Anthony Giddens (United Kingdom, 1938) is PhD in Psichology and Sociology at Hull University (England) and holds since 1997 the post of director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, one of the world´s most prestigious academic institutions. Considered to be one of the most renowned social theorist of his generation, his ideas have profoundly influenced the writing and the teaching of sociology and social theory around the world, mainly his Theory of Estructuration. His textbook, "Sociology", is the standard introductory text in universities and colleges in many different countries.

He was Professor at Leicester and Cambridge universities, among others, and has been invited professor at Boston, Harvard, New York, Berkeley, Stanford (USA), British Columbia (Canada), Rome (Italy), Melbourne (Australia) and Sorbone (France). Author of over 200 articles and critiques in newspapers, weeklies and the specialist press, Giddens has written some thirty books, published in over 30 languages, including "The Nation-State and Violence" (1985), "Social Theory and Modern Sociology" (1987), "The Consequences of Modernity" (1990) "The Transformation of Intimacy" (1992), "Beyond the Left and Right" (1994), and "In defence of Sociology" (1996) and "The Third Way: The Renewal of Social Democracy" (1998).

Anthony Giddens has received thirteen honorary degrees. The cross of Southern Brazil and the great cross of the Order of Infante don Henrique de Portugal figures amongst the honours he has received.