Abstract

This article presents the results of a specific research «Rural Territories in Transition Beyond the Economic Crisis. A Study of New Entrepreneurship, Youth Agency and Community Empowerment in Sardinia Inner Areas» which had as its objective the analysis of the organization and strategies of local welfare in a particular area of Sardinia, characterized by strong socio-economic contrasts. The research used two tools: on the one hand, the statistical analysis of the social welfare expenditure of each municipality within the area. On the other hand, the study, through social network analysis, of the broader set of collaboration on projects shared by several municipalities, projects that aimed at organizing services at a local level. It was found that the fundamental focus on welfare and the action of the single municipality required a parallel study on network and collaborative strategies that aim at the general improvement of the living conditions of the communities that inhabit that territory. The initial focus on welfare was broadened towards a broader concept of well-being, which obviously includes social and health services, but which more generally includes local, economic, cultural, and environmental development processes.