Bounded Emotionality as a dimension of the collective learning to develop relationship of cooperation and solidarity in productive local configurations: cases-study of Ubá/MG and Nova Friburgo/RJ

Abstract

This article examines the emotional nature underlying personal inter-relationships, required for developing social configurations in the context of structures known as Productive Local Configurations (PLC). These social structures are defined as multi-nuclear social sets formed by either individual or institutional actors, capable of promoting horizontal exchanges that allow cooperative associations. Such associations are built through adaptative and incremental interactions which favour learning among involved actors, resulting in innovation and collective capacity increase that foster PLCs survival within competitive environments. Field data revealed an instrumental (functional) rationality prevalence. This rationality guides competitive collective actions in detriment of cooperation and solidarity actions required for PLCs continuous and sustainable development. Data analysis indicated that among entrepreneurs and Sebrae representatives: a) bounded emotionality has not been considered as an underlying dimension to both personal inter-relationships and collective learning processes; and b) search to obtaining individual interests prevails and leads to a mutual untrustworthy attitude that may be an impediment for PLCs full and continuous development.