Abstract

The economic and political stresses of the First World War and its immediate aftermath strengthened the associational culture in British business. This article focuses on the Federation of British Industries, established in 1916 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1923, which quickly became one of the largest trade associations in the world, with global connections. For British business, workers and government, the years following the end of the First World War presented some of the most difficult challenges of the twentieth century. The article discusses a number of areas such as the influence of corporatism; fear of renewed German economic competition; British participation at overseas trade fairs; business and reparations; the relations between business, Members of Parliament and government; and the uniquely wide range of services the Federation provided to help its members regain lost markets and compete in the post-war world.

摘要

第一次世界大战及其直接后果的经济和政治压力强化了英国商界的社团文化。本文重点介绍英国工业联合会，该联合会成立于 1916 年，并于 1923 年根据皇家宪章成立，该联合会迅速成为世界上最大的贸易协会之一，具有全球联系。对于英国企业、工人和政府来说，第一次世界大战结束后的几年带来了二十世纪最困难的挑战。文章讨论了许多领域，例如法团主义的影响；对德国经济竞争重新开始的担忧；英国参加海外贸易展览会；业务和赔偿；企业之间的关系，议会和政府成员；以及联合会为帮助其成员重新夺回失去的市场并在战后世界中竞争而提供的独特而广泛的服务。