9 July 2025
The research offers a relevant contribution to the knowledge on how social values shape the collective future of a territory
The panel has highlighted the quality and relevance of the work as well as the original approach of the research
Ane Izulain has defended her doctoral thesis entitled "The Role of Social Values in Shaping a Shared Vision on Competitiveness for Wellbeing. The Case of the Basque Country" at the San Sebastian campus of the University of Deusto.
The thesis, directed by Mari Jose Aranguren and Iratxe Aristegui, analyzes how social values influence the construction of a shared vision of competitiveness for wellbeing. The case study is the Euskadi 2040 initiative, a foresight project promoted by the Basque Government, with the collaboration of Orkestra as a research partner. The aim of this initiative is to identify the changes that are taking place in the challenges of competitiveness in the Basque Country, in order to build a sustainable and inclusive welfare model for the next generation, in a collaborative manner, combining knowledge and efforts of all agents in the territory.
Through action research for territorial development, the thesis combines theoretical knowledge, based on the literature on social values and futures studies, with practical learning from the Basque case.
The study reveals that social values influence all kinds of approaches to the future, but particularly the definition of preferred futures through the construction of a shared vision. The distribution of these values in the population can, therefore, facilitate or hinder this process. One of the most relevant findings is that, regardless of the level at which values are manifested (whether individual, organizational or territorial), the role of individuals, and in particular of those who lead, is decisive. For this reason, understanding the value orientations of leaders becomes a key aspect in advancing towards more preferable futures.
Within the framework of the Euskadi 2040 project, the thesis analyzes the evolution of values in Basque society and their impact on future competitiveness. In this sense, the research has identified:
- Trends towards post-materialist values.
- A lesser centrality of work in older generations
- A lower sense of personal control over life events compared to the European average, with a growing gender gap.
The thesis also shows the value of action research as an effective methodology for building shared visions of the future.
The panel, composed of Kevin Morgan, Cristian Matti, and Maria Silvestre Cabrera, highlighted the quality and relevance of the work as well as the original approach of the research. It especially valued its practical character, based on a real case with the participation of a multitude of agents of the territory. Finally, she obtained a cum laude qualification.
With this work, Ane Izulain offers a relevant contribution to the knowledge on how social values shape the collective future of the territory and proposes conceptual and methodological tools to move towards a more inclusive, sustainable and welfare-aligned competitiveness.
Zorionak Ane!
