Introduction

The concept of the Routledge Series of Industrial History was motivated by the desire of the editors to provide an outlet for articles originally published in the defunct Journal of Industrial History (JIH). The first edition of the JIH was published in 1998, with the aim of providing ‘clear definitional parameters for industrial historians’ and, in turn establishing links between ‘industrial history and theoretical work in social science disciplines like economics, management, political science, sociology, and anthropology’. As it is over twenty years since its original publication, it is clear that the relevance of the JIH has stood the test of time. The Routledge Series of Industrial History will provide a cross-section of articles that cover the themes and topics, many of which remain central to management studies. These include separate volumes covering ‘management and industry’; ‘industry in the USA’; and ‘banking and finance’. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.