La sostenibilità sociale in Italia tra discorsi e politiche: il ruolo dell’Alleanza italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ASviS)

This research focused on the analysis of social sustainability policy framing in Italy, with particular attention to the operations promoted by the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS). From a sociological perspective, the research analysed the role of knowledge actors in policy making and translating ideas into policy choices. From a theoretical point of view, the study is based on the approach of discursive neo-institutionalism, the literature on policy transfer, and the socio-political analysis of the role of experts and expertise in policy making, such as think tanks, epistemic communities, and knowledge networks. An attempt was made to analyse the discourses, actions, and tools used by ASviS to legitimise itself in the field of sustainable development policy and to build a dissemination system for its ideas on social sustainability. The methodology used was qualitative, and a discursive analysis was carried out based on different artefacts: the material produced by the network of expert actors, the interviews and focus groups conducted with ASviS members, and the field notes made during the observation of participants and non-participants. The analysis of the artefacts was carried out using a grounded theory approach supported by qualitative analysis software (NVivo). The research identified eight core values in the ASviS discourse on social sustainability: social justice, intergenerational equity, social cohesion, sustainable culture, One Health, participation, accountability, and peace. These values are accompanied by 'theories of action,' i.e., ways of pursuing the principles of social sustainability; twelve ways of achieving social sustainability were selected. In addition, three forms of legitimation and three dissemination mechanisms that support ASviS' work were identified, showing how the Alliance plays a dual role in sustainability policy as a 'transfer agent' and 'reputational intermediary.' Finally, the research made it possible to observe a nexus between the values advocated by the Alliance, specifically those focused on intergenerational equity, sustainable culture, social cohesion and participation, and four different policy choices present on a national scale.