ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolution of the CME from a historical perspective and the research that has traced the development of these enterprises over time. It provides a brief overview of the history of CMEs, and the development of the academic research literature relating to these firms. The history of the CME movement encompasses a global perspective which has attracted research from a range of disciplines. This includes social and political history, socioeconomics, regional development, and business. The chapter provides the reader with a context against which these areas of focus discussed in the later chapters can be examined and understood. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research in this area, and potential approaches to multidisciplinary methodologies.
