Zusammenfassung
This book investigates the causes, course and consequences of the shift in West German chemical technology from a coal to a petroleum basis between 1945 and 1961. It explains how West German industry regained and then retained a competitive position in world markets.

Inhalt

Introduction; Part I. Background: 1. Politics and technological excellence: organic chemicals, 186045: 2. Western German chemicals in flux, 1945; Part II. Bargaining from Strength: The Political Economy Of Technological Change, 1945: 3. A new agenda, 1949: Cold War, changing energy patterns and the development of West German chemical technology; 4. Rejoining the international community: international cooperation and technology transfer, 1951 Part III. Alternative Paths to Plenty: Case Studies from the mid-1950s: 5. Fifty-fifty with the petroleum multinationals: BASF, Shell, and Rheinische Olefinwerke; 6. Fifty-fifty with the petroleum multinationals: Bayer, British Petroleum, and Erdchemie; 7. Going it alone: Hoechst; 8. State's interest and technological change: Hs and cold-rubber technology; 9. End game strategies: the German coal industry and the Fischerropsch process; Part IV. Consolidating the New Regime, 1957: 10. Petrochemicals triumphant, 1957; 11. Conclusion; Index.