The Emergence of the West German Petrochemical Industry

1945年至1961年间，西德化学品生产商制造了 从以煤为主向以石油为主的转变 用于制造有机化学品的基于原料，因此 继美国在石化技术方面的领先地位之后， 确保长期竞争力。 斯托克斯医生正在检查 这一重大变化，结合了从政治角度得出的方法， 经济史和技术史。 这 研究将有助于更广泛的问题， 影响技术选择的经济和社会因素; 技术转让在其政治背景下，和国家的 在塑造技术发展中的作用。 在这项资助下，斯托克斯博士正在完成的研究，包括 前往德国检查巴斯夫和拜耳的档案 公司和联邦档案馆在科布伦茨。 这项研究承诺， 对西方的崛起进行了详细的研究 德国石化工业 了解这个德国人 工业从技术落后转变为 （与英国和美国的同行相比） 领导层将阐明这一进程和有效的战略 技术变革的影响。 它也将帮助我们了解 德国政治、经济和技术基础 在战后世界的表现。

Between 1945 and 1961, West German chemical producers made the transition from primarily coal-based to predominately petroleum- based feedstocks for manufacture of organic chemicals, thus following American leadership in petrochemical technology and ensuring their long-term competitiveness. Dr. Stokes is examining this significant change, combining approaches drawn from political and economic history with those from history of technology. This study will contribute to broader issues including the political, economic and social factors affecting technological choice; technological transfer in its political context, and the state's role in shaping technological development. Under this grant, Dr. Stokes is completing research including travel to Germany to examine the archives of the BASF and Bayer companies and Federal Archives in Koblenz. This research promises to produce a detailed examination of the emergence of the West German petrochemical industry. Understanding how this German industry transformed itself from technological backwardness (compared to its British and American counterparts) to world leadership will shed light on the process and effective strategies of technological change. It will also help us to understand the bases of West Germany's political, economic, and technological performance in the postwar world.