_ _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ / / / / / / \ / / / /_ _ / /__/ / / /\ \ / / / /_ _ / / /__/ / / / \ \ / / / /_ _ / / / / / / \ / / /_ _ _ / /_/ /_/ /_/ \/_/ Date: January 28, 1994 Number: 5 Editors: Alejandra Irigoin, Sylvia Schwaag, Goetz v.Thadden ====================================================== Table of Contents I. Editorial II. Article: Is Economic History Good for You? by Forrest Capie III. Introducing Economic History Journals IV. Jobs Bulletin V. Book Announcement VI. Conferences, Seminars, Courses VII. Fellowships VIII. Network Information ---------------------------- | | | I. EDITORIAL | | | ---------------------------- Dear Economic Historian, This is the fifth edition of EHN and, although late as usual, it contains a good range of issues. These include contributions about the same topics as in the previous issues. In addition we have introduced a new service which gives information about a number of economic history journals from around the world. As always, we invite subscribers to contribute to forthcoming issues; EHN 6 is due out at the end of March. The discussion about the importance of economic history in our times, which started in our last issue with the article by D. McCloskey, is continued with an article by F. Capie on the question: "Is Economic History good for you?" We hope to have further articles related to this topic in the future. Comments and criticism, or even compliments, on this issue are always welcome. We hope you find EHN useful again. The Editors ----------------------------- | | | II. ARTICLE | | | ----------------------------- IS ECONOMIC HISTORY GOOD FOR YOU? BY FORREST CAPIE As a subject in higher education in Britain (and in some other countries too), economic history has not been enjoying its best years. Applications for undergraduate places and for postgraduate research are away down on what they once were. New posts in economic history departments are rarities. There seems to me to be a paradox here. When in the 1960s there was steady growth and prosperity, and considerable confidence in the world that we were set fair on that path for almost as far as could be seen, economic history was thriving. There were new posts, new departments, and lots of students. The debates in the pages of the Economic History Review were being recorded in the national press. And at about the same time monographs in the US were being debated heatedly in the national media. Yet in recent years with so many problems on all economic fronts interest in the subject seems to have waned. We return to the possibility of paradox later. We economic historians find the subject endlessly fascinating with of course a judicious appreciation (the hallmark of our trade) of some of the shortcomings. Why are other people - economists, policymakers, and the like - unable to share this fascination, or at least perceive the usefulness of what we do? Perhaps we are failing somewhere. I should have thought that after all the upheavals in many domestic economies around the world, the problems of the international economy over the last 10 or 15 years, and now the turmoil in east European countries and the republics of the former Soviet Union that there must be a lot that the economic historian could contribute. Think of some of the events and issues of the last 10 or 15 years: major recessions and a possible Kondratiev cycle, stock market crashes, privatisation and deregulation, trade protection and liberalisation, the allocation of property rights and so on. The economic historian has seen all this before. It is important to be as clear as possible about what actually happened in previous experiences and then to try to understand why it happened the way it did. And that must surely form the base upon which any current enquiry on these issues should be conducted. Almost all the interesting questions in economics need an appreciation at minimum, and ideally a good knowledge, of the historical experience. For example, is the current debt/income ratio (US, UK, or many others) a cause for concern? Is "negative equity" or the fall in asset prices a problem for the real economy? Or to take another, should there have been such a fuss over the recent GATT talks? What has economic performance been like under protectionist as against free trade regimes? Or what are the respective costs and benefits of floating exchange-rates and fixed rates? None of these questions and many others can be answered satisfactorily without an understanding of a fairly long historical sweep and of different episodes. The award of the Nobel Prize in economics in 1993 to two economic historians may help to change perceptions. It could give the subject a fillip. At the margin there will doubtless be some people who did not know or care what economic history was, and who will now take an interest and some who may be inspired to take it up. And yet maybe not. There are still, at least in Britain, but probably elsewhere too, economic historians who believe that it is precisely the direction taken by these Nobel prize winners that has derailed the old subject and deprived it of the excitement that it once had. The direction taken is a quantitative/theoretic or cliometric one, and one to some extent dominated by neo-classical economic theorising though this latter is by no means necessary to the cliometric approach. This, according to this view, has left the subject arid and removed much of the human interest. This is an old, old complaint and there is no obvious resolution. When Arnold Toynbee published his account of the industrial revolution in 1884 he began, "The bitter argument between economists and human beings has ended in the conversion of the economists". It was a provocative phrasing and it brought out the different approaches to historical enquiry. Of course the argument had not been ended. It had just begun in earnest. Economics, the dismal science, dealing in aggregates and abstraction was at the other end of the spectrum from history which told stories about people - how they lived, why they took certain actions. There is undoubtedly a tension in the economic historian, more in some than in others. The economist in them is forever pulled towards generalisation and patterns, while the historian is happy with the uniqueness of the events and the specific factors that account for change at a particular time. Very few individuals have all the skills - theoretical, quantitative, narrative - or at least if they have their comparative advantage will still lie in a limited area and it would be in their interests to exploit that area. It is difficult to see a way out and therefore difficult to see how that the subject can thrive once again. As Prof Coleman put it, the economic historian, "cannot proceed without using the divergent techniques of both the economist and the historian. And that makes it no soft option." (What is History? p.32) But if you have the techniques of the economist, exploiting them will undoubtedly bring greater job opportunities. And so even for graduates who find economic history interesting the likelihood is that they will be tempted to pursue economics on its own. That is those at the economic end of the spectrum will go off in that direction. Those who are at the other end of the spectrum may find economic history too difficult or lacking sufficiently in human interest, may be tempted to drift further towards history alone which may mean social history or early periods where the absence of data leaves more room for different approaches. All of this is a tragedy because not only is economic history interesting in itself, it should be a necessary part of every economist's training. One obvious area for inclusion is data. Economists frequently have a rather cavalier approach to data. Data are data. Their preference is to pass on quickly, ignoring the quality of the data, to the interesting part, a discussion of results. No economist should be let loose on any applied work until he or she has gathered basic data in the way that the historian does and recognised the dangerous fragility of most data, and learned to take the care that the historian has learned. But more than that history should never disappear from the economist's view. While economics provides a powerful means for understanding problems there are invariably other parts to the explanation, and these are often historical; but even where they are not the likelihood is that explanation lies in areas that historians are on the look-out for. Too many issues need informing from the past. Perhaps there is a need for better marketing to sell our usefulness better to economists and others. And at the other end of the spectrum perhaps there is a need for more historians to devote themselves to the job of adding flesh to the results of the quantifiers. To go back to the starting point, perhaps there is no paradox. In the 1960s when there was full employment and economic security appeared to be guaranteed we could afford the luxury of some history. In the 1980s and 1990s there has been large- scale unemployment again and greater uncertainty for the future and so the job motive is more powerful. But there are changes taking place and these may once again prove beneficial for economic history. 12 Jan 1994 Forrest Capie Professor of Economic History Business School CITY UNIVERSITY e-mail address: CAPIE@UK.AC.CITY ------------------------------------------------- | | | III.INTRODUCING ECONOMIC HISTORY JOURNALS | | | ------------------------------------------------- REVISTA DE HISTORICA INDUSTRIAL The border between development and backwardness in economic, social and cultural terms coincides with the line which separates industrialised and non-industrialised regions or countries. With its achievements and its failures, industrialisation is the most characteristic feature of the contemporany world. "Revista de Historia Industrial" appears with the aim to contribute to a better knowledge of the industrialisation processes, combining regional, national and international views. This is seen as a way to understand economic growth. RHI has an end exclusively scientific and it is open to contributions, if within the standard patterns of interest and quality. The contributions can be made to one of the four parts: articles, research notes, controversies and reviews. Miquel Guitierez i Poch, University of Barcelona e-mail: histecon@es.ub.riscd2 ----------------------------- | | | IV.JOBS BULLETIN | | | ----------------------------- 1. UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH: The Universitry of Portsmouth are advertising a research Associateship/fellowship in Business History, tenable for two years in the first instance. Duties will include helping to establish a business history research centre, research in some aspect of business history, and a small amount of teaching. For further details see this week's Education Guardian or T.H.E.S., or phone Peter Scott, (0705)844239, or Cliff Gulvin, (0705)844101. 2. THE FLINDERS UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES: lecturer in economic history $ 41.000 - $ 48.688 pa. Quote REF 93213: Available from 1 july 1994 to teach in the Programme in Economic History, located in the Discipline of History. Essential criteria include a PhD or equivalent and a strong research interests in one or more fields of economic history; teaching capacity in the economic history of two or more countries (especially Australia, United States, Great Britain and Japan), and a demonstrated ability to apply economic analysis to historical problems. Further information, including position documentation, must be obtained from Dr. R Shlomowitz. phone (618) 201 2225 or fax (618) 201 2566. The selection process will be based upon the Selection Criteria specified below. Appointment will not normally be made above U$S 45.613 pa. Applications, addressing the selection criteria, quoting the reference number, and giving details of qualifications and experience together with the names, addresses and facsimile number of three referees of whom confidential enquiries may be made, should be lodged with the Manager, Human Resources, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001 by 28 February 1994. SELECTION CRITERIA: Essential criteria: 1. Phd or equivalent. 2. Strong research interests in one or more fields in Economic History. 3. Teaching capacity in the Economic History of two or more countries, especially Australia, the United States, Great Britain and Japan) 4. Demonstrated ability to apply economic analysis to historical problems. 5. The ability to assist in administrative duties within the Programme in Economic History. 6. An interest in multi-disciplinary studies. The University reserves the right not to make an appointment or to invite applications. Equal opportunity is University Policy. 3. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AFRICAN (SUB-SAHARAN) HISTORY: Assistant Professor, tenure-track, to begin 9/16/94. Ph.D. in African history required by 9/16/94; some teaching experience/publications preferred. Regional/chronological/topical specialization open. Send letter of application describing training/scholarly interest, courses prepared to teach, plus c.v., graduate transcripts, writing sample, and three letters of reference to: Allen Isaacman, African History Search Chair, History Department, University of Minnesota, 267 -19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612/624-2800), postmarked by January 31, 1994. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. 4. BETHANY COLLEGE, KANSAS History: Assistant Professor, tenure track. Modern European History plus a Third World specialization other than Latin America. Ph.D. strongly preferred. Excellent benefits package. Deadline: January 31, 1994. EOE. Women and minorities encouraged to apply. Bethany College is a four-year private liberal arts college with a strong academic record and reputation for teaching excellence. Phone inquiries invited to Academic Dean at 913-227-3311, extension 104. Send letter of application, resume, sample course syllabus, transcripts, and five letters of recommendation to: Academic Dean, Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas 67456. 5. UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK History: Modern Europe. European international and strategic history since 1789. Will offer both undergraduate and graduate courses; Ph.D. required. Tenure-track assistant professor level with initial four-year appointment beginning fall 1994. Send application and supporting material by 20 January 1994 (new, extended deadline) to Professor William J. McGrath, Chair, Modern Europe Search Committee, Department of History, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627. AA/EOE 6. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA Asian American Studies: The University of California, Santa Barbara, Asian American Studies Program, invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Asian American history. The appointment will be effective July 1, 1994. Strong preference will be given to applicants: (a) with teaching and/or research experience in Asian American history; (b) whose graduate training is in U.S. rather than Asian history; (c) who can teach courses covering all the major Asian American groups, and (d) who have completed at least three chapters of their dissertation. The appointment will be housed solely in the Asian American Studies program, which is planning to offer a B.A. degree program in Asian American Studies and to become a department in the near future. To apply, send your curriculum vitae, syllabi of courses in Asian American history you have taught or plan to teach, and at least two (and preferably three) chapters of your dissertation (even if they may still be in draft form) or two or more samples of your publications to: Professor Sucheng Chan, Chair, Asian American Studies Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106. In addition, arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent directly to the same address. The deadline for receipt of all materials, including three letters of recommendation, is February 4, 1994. The University of California, Santa Barbara, is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. 7. GOSHEN COLLEGE, INDIANA History: Goshen College, a four-year liberal arts institution, is accepting applications from persons holding or near to the Ph.D. degree for a tenure-track position as teacher of U.S. history, beginning as early as fall 1994. Teaching responsibilities may also include courses in European/World Civilization and/or Women's History. Extra consideration will go to persons whose scholarship would enhance Goshen's strong tradition in Mennonite and Mennonite-related studies. Women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Applications accepted until position is filled. Goshen College, an affirmative action employer, is committed to Christian beliefs and values as interpreted by the Mennonite Church. To apply send a curriculum vitae and three professional references to Dr. John Eby, Academic Dean, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana 46526. Telephone: 219/535-7503. Fax: 219/535-7660. encouraged to apply. 8. THE LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY, CAMBRIDGE, MA: The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is actively searching for a candidate to fill a position as research assistant in Cambridge Massachusetts to work with David Barkin, our Senior Fellow for research in Latin America, on issues of land policy in Latin America. The position is available immediately. Applicants must be fluent in Spanish and have graduate education in related areas, which might include diverse disciplines related to urban studies, rural-urban integration and territorial management. The initial appointment is for a minimum of one year, subject to periodic reviews, and people with their own complementary research interests are particularly welcome to apply. Please send a letter of application and supporting materials to Dr. David Barkin Lincoln Institute of Land Policy 113 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 fax: 617-661-7235 email: dbarkin@igc.apc.org ------------------------------ | | | V.BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT | | | ------------------------------ Book Announcement Publication - September 1993 UK, December 1993 US THE WORLD SYSTEM: FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OR FIVE THOUSAND ? by Andre Gunder Frank and Barry K. Gills Editor/Contributors University of Amsterdam Newcastle University London and New York: Routledge 1993, 320 pp. This book debates whether world systemic interconnectedness is limited to only the last 500 years of the "modern world-system" or whether it also characterizes 5,000 years Afro-Eurasian history. The 5,000 year thesis implies a far-reaching reinterpretation from a much more Asian perspective not only of ancient and medieval but also of modern world history. The thesis poses a more powerful cultural challenge to Eurocentrism in general and to European exeptionalism and primacy in particular. The thesis also questions the ideological and political propriety of fedualism, capitalism and socialism as adequate categories of scientific analysis. This 5,000 year thesis is set out by the editor/contributors, who are joined among the contributors by Ekholm and Friedman and by Wilkinson. Wallerstein and Amin respond with defenses of the now "traditional" 500 year thesis. Abu-Luhgod takes an intermediate position. The book addreses issues in anthropology, archaeology, ecology, economic history, geography, international political economy, international relations and macro sociology. TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD: William H. McNeill PREFACE: A.G. Frank and B.K. Gills Part I: Introduction 1.THE 5,000 YEAR WORLD SYSTEM:AN INTERDISCIPLINARY INTRODUCTION A.G. Frank & B.K. Gills Part II: Building Blocks of Theory and Analysis 2."CAPITAL" IMPERIALISM AND EXPLOITATION IN ANCIENT WORLD SYSTEMS K. Ekholm & J. Friedman 3.THE CUMULATION OF ACCUMULATION B.K. Gills and A.G. Frank 4. HEGEMONIC TRANSITIONS IN THE WORLD SYSTEM B.K. Gills Part III: Using the Theory to Reanalyze History 5.WORLD SYSTEM CYCLES,CRISES AND HEGEMONIC SHIFTS 1700 BC-1700 AD B.K. Gills & A.G. Frank 6.TRANSITIONAL IDEOLOGICAL MODES:FEUDALISM, CAPITALISM, SOCIALISM A.G. Frank Part IV: Discussing Theoretical, Historical and Political Issues 7. CIVILIZATIONS, CORES, WORLD ECONOMIES AND OIKUMENES D. Wilkinson. 8. ANCIENT WORLD SYSTEMS VS.THE MODERN CAPITALIST WORLD-SYSTEM S. Amin 9. DISCONTINUITIES AND PERSISTENCE: ONE WORLD SYSTEM OR SUCCESSION OF WORLD SYSTEMS? J. Abu-Lughod 10. WORLD SYSTEM VS. WORLD-SYSTEMS: A CRITIQUE I. Wallerstein 11. REJOINDER AND CONCLUSIONS A.G. Frank & B.K. Gills --------------------------------------------------------------- THE WORLD SYSTEM by A.G. Frank and B.K. Gills ISBN 0-415-07678-1 UKL 40.00 or US$ 65.00 US$ 52.00 meetings discount Order from: Routledge or Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane 29 West 35th Str. London EC4P 4EE UK New York, NY 10001-2299 Telef: 0264-332424 Telef: 212-244 6412 Fax: 800-248 4724 Fax Canada: 800-634 7064 ------------------------------------------- | | | VI. CONFERENCES, SEMINARS, COURSES | | | ------------------------------------------- PRODUCTIVITY AND GROWTH CONVERGENCE IN EUROPE CALL FOR SUMMER SCHOOL IN EUROPEAN HISTORICAL ECONOMICS. Beginning next summer (1994) in Barcelona, moving on to Groningen in the Netherlands in 1995 and to Italy in 1996. This is a new initiative of the EUROPEAN HISTORICAL ECONOMICS SOCIETY supported by the European Commission's Human Capital and Mobility Program. The first school will be held in the first week of July 1994 in cooperation with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. The theme will be: NEW GROWTH THEORY AND ITS HISTORICAL IMPLICATIONS Subthemes will include: INSTITUTIONAL DIFFERENCES AMONG NATIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE. The school will encourage the use of economic theory in historical analysis. and stress the importance of history for economics. It will create an opportunity for new scholars to work with senior scholars with an excellent research record in the field. The format of the School will be an intensive week of lectures, seminars and workshops. There will also be a cultural program. The selection of candidates will be biased towards young scholars, i.e. not (much) older than 40. Candidates must be European nationals. The senior fellows will be selected among the very best regardless of age and nationality. All participants will have their accommodation and transport covered by the School. Participants are encouraged, but are not required, to present papers in the workshop. Karl Gunnar Persson(University of Copenhagen) is the Director of the School. For further information, please write to European School of Historical Economics Institute of Economics Studiestraede 6 DK-1455 Copenhagen K; Denmark Fax +45 35 32 30 00 ---------------------------- | | | VII. FELLOWSHIPS | | | ---------------------------- MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MISSOURI RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS The Missouri Historical Society is pleased to offer two summer research fellowships, available annually, beginning in 1994. The fellowships are available to scholars with or witUse of uninitialized value in concatenation (.) or string at E:\listplex\SYSTEM\SCRIPTS\filearea.cgi line 455, line 610. hout advanced degrees, and are meant to encourage significant, original research in the history of St. Louis, Missouri, or the settlement of the trans-Mississippi West. Interested scholars may apply for either a one-month or a three- month term. Fellows are expected to make extensive use of the Historical Society's collections, and to remain in residence for the length of their term. The fellowships carry a stipend of $1500 per month. The application deadline is February 15, 1994. For applications or further information, please write: Missouri Historical Society, Research Center, P.O. Box 11940, St. Louis, MO 63112-0040. --------------------------------- | | | VIII. NETWORK INFORMATION | | | --------------------------------- Gerard Burke has recently set up a new mailbase discussion list on the topic of Business Process Redesign/Re-engineering (BPR) and I would like to ask you all a favour! BPR is a term which is now firmly established in the management vocabulary. It refers to attempts to achieve order of magnitude improvements in organisational performance by redesigning the processes by which an organisation delivers value to its customers. The newly designed processes are often enabled by information technology. In many quoted cases, this has led to transformational changes in the way in which organsiations are structured. In particular, traditional functional structures, and the barriers between them, are being broken down in favour of multi-disciplinary teams responsible for complete processes. Inevitably, BPR cuts across many traditional management disciplines including strategic management, organisational development, organisational behavior, operations management, change management and information systems. Therefore, I am very keen that contributors to the new list come from these and other relevant backgrounds. Could you please pass this note on to members of your list if you feel it is relevant?