Notes on how to think about territory from a social dimension

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of highlighting the social dimension of the notion of territory which is in vogue today in the social sciences in Latin America. The current consensus about the concept of territory as a process of social construction requires an analysis of the strategies utilized by social groups and actors within a specific social field. Public policies should consider this complex social dimension if the objective is the consolidation of inclusive social processes that can benefit less disadvantaged social groups and classes. From this perspective, it is important to analyze governance processes as spaces for the construction of collective proposals rather than simply as strategies designed to avoid social conflict.

Key words: territory, social field, market, governance.