Product Description

Dramatic narrative, arresting analysis and original research are combined in this book, which addresses the history of one of the world’s biggest oil businesses between 1950 and 1975. Assessing BP’s comparative performance, the book focuses on how BP responded politically, economically and culturally to the rise of new competitors, the decline of Britain’s imperial power, and the determination of nation states to assert national sovereignty over the vital commodity, oil. Climaxing with the OPEC crisis which shook the world in the 1970s, the book - authorised by BP with uniquely unrestricted access to its records - is of wide interest and relevance, especially for those interested in big business, globalisation and nationalism, international affairs, OPEC, the Middle East, and oil.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #504987 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 666 pages

Review
‘ … exciting and well-written … It ranges far wider than the story of one company and offers fascinating insights into the political and economic developments of the period … For such insights, for its historical breadth and for a first-rate account of the politics and internal development of company strategy, this book should appeal to a much wider readership than its bulk and title might suggest.’ Financial Times

‘The author deftly combines corporate biography with the insights of Chandlerian business history … and in so doing has produced a very satisfying book. the work is a splendid successor to the first two volumes in this series …’. Business History

‘It will give pleasure to all who are intrigued by the rise of the industry, the struggles of the companies within it, and their changing place in the world economy and politics during this period.’ The Journal of Energy and Development

‘… this book represents the very best of company history, marked by lucidity, meticulous research and sound historical judgement.’ History

Customer Reviews

Essential Resource for serious oil company historians
James Bamberg's book is essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the development of international oil companies. Although written with the support of the company and given full access to the BP Archive, he is not hagiographic, but is quite prepared to point out shortcomings. 500 pages of text are supported by over 100 of detailed notes.

If I had a slight criticism it is that some of the tables are a little limited - and, for example, there is no way to find the total number of service stations supplied by the company at any time. Now I'm waiting for Volume 4 to arrive covering 1976 to 2000! It's also a little light on the environmental impact of the company - not, perhaps, thought as being a major concern in the period under review, but of increasing relevance to the petroleum industry today.

For an academic history it is quite well illustrated; however general readers seeking a more populist history of the company are advised to seek out the much shorter "Portrait in Oil" by Barry Ritchie, or this year's BP 100th anniversary souvenir pictorial book.