Anthony Giddens Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences 2002

Anthony Giddens (London, UK, 1938) graduated in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Hull (England). He is known for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. He also gained major recognition due to his attempt to renew social democracy through his theory of the Third Way. Considered one of the most prominent modern contributors to the field of sociology, he is the author of at least 34 books published in no less than 29 languages, publishing more than one book per year on average. He has also been called the best known English social scientist since John Maynard Keynes. He served as director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, one of the most prestigious academic centres in the world, between 1997 and 2003. 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), "On The Edge. Living with Global Capitalism" (2001), "Europe In The Global Age" (2007) and "The Politics of Climate Change" (2010)

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. In 2004, he was awarded the title of Baron Giddens of Southgate, in the London Borough of Enfield.