Innovazione sociale, sviluppo e turismo: quale legame? Uno studio teorico ed empirico nella citta di Bologna.

The aim of the research is to analyse the relation among social innovation, development and tourism. The research question was investigated through two different research phases. From a theoretical point of view, SI has been conceptualized through a comparative study of international literature. This phase was aimed at identifying the main dimensions and processes related SI at a local level. From an empirical point of view, we undertook a qualitative action-research in Bologna. Moving from a socio-historical analysis, we explored the presence of SI in Bologna. The results showed that relations among SI, development and tourism are complex. SI, in fact, determines different kinds of consequences for the territory, intervening directly in local development. With the aim to answer emerging needs, SI promotes agency and empowerment, creativity and social capital. In a perspective of integrated area development, SI intervenes directly in the process of capabilities development, both through the valorization of forms of capital and networks at different levels but also through conflict and negotiation. The research showed that between SI and tourism exists a threefold relation. First of all, tourism can be considered as an analytical tool to observe SI. The other two typologies take place at the level of social practices. We have observed different cases where SI initiatives became tourist experiences and vice versa. If we re-elaborate a Lefebvre’s concept, we observe that individuals can find alternative spaces where to express a double right to the city, especially when SI and tourism inter-act in inclusive ways. The right to the city can be expressed through forms of re-appropriation of symbolical and physical spaces, where people share experiences and social relations, and participation, when the community participates to the development of alternative solution to social problems and contribute to the enhancement of the capacity to aspire