ASSOCIATIVE THINKING AS A GENERATIVE MECHANISM IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEM-SOLVING – A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF INSPIRATION ECONOMY LABS

Author: Mohamed Buheji

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comprehensive longitudinal investigation into the power of association as the foundational cognitive mechanism within the Inspiration Economy framework, demonstrating how associative thinking enables the generation of viable, sustainable solutions under conditions of complexity, uncertainty, and resource scarcity.

Drawing on an extensive body of work spanning 2017 to 2026, including twenty-five peer-reviewed publications, edited books, and handbooks by Buheji and colleagues, this study synthesizes findings from multiple Inspiration Labs (IL) conducted across diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts, including Mauritania, India, Ghana, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bahrain, and Gaza.

The research examines how the deliberate cultivation of associative capacity—defined as the ability to connect disparate concepts, observations, disciplines, and lived experiences—functions as a generative engine for problem-solving that transcends the limitations of conventional, resource-dependent approaches. The theoretical framework integrates cognitive psychology research on semantic network structures, dual-process models of creative cognition, bisociation theory, and analogical transfer to provide a robust foundation for understanding why associative capacity enhances solution generation.

Through detailed analysis of IL case studies demonstrates that associative thinking, when coupled with focused intention, empathetic engagement, and iterative reflection, consistently produces solutions that address the root causes of chronic problems rather than merely alleviating their symptoms. The study proposes a comprehensive conceptual model linking associative capacity to solution generation, offering both theoretical contributions to the understanding of creative cognition in socio-economic contexts and practical implications for policymakers, practitioners, and communities seeking to navigate complexity. The findings suggest that the power of association represents a form of human capital that is both cultivable and renewable, offering a pathway to sustainable development that does not depend on the depletion of natural or financial resources.

Keywords: Associative Thinking, Inspiration Economy, Complex Problem-Solving, Socio-Economic Development, Inspiration Labs, Resilience, Complexity, Wicked Problems, Multidisciplinary Thinking, Capability Approach, Semantic Networks, Bisociation

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