"Field Emergence from Diverse Origins: History, Heterogeneity, and the Evolution of UK Business Schools"

This paper challenges the long-standing view that UK business schools were late and imitative responses to American models. Drawing on archival evidence and a dataset of 130 institutions, it shows that the field developed incrementally from diverse origins such as mechanics’ institutes, civic universities, colleges of commerce and polytechnics. A field-theoretic lens is applied to trace four phases of development: emergence, status elevation, convergence, and stratified expansion. The analysis highlights how coherence was achieved through symbolic alignment and structural integration rather than through homogeneity. The study advances field theory by identifying three mechanisms that explain emergence from diversity, namely symbolic alignment, structural integration and integrated stratification. It demonstrates that stratification was present from the outset and that historical legacies continue to shape research capacity, legitimacy and market position. The paper shows how history functions as a strategic resource, enabling business schools to mobilise their institutional heritage for differentiation and legitimacy in a competitive global sector.