In this issue we feature 12 current papers on the theme of social capital, chosen by Fabio Sabatini (Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”):

With expectations high, and a programme that filled three days from early morning until mid-evening, this conference was truly a journey.  As we shared experiences, as we learned more about how diverse learning city initiatives are around the world, as we deepened our understanding of the issues that define this moment in global history, we resolved to integrate lifelong learning into learning cities – not just to satisfy a constituency that needs to find its place in a crowded policy agenda, but as a means to a greater end, a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable pattern of development.