Bob Jessop is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Co-Director of the Cultural Political Economy Research Centre at Lancaster University, UK. He is best known for his contributions to state theory, critical political economy, the analysis of comparative welfare regimes, critical governance studies, and cultural political economy.

Karim Knio is Associate Professor in International Political Economy and Governance at the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands. He is also the current Associate Managing Editor of European Political Science Review (EPSR). His research focuses on the intersection between international political economy, governance and public policy.