Lo sviluppo locale in una prospettiva sociologica

The Author proposes a contribute on Sociological approach to local development. In particular, the various historical phases are reconstructed: from modernization theories to those who emphasise the local dimension, from spontaneous development to the built one and from this last to “shared development”. It is underlined as, during these phases, different kind of happenings and resources operate, such as economic trends, globalisation, challenges in consumers preferences, policy dynamics, generation change in firms. But what is evident in these processes is the embeddedness of economic action in social context, that of social communities, which emphasizes the importance of territorial dimension, especially of the capacity of it to elaborate a collective identity. In fact, this is at the basis of competitiveness and it is possible with participation of all local actors, starting from a shared development project for their territory, for their future.