TACKLING SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN PERIPHERIC CITY NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH HOLISTIC SOCIETAL TRANSITION: A DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE GOVERNANCE APPROACH An application to the cities of Palermo and Baltimore

The main goal of this research is to address the wicked problem of social exclusion by means of fostering collaborative initiatives involving different stakeholders (e.g., citizens, nonprofit organizations, public sector entities, and businesses) to enhance holistic societal transition. By engaging in collective action and pooling resources, stakeholders may tackle the multifaceted challenges associated with social exclusion, thereby fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. Also, this study additionally examines the concept of social exclusion within the framework of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Indeed, the Agenda places a high value on inclusivity and equality, with a strong commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind. It acknowledges that social exclusion not only perpetuates poverty but also has far-reaching implications for several interconnected problems, such as access to employment opportunities and education. From this perspective, it is possible to see how social inclusion is integrated into multiple Sustainable Development Goals. In this sense, social exclusion can be viewed as a barrier to sustainable development, which aims to build a more equitable and inclusive world for all. This research aims to undertake an in-depth parallel analysis of two distinct neighborhoods, namely San Filippo Neri in Palermo (Italy) and the Middle East in Baltimore (United States of America). Such neighborhoods are currently struggling with the multifaceted issues of social exclusion and gentrification. By delving into the intricate dynamics and socio-economic and cultural complexities of these neighborhoods, this research seeks to shed light on the various factors contributing to the residents’ marginalization. It frames the intricate interplay of socio-economic factors, urban planning policies, and historical contexts driving social exclusion to foster a holistic transition under a socio-economic and cultural perspective through collaborative governance. Such an approach fosters coordination, cooperation, and collaboration among different stakeholders and therefore brings a wider range of perspectives and expertise to be taken into consideration while dealing with wicked problems such as the one at hand. Furthermore, this research highlights the important role played by active citizenship in collaborative settings. Active citizenship refers to the active involvement of residents in their communities, beyond mere passive participation. It entails citizens taking on proactive roles VI in decision-making processes, contributing with their knowledge, skills, and experiences to shape policies and initiatives. It adopts a mixed-method research design, which encompasses both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This methodological approach has been chosen to ensure a holistic and nuanced understanding of the research topic at hand. By integrating diverse data collection techniques, such as interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, the study aims to capture different and nuanced perspectives and insights. A Dynamic Performance Governance approach was adopted to frame the main cause-andeffect relationships driving social exclusion. This approach considers various intangible resources, such as trust, collaboration, and governance capacity, which play pivotal roles in achieving sustainable outcomes. By incorporating these critical elements, the DPG approach provides a robust and holistic perspective on performance governance at local level to foster an outcome-oriented view toward resilience. Following the presentation of the two DPG charts for both neighborhoods, causal loop diagrams were constructed to visually represent the feedback system's structure. It highlighted how these characteristics and contextual elements were used to build an outcome-oriented and dynamic performance perspective of social exclusion in peripheric city neighborhoods. Then, this research concludes by resuming the main findings and looking at the role that place-based collaborative platforms may have in fostering holistic resilience towards wicked and super-wicked problems by enhancing a socio-economic, cultural, and ecological transition.