Local Development: sociocultural and historical perspectives about a city in the south of Minas Gerais

Abstract

This paper presents study about local development in its socio-cultural and historical dimensions, inscribed in a city in the south of Minas Gerais, in which anthropological, historical and social knowledge are used. The objective is to identify the elements registered in a given society that reveals socio-cultural dimensions that are decisive for local development. It is justified by the need for research on the southern mesoregion of Minas Gerais, its different realities and development formats. From the methodological point of view, analysis of historical documents, field observation and dialogues interviews were carried out. The theoretical conceptions are put together with the empirical data, and we indicate political, cultural, economic and geographical elements that organize the imaginary about the development process.