The articulation of social and collective identities: a situated perspective

This paper analyzes the collective identities expressions that can be found in a geographically bounded social space, cities of Alcoy and Elda in Alicante, having as starting point the most important social identities. A contribution to the definition of bounds between both concepts, which have not been adequately treated, is intended. Through expert and in-depth interviews and focus groups, an analysis identifying most relevant discourses about the collective-we found in both cities has been developed, referring to the social fields that articulate the social practices which give significance and configure these collective identities. The results show the difficulties to keep articulating collective identities from experiences in the main productive activity, while local collective identities based on the participation in a civic-political space that articulates most of social life emerges.