In an urban environment that is constantly evolving, citizen solidarity and sentiments of common interests are rapidly disappearing as individuals - manifesting different needs - generate increasingly complex forms of individualism that cause conflicts and tensions. The results are high social costs and consequences on the collective well-being. This process leads to fractures within local communities characterized by social exclusion that actually limit the exercise of citizenship rights and expanding social and territorial divisions within the same urban context. Thus, the importance emerges of dialogue between members of the community and the institutions in order to promote the sharing of the same system of values and ethical principles underlying the processes of accumulation of social capital. The latter is capable to offer new languages and tools that strengthen community relationships by fostering a shared vision of territory development. In the light of the above, the paper seeks to illustrate that where Institutions favor the promotion and dissemination of social capital by activating new institutions of democracy, to contrast strong powers and to simplify the complexity of the decision-making system. Consequently, a fruitful point of encounter is attained between top-down policies and bottom up social networks. This triggers virtuous processes social (dissemination of solidarity, altruistic and collaborative behaviors), economic (transactional cost reduction) and political (participation and dialogue between local players), benefits that - if duly encouraged and integrated - foster inter-stakeholder co-ordination and co-operation by guaranteeing sustainable urban development.
In uno scenario urbano in costante evoluzione, il legame solidale tra i cittadini ed il sentimento verso gli interessi comuni si stanno rapidamente disgregando, poiché gli individui - manifestando esigenze differenti - generano forme crescenti di individualismo che provocano conflitti e tensioni con elevati costi sociali e conseguenze sul benessere collettivo. Questo processo determina fratture all’ interno delle comunità locali caratterizzate da fenomeni di esclusione sociale che limitano di fatto l’esercizio dei diritti di cittadinanza, ampliando le divisioni sociali e territoriali all’ interno dello stesso contesto urbano. Emerge, quindi, l’importanza del dialogo tra i membri della collettività e le Istituzioni per promuovere la condivisione di un medesimo sistema di valori e di principi etici alla base dei processi di accumulazione del capitale sociale. Quest’ultimo è capace di offrire nuovi linguaggi e strumenti che rinsaldano i rapporti comunitari, favorendo una vision condivisa delle traiettorie di sviluppo territoriale. Sulla base di quanto appena esposto, il presente contributo intende sostenere che, laddove, le Istituzioni favorissero la promozione e la diffusione del capitale sociale, attivando nuovi istituti di democrazia che contrastino i poteri forti e semplifichino la complessità del sistema decisionale, si determinerebbe un fertile incontro tra politiche top down e reti sociali bottom up, in grado di innescare processi virtuosi sul piano sociale (diffusione di comportamenti solidaristici, altruistici e collaborativi), economico (riduzione dei costi di transazione) e politico (predisposizione alla partecipazione e al dialogo degli attori locali) che - se debitamente alimentati ed integrati - possono favorire il coordinamento e la cooperazione tra tutti gli stakeholders, garantendo uno sviluppo urbano sostenibile.
Capitale sociale ed Istituzioni: un possibile binomio tra reciprocità fiduciaria e responsabilità condivisa
Germana Citarella
2018-01-01
Abstract
In an urban environment that is constantly evolving, citizen solidarity and sentiments of common interests are rapidly disappearing as individuals - manifesting different needs - generate increasingly complex forms of individualism that cause conflicts and tensions. The results are high social costs and consequences on the collective well-being. This process leads to fractures within local communities characterized by social exclusion that actually limit the exercise of citizenship rights and expanding social and territorial divisions within the same urban context. Thus, the importance emerges of dialogue between members of the community and the institutions in order to promote the sharing of the same system of values and ethical principles underlying the processes of accumulation of social capital. The latter is capable to offer new languages and tools that strengthen community relationships by fostering a shared vision of territory development. In the light of the above, the paper seeks to illustrate that where Institutions favor the promotion and dissemination of social capital by activating new institutions of democracy, to contrast strong powers and to simplify the complexity of the decision-making system. Consequently, a fruitful point of encounter is attained between top-down policies and bottom up social networks. This triggers virtuous processes social (dissemination of solidarity, altruistic and collaborative behaviors), economic (transactional cost reduction) and political (participation and dialogue between local players), benefits that - if duly encouraged and integrated - foster inter-stakeholder co-ordination and co-operation by guaranteeing sustainable urban development.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.