As a novice to this list, I owe you a short introduction. I am a historian
working on a dissertation on the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce
(SCCC), especially focussing on its role as a socio-political
representational organization towards the various governments it had to deal
with in time.
My query relates to an article I am writing for a conference on the subject
"Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial organizations in Asia and Europe
compared" to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The point of departure of
the article is the change in British colonial policy in Singapore in the
latter part of the last and the first decade of the present century which
resulted in a wave of establishments of representational organizations of
business. Previous to this policy change the Chinese business world in
Singapore was organized through guild-like organizations and along lines of
geographical ancestry in China; secret societies were still quite important.
These organizations were often inward looking and were primarily a
disciplining and regulatory force towards the group it represented.
When the British terminated the tax farming system, implemented a policy of
active persecution of the Secret Societies and generally became much more
involved with and in the economy on a policy level, local organizations like
the SCCC sprang up. These were much more government oriented and geared
towards lobbying the decision makers on economic policy.
As I want to bring in a comparative perspective with developments in Europe,
I wonder if people on this list could point me to similar changes in the
form and nature of business organizations in reaction to a more active state
intervention in the economy. I am both interested in more broad, theoretical
works and in specific case studies that give a good illustration to this
type of development.
As I was referred to this list by a colleague and are, as of yet not
subscribed to it, I would appreciate it if you could send answers and
suggestions directly to my email address below.
Thank you very much,
Drs. Sikko Visscher
Centre for Asian Studies Amsterdam
Oude Hoogstraat 24
1012 CE Amsterdam
email: [log in to unmask]
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