Social representations in the territorial dynamics of rural development: considerations from the Southern Territory of Rio Grande do Sul

As representações sociais nas dinâmicas territoriais do desenvolvimento rural: considerações a partir do Território Zona Sul do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The territorial approach, that attained the status of a governmental strategy, has led the Territorial Development Secretary (SDT) programs to become innovative. The present work can be understood as a result of the SDT's efforts to articulate public power and civil society in rural territories through the creation of Monitoring and Information Cells (IACs) composed of researchers whose task it is to produce knowledge about the dynamics of development. This article is part of the IAC activities of the Southern Zone Territory of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, and addresses issues that have arisen through the initial examination of data obtained through the Index of Living Conditions (ICV) and the Sustainable Development Index (IDS). Based on these indicators, we seekto analyze the social representations of the actors of the territory, initiating a discussion about the importance of the different perceptions of the social groups regarding their living conditions and suggest concepts that may aid in their understanding. This question emerges as a gap to be filled when one considers the growing importance of the subjective dimension in current development studies. Based on the theoretical contributions of Sen and Moscovici, concerning social representations, the article discusses how these approaches can aid in the analysis of ICV and IDS data. The need to construct different research methodologies to understand the way in which social transformation reaches the most diverse cultural contexts is pointed out. In addition, the need to assess and analyze the results of this process is stressed, for which a methodology for the study of representations and the cognitive aspects of individuals is a necessary tool.