The relational view contribution to the analysis of the territorial cooperative ecosystem governance[Les apports de la perspective relationnelle pour l’analyse de la gouvernance de l’écosystème coopératif territorial]

Circular economy emerges as an essential economic paradigm to address contemporary challenges of sustainability and natural resources preservation. However, establishing effective and sustainable circular practices hold complex challenges due to the heterogeneity of circular approaches and the need for cooperation between public and private actors at the territorial level. How can governance based on cooperation be observed among these heterogeneous actors within a circular ecosystem? This theoretical and conceptual paper explores how the relational view allows for understanding the mechanisms of interactions between public and private actors within circular ecosystems. We introduce the concepts of territory, governance, and ecosystem to develop an analytical framework linking these three concepts. Drawing on the theory of relational rents, this framework is constructed through a multicriteria and multi-actor analysis to enhance the understanding of interactions between actors. With the example of the Territorial Cooperative Ecosystem (TCE), this managerial analysis framework of cooperation and value creation criteria in a circular ecosystem facilitates the understanding of governance in circular ecosystems.