During his stay at the WCFIA, Thomas David will complete his monograph on the history of the International Chamber of Commerce (with Pierre Eichenberger, New School for Social Research). Entitled "‘Businessmen of the World, Unite!’ The International Chamber of Commerce and the Rise of Global Capitalism in the Twentieth Century", the book aims to uncover the role of this unique non-governmental international organization in the rise of global capitalism. In doing so, it contributes to better understanding the way leading business people meet internationally to promote their interests.

Thomas is Professor of International History at the University of Lausanne and was previously Dean of the College of Humanities at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne (EPFL).