John M. Hobson is Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Sheffield and is the great grandson of J.A. Hobson. His books are: Everyday Politics of the World Economy (CUP, 2007, co-edited with Leonard Seabrooke), The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation (CUP, 2004), Historical Sociology of International Relations (CUP, 2002, co-edited with Stephen Hobden), The State and International Relations (CUP, 2000), The Wealth of States (CUP, 1997), and, States and Economic Development (Polity, 1995, co-authored with Linda Weiss). He works at the interface of International Relations, World History/Historical Sociology and Political Economy.

Colin Tyler is Reader in Political Theory at the University of Hull. His latest book is Idealist Political Philosophy: Pluralism and conflict in the absolute idealist tradition (Thoemmes Continuum, 2006). He edited Unpublished Manuscripts in British Idealism: Political philosophy, theology and social thought, 2 vols (Thoemmes Continuum, 2005), and several other sets of British idealist writings. He works in the areas of idealism and the New Liberals, as well as critical global political economy.