2nd World CBH, Nagoya 10-12 September 2020

The congress will be held as Joint Congress of the Business History Society of Japan (BHSJ) and the European Business History Association (EBHA).

The World Congress of Business History (WCBH), which is held about every four years, provides a unique platform for business historians from all over the world to gather together and deepen academic exchange. Following on from the inaugural WCBH held in 2016, we are pleased to announce that the second WCBH will be held in September 2020 in Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture), Japan.

Business history is a field that, by fully incorporating historical, regional and social context into its analysis, deepens our understanding of the organizations, systems, and practices that underpin business and industry. Until recently, business historians formed regionally-based research communities, particularly in North America, Europe, and East Asia. However, with the start of the WCBH, a global community of business historians was born and its network extended to incorporate other areas (Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, etc.) where business history was newly emerging as a field. It may be said that research in business history has entered a new stage.

In recent years, in reaction to globalism, nationalistic and exclusionary sentiment have been on the rise in many countries, and trade friction has overshadowed the world economy. By coming together at the WBHC, it is hoped that we business historians can contribute to overcoming the national and regional divisions of the 21st century world by deepening mutual understanding about business and industry.