Capitalism Rules!

As separate topics of study, capitalism and global governance have each attracted considerable attention, but historical research connecting the two has only recently gained momentum. Scholars working in this area have revisited international organizations through the lens of capitalism, analyzed the institutional development of global economic governance, and critically examined the ability of global regulations to stand up to multinational corporations. Business historians have a unique contribution to make to this growing field by studying economic actors within the structures of capitalism and global governance and opening the so-called “black boxes” of firms, their behaviors in different business environments, and the ways they relate to the international regulators, policymakers, institutions, and organizations that form the “world order.” This panel, part of a larger series of events and publications on the theme, brings together business historians working on capitalism and global governance in the 20th century. By examining the role of cartels in interwar globalization, business reactions against common European competition rules, private influence on the creation of modern investment law, and the complex relationship of business philanthropy to global health, we aim to uncover how the multilayered relationships between business and governance shaped the global economy.