The “Americanization” of Management Education in Britain

Abstract

At first sight, Britain appears to have built its business and management education system firmly on American lines. Without any real provision in 1945, the country now has about 120 business schools and a big output of MBAs. Yet closer inspection reveals a more complicated picture, full of ebbs and flows, and sharp controversies. This article looks in detail at Britain’s trajectory and then examines its dynamics, focusing on the key players that shaped events, from governments to students. It argues that the evolution of the British system had little to do with rational debate about the merits of U.S. practice and instead often reflected the politics of prejudice and self-interest