Rising to the challenge

Thus far in 2025, editions of RSA Journal have explored aspects of what it means to live in a society that is truly connected, addressing topics such as trust, mobility and opportunity – some of the variables that determine social cohesion.

But even a passing glance at the news pages signposts the fractured reality of the world around us and, by extension, reminds us of those who may not have (or have ever had) a seat at the table.

So in this, our third issue of the year, we explore exclusion, and the challenges it creates which both define our present and future and erect roadblocks to our goal of societal connection. Challenges that the Fellowship have never, in the long history of the RSA, shied away from.

Award-winning writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch is the subject of this edition’s ‘In conversation’ interview, in which she reflects on the enduring role of race in shaping British identity through its people and institutions (including the RSA). Today, questions of racial identity remain as complex as ever across the UK, and Afua’s personal experience of being ‘othered’ resonates powerfully in the present, with marginalisation and bias still deeply entrenched issues that are reflected in the current immigration debate dividing the nation.

A piece by Ken Costa, author and former global financier, examines the generational divide at the heart of ‘the great wealth transfer’. As Baby Boomers pass their assets to younger generations, what does this mean for society? Tensions between age groups have sharpened, with many Zennials seeing older generations as out of touch or even selfish in political and social terms. Ken makes the case that capitalism – often the very focus of this criticism – can provide solutions to the challenges younger generations face. In line with the RSA’s founding values, he argues that collaboration and open dialogue must be central if we are to secure solutions that work for all.