Because we love our place: the role of emotions in place-based leadership

Place-based leadership (PBL) is critical to the economic and social vitality of places, as it emphasises collaboration, shared visions, and the mobilisation of human agency and collective action. While emotions are increasingly recognised as central to PBL, their role remains underexplored. This study investigates the case of the Valle dei Cavalieri cooperative in the region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, to examine how PBL fosters the emergence of a community-based enterprise. We highlight the role of interaction rituals and collective effervescence in channelling emotions into collective action. Our findings contribute to the PBL literature, particularly regarding sustainable local development and rural resilience.