ABSTRACT

The liberalization of global finance in the 1980s has affected construction around the world leading to a general globalization that is transforming the culture of building in both rich and poor countries. The free movement of capital, labour, and technology has led to dramatic change in the organization of all aspects of building. The paper traces the origins of this development through a review of the literature of construction geopolitics and a brief history of international contracting, making the case for further study of geopolitical forces by construction historians.