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Objective: the purpose of this paper is to introduce some contributions of the conatus concept to the research of family business succession. Methods: succession is one of the most discussed topics in family business research. Hence, this theoretical paper aims to collaborate to the field through the exploration of Bourdieu’s conceptual framework. Results: the conatus is a family project that should be perpetuated for and by its future generations. The understanding of succession processes through this concept enables, among other possibilities, the comprehension of elements such as the transmission of a founder’s project to next generations of a business family responsible for the conatus perpetuation. Conclusion: the conatus, a concept positioned within Bourdieu’s broader theoretical framework, offers alternatives for understanding and explaining the succession in family businesses in a more consistent, precise way, thus providing analytical foundations that can contribute for deepening our knowledge on still little explored topics in the field.