Il Management delle relazioni come strumento di innovazione e sostenibilità sociale

Social relations represent the structural fabric of human aggregation, alternating between cooperative and conflictual dynamics that deeply affect social capital and territorial development. Grounded in the theoretical framework of Pierpaolo Donati’s Relational Sociology (refero and religio) and Niklas Luhmann’s system theory on complexity reduction through meaning, this paper explores the shift from a competitive paradigm to a collaborative one within local public systems. Specifically, it analyzes the emerging dynamics of co-design and partnership between Public Administration and Third Sector organizations, particularly in the context of the Italian Welfare reform (Law 328/00). The study argues that the activation of trust-building processes requires an innovative model of "social relations management". Such a managerial approach serves as a crucial tool for territorial leadership, fostering social innovation, co-responsibility, and the sustainable generation of social capital at the local level.