Local development, social capital and social network analysis: evidence from Uruguay

Abstract

Resumen:A partir de las teorías del desarrollo endógeno, la literatura sobre capital social y la metodología de análisis de redes sociales, este artículo propone tres requisitos -en forma de hipótesis- para la construcción de un proyecto socio-territorial de desarrollo local. Estas hipótesis son contrastadas a través del análisis de la red inter-organizacional de Punta del Este-Maldonado-San Carlos, un núcleo urbano en el sur-este de Uruguay. Los resultados prueban que el caso estudiado cumple con los requisitos para la existencia de un proyecto socio-territorial, aunque se evidencian algunas debilidades del territorio. Finalmente, se ofrecen algunas recomendaciones de política al respecto. Abstract: This article proposes an analytical framework to study local development as a socio-territorial project based on local social capital. Grounded on local endogenous development literature, social capital theories and social network analysis methodologies, the article proposes three hypotheses describing inter-organisational network properties required for the construction of a socio-territorial development project: basic pre-conditions for local development must exist, in terms of agglomeration economies and density of interactions (H1), local organisations must display central positions in territorial networks (H2), and relations between organisations must be the result of territorial, rather than sectoral, motivations (H3). Using data from a field work carried out in 2014, these requirements are analysed for the case of Punta del Este-Maldonado-San Carlos, an urban region in South-East Uruguay. The results show that the case studied presents favourable conditions for the existence of a socio-territorial development project. Yet, there has been found some weaknesses regarding the scarce integration of social organisations into networks. Based on these results, the article suggests policy recommendations aiming to promote a socio-territorial project for local development.

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