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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 June 2025
During his 2012 presidential re-election campaign, Barack Obama attracted Republican opprobrium when, in a speech, he pointed to the ways in which US businesses depended for their existence on government backing not only because of its social and economic programmes but also through infrastructural provision such as roads and bridges. “You didn't build that”, Obama said in words that were frequently thrown back at him. He was, Republican campaign commercials charged, insulting self-made firms.
In a similar vein to former President Obama, I should say that I didn’t build this book. It has been helped enormously by others to whom I owe an immense debt of gratitude. In particular I should extend my thanks to Alison Howson of Agenda Publishing, who proposed the original idea and has guided the project from beginning to end, for her support and ability to apply pressure with an astutely judged mix of kind-heartedness and resolution. I should also extend my gratitude to colleagues and friends at Copenhagen Business School and the Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research. A special word of thanks goes to Sebastian Ahistich, Torben Juul Andersen, Jens Gammelgaard, Thomas Heitmann, Bersant Hobdari, Steven Hurst, Mads Dagnis Jensen, Lars Bo Kaspersen, Bent Petersen, Jan Stuckatz, Grahame Thompson, Alex Waddan and Ayca Uygur Wessel. Last, but certainly by no means least, I am grateful to Gravens Rand for providing a hospitable home from home as the book took shape and developed. It goes without saying that I am alone responsible for errors, omissions and judgements.
Edward Ashbee
Copenhagen
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