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As this issue is published, the longstanding democratic principles of free speech are being eroded around the world. The ability to speak up, challenge, argue, or decry is now increasingly met with violence, unprecedented in Western democracies. Nationwide protests against the ICE killings in Minneapolis are taking the United States by storm, inflaming the heated political climate of the last decade. 30,000 protesters have been silenced in Tehran for challenging the regime, while those remaining remain isolated from the rest of the world, as any instrument of online communication is blocked. The recent elections in Uganda gave president Museveni his seventh term in office as opposition forces were suppressed and jailed.In moments such as these, the defence of freedom of speech becomes inseparable from the defence of democracy itself.As John Stuart Mill argued, the suppression of an opinion harms society as a whole: if the silenced voice is right, we are denied the truth; if wrong, we are denied the chance to refine our own beliefs.Agorà is rooted in this understanding.It was conceived as a space where young minds can express, challenge and inquire openly. Its purpose is to ensure that voices, especially those that question our society, are heard. The article “Seen from Caracas” epitomises this ethos; a Venezuelan student given the opportunity to account the repression her people face despite the recent deposition of Nicolás Maduro.In an era marked by censorship, choosing to speak is an act of resistance that we must not take for granted. Indeed, the Venezuelan student's need for anonymity exemplifies the censorious nature of our current international order, a nature which Agorà stands firmly against: dialogue is not a threat, but a foundation.It is in light of these world-defining events, Agorà continues to search for new perspectives, regardless of whether or not it agrees with them, to develop knowledge and exchange of ideas.We hope that this edition gives you a fresh take on the continuous changes that this world is experiencing.Luca Ortona, Co-DirectorVittoria Verdecchia, Co-Director

Since our last issue, a ceasefire has paused the war between Israel-Hamas, which has arguably become one of the defining conflicts of our decade. The war has been a humanitarian tragedy, numbering now in the tens of thousands of civilian lives lost. It has also been exceptionally divisive, bringing century-old tensions and grievances to a global stage. This discord has caused many to stop discussing, furthering polarisation and hatred, but peace can never be achieved when communication stops.This ethos developed into our feature this month: A Road to Peace. It exists because students who disagreed decided to participate in open dialogue together: a voice from the Palestinian diaspora watching a homeland he never knew; an Israeli student in Tel Aviv writing from within the violence; a Lebanese student tracing how fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has torn his country’s politics and economy; and a British student examining the West’s recurring toxic entanglement in the region. The ceasefire, Trump’s reconstruction plan, and Lebanon’s new cabinet are signs of temporary stability, not long-lasting peace. We asked our writers to look beyond the past and focus on the future: how to get from this tenuous state to something concrete. Sometimes there were no clear answers, but it occurred to me that in creating this issue we had stumbled on one: open dialogue. Whilst debate and hard work are not a peace plan, they are how one begins.Although there are vastly different perspectives, the common thread is the fragility of the situation: there has been some end to the violence, but what awaits is just as treacherous to navigate.This issue also features incredible stories, from Burundi, Iraq, Italy, and Russia. A favourite is an article Aldeguer-Roure wrote, an exchange student at the American University of Central Asia, describing how language shapes the way we perceive love culturally.I hope that everyone will be able to approach this issue with the same empathy and nuance that the authours came with, agreeing to be published side by side.Siena JacksonEditor-in-Chief

In an age where individualism crushes altruism and economic goals outrank human rights, the need for people to gather and foster respectful political discussions is becoming more relevant than ever. This publication, therefore, aims to bridge local voices and global issues by publishing articles from students worldwide. In this issue alone, contributions range from Colombia to Sierra Leone, Italy to the Philippines.This month’s theme is Identity in a Multipolar Order. Ranging from the arts as a means of revolution to how conflicts influences linguistics, our contributors have shown how easily reality is blurred in power narratives. Often underestimated as exercises in soft power, topics like education, culture, and scientific policies are shaping how the next generations will perceive the global order.Two milennia ago, the Greeks gathered in the Agorà, their city square, to discuss all aspects of public life. Our modern Agorà seeks to be the same: a forum for students to dialogue on politics’ never-ending intricacies. As these intricacies permeate every aspect of our personal and common life, adopting an intersectional approach to politics is crucial to developing independent, critical thinking. We have chosen five recurring themes to guide our publication’s approach to discussing politics: Domestic Affairs, International Governance, Arts, Culture & Identity, Science, Environment & Technology, and Economics & Innovation.Ultimately, it will be up to us, the generation of today, to preserve morals and openness to new ideas in our fragmented global climate.For this reason, it is with great honour that we present to you the very first issue of Agorà, the international student journal on governance led by Politeia Bocconi Students Association. This edition is the result of months of writing, editing and collaboration to achieve our main purpose: connecting students worldwide to platform vital yet overlooked topics and personal perspectives.Throughout this issue, we invite you to explore our contributors’ different realities and to value the uniqueness of their point of view on large-scale dynamics. We hope the reading leaves you with questions, curiosity and passion. Most of all, we look forward to meeting you in this forum next month.Luca Ortona, Co-DirectorGiulia Ristagno, Editor-in-Chief