This book is first and foremost a history of Schering AG, one of Germany's best known pharmaceutical companies, from its birth as a pharmacy in the middle of the nineteenth century to the first steps of its rebirth as a multinational in 1950. The book traces the various stages of Schering's development, its relationships to other chemical companies, its government, its bankers and other shareholders. As the title implies, the book also tries to put this history in the context of Schering's changing - and for the most part increasingly hostile - political, social and economic environment, which formed the context for the company's efforts to organise its personnel, develop its research and production capacity and to internationalise its business. The author argues that the evolution of Germany's system of corporate governance did not keep up with that country's ability to make technical innovations and actually hindered Germany's ability to respond to the business challenges following World War I.

This book is first and foremost a history of Schering AG.
Reviews
"...a thoroughly researched, crisply written history of one of Germany's most enduring pharmaceutical firms. Kobrak's ongoing critique of the 'cooperative capitalism' that dominated the thinking of most German business executives in the last century is likely to be the most important finding of this study for the business history community." Jeffrey Lewis, The Ohio State University, Canadian Journal of History
"..a valuable contribution to our understanding of business in the Third Reich...this book will stimulate further debate." Enterprise & Society
"Kobrak's study makes its mark not only as a thoughtful and erudite company history, but also as a broader examination of the intersection between national traditions, politics, and the economy." Business History Review
"A valuable starting point for all who are interested in modern German economic history, the role of business in the Third Reich, German business culture and style and the serious problems that issue from them." H-GERMAN
"National Cultures is an intense and thorough scholarly work. The rewards from examining it are considerable..." History
"...explains many interesting aspects of the first one hundred years of Schering's history, especially its organization, and the actions of its managers. The International History Review



Book Information
ISBN 9780521814812
Author Christopher Kobrak
Format Hardback
Page Count 432
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 800g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 29mm