019). This special issue aims to bridge this gap by bringing business historical perspectives to bear on questions of how firms and industries navigate transformative environmental challenges. We seek contributions that can illuminate both the obstacles to transition – such as established business systems and resistance from incumbent firms – and potential pathways forward, including historical alternatives to fossil fuel-dependent technologies and successful cases of business adaptation to environmental pressures.
More information, here.
Submission Guidelines
Abstracts:
Please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words and a brief biographical note by January 30, 2025. Abstracts should clearly state the research question, methodological approach, sources, and main argument.
Workshop:
Authors of selected abstracts will be invited to participate in an authors' workshop in June or July 2025, where draft papers will be discussed.
Full Papers:
Complete manuscripts need to be submitted in September 2025. Papers should not exceed 10,000 words (including references) and follow the Business History journal style guidelines. Papers will then follow the peer review process of the journal, acceptance by the guest editors does not guarantee publication.
