Multinational Business and Transnational Regions

This book presents a transnational perspective on the economic history of the Rhine region, examining the shift from coal to oil and the resulting changes in regional connections influenced by multinational enterprises.

Multinational Business and Transnational Regions presents a fresh perspective on the historical study of economic regions, particularly focusing on the Rhine valley. This area, which includes various cities and territories along the Rhine River and its tributaries, has typically been analyzed through a narrow lens. The book challenges this traditional historiography by advocating for a transnational approach to understanding economic development.

The text explores the significant transition from coal to oil that occurred between 1945 and 1973, a change that dramatically reshaped the Rhine region. This transformation disrupted established river-based connections while simultaneously establishing new relationships through the development of extensive cross-border oil pipelines. The role of multinational enterprises in forging these new regional ties is emphasized, alongside the varying responses from national governments, which led to distinct developmental paths across different areas of the Rhine valley.

Ultimately, Multinational Business and Transnational Regions posits that regional changes should be examined through the lens of transnational interconnections rather than solely from local or national viewpoints. By employing a transnational business history methodology, the book aims to reveal the complexities of the region’s evolution while addressing the national biases often found in public records. This work is particularly relevant for scholars and researchers interested in European regional history, international business, environmental history, and those engaged in the oil industry and related fields.