by Ilario Favaretto

The new series of the Argomenti coincides with some changes that mark a significant transition.

First of all, the editor and distributor of the journal, previously entrusted to a well-known specialized national publishing house, are now under the responsibility of the Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo, which already performs similar activities for scientific journals in other disciplines. This shift means that the administrative and distribution functions move from an associative context of entrepreneurial representation – where they were carried out voluntarily – to an institutional and academic context that prioritizes theoretical and applied research along the lines of higher education and scientific dissemination. This systematic approach is employed to spread research results and stimulate academic debate.

Secondly, Argomenti transitions from the traditional print mode, available through subscription or paid downloads, to digital access for free. This new approach better meets the current need for broader ideas and research results sharing. This approach has gained prominence with the advancement of information technologies and globalization. The web-based dissemination of the journal is also expected to significantly increase its reach, both in terms of the target audience (expanding its readership among international students and researchers) and the availability of published scientific contributions for all scholars who wish to access them.

Finally, although the management of the journal, including the editorial direction and the editorial committee, remains in the hands of the scholars who have been overseeing it until now – ensuring the continuity of the cultural and scientific project that has animated it since its inception – the changes mentioned above imply that this continuity is also reflected in its evolution, which is inherent in the new promotional and organizational dimension of the journal.

Therefore, the experimental and courageous nature of the original editorial initiative finds structure and strength precisely in the new editorial context, which continues to follow the path of dissemination and research activities of an internationally renowned institution such as the University of Urbino.

The continuity of the project also informs other aspects of the journal, particularly the composition of the scientific committee, which – although it may change over the years – will maintain its character linked to active participation in editorial work and the activities of national and international research groups operating in economic and sociological disciplines. The works must also maintain the balance between rigor and clarity of presentation, which has so far made it possible to disseminate research results, ideas, and debates according to scientific validity and comparability criteria.

Last but not least, the distinctive graphic character of the journal retains its main features but loses all limitations associated with the print publication, gaining the ability to publish color graphics and figures with sharpness and legibility no longer dictated by printing constraints.