Abstract

This contribution elucidates the trajectory through which anthropological reflection has attained institutional prominence within the realm of reconfiguring the local social and healthcare services of the Municipality of Bologna. Drawing upon insights gleaned from an inter-institutional action-research project aimed at addressing health inequalities, we show how anthropology can engender a profound reconceptualization of the notion of «health» and, consequently, foster an institutional reorganization to advance its promotion. We would argue that the critical dimension of anthropological implication in public policy lies in its potential to reassemble the representation of reality, thereby enabling the formulation and implementation of alternative actions