The idea for this book derives from conversations between the two editors – two different nationals with different national upbringings in the history of political thought. Whilst one of them was learning about yet a third and fourth national context (Iain Hampsher-Monk was at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study as the guest of the Dutch Begriffsgeschichte project), the other – Dario Castiglione – organised a conference in Exeter, at which exponents of a range of different national histories of political thought were invited to speak on the topic. Whilst the participants judged the conference a great success, we were aware that the original invitation was likely to produce a disparate set of responses, not only in terms of content but in terms of how the history of political thought was construed. And so indeed it proved.

Although the conference provoked the book, there remained much to be done before a coherent volume could result. New papers were commissioned in order to fill gaps, a great deal of rewriting, editing and translation was undertaken and time – and length – limits imposed on the authors. Given all this, and a range of other circumstances (not least the current external forces shaping university life – which often seem devised specifically to prevent academics from doing the kinds of things they thought they were there to do – namely teach and conduct research), it has taken a long time to bring the volume to its present shape, and we are aware that we have tried the patience and good will of some of our earlier contributors. We hope they will think the result worth it – for we do.