What future for social representations?

This article aims to discuss some of the obstacles which the development of social representations (SR) research has faced. It also seeks to outline possible paths to overcome them, highlighting the importance of investing in the theoretical potentialities and the specific characteristics of this theory. It begins by marking the great development and vitality of studies in SR over more than a half century, referring to the contrast between the current situation in Europe and Latin America. In the first case, a certain stagnation, in the second, proliferation. This finding raises two types of questions: 1) the reasons for this "pause" in studies of SR in Europe; 2) the lack of theoretical and methodological robustness which sometimes has also been a trademark of studies in this field. This framework is far from corresponding to an "era of social representations" (Moscovici, 1986) and it does not seem to favour the theoretical and methodological deepening and rejuvenation of SR studies. However, this article argues that there are still good reasons that may lead researchers to work with social representations theory and proceeds to an analysis of its distinctive features that can foster this process.