Quando la buona convivenza organizzativa si trasforma in convivenza sociale. Il caso del Circolo dei Talenti

In the contemporary age, where individualism and mutual distrust are widespread among people, society is “liquid” and disoriented, the so-called intermediate units (groups, associations) promoting a positive coexistence within the organization itself are able to sustain positive coexistence in local communities too. The present contribution describes the Circolo dei talenti, an example of such an intermediate unit located in a peripheral neighborhood of a metropolitan area in Northern Italy. This case study shows how the development of a positive organizational coexistence has become the mean of community development and a better coexistence within the neighborhood. Qualitative and quantitative data show that the relational aspect is crucial in the Circolo dei talenti because it promotes authentic exchange and sharing behaviors among people, sustaining participation and social cohesion against self-referential habits and isolation. Although at this moment the Circolo dei Talenti is functioning mostly on an affiliative coexistence among members, seeds of a more generative coexistence are clearly detectable.