In this issue we feature 17 current papers on the theme of social capital:

Recent global events – the Paris and Brussels bombings, the refugee crisis, the sustainability agreement, the rise of Trump-fuelled hate and more – have prompted me to ask whether PASCAL can and should have a much larger role in world affairs and, if so, what? Given the resources available to it centrally the answer must be no, but by mobilizing just a small amount of its vast member knowledge to think laterally there is a possibility of producing something that might make a difference.