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Viable paths of four Indian alternative economies: securing livelihoods through adaptive resistance

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines four Indian production-oriented alternative economies that have achieved long-term viability, aiming to understand the factors contributing to their sustainability. Through interviews with institutionalized members, we explore their development paths, viable practices, contested politics of alterity, and constructions of alterity. Our findings reveal that, in Southern contexts, alterity does not necessarily entail a rejection of market dependence on transnational capitalist networks, infrastructure, or state support. Instead, it creates a contested terrain of alternative politics, driven by the vital catalytic role of outsiders. We characterize their approaches by employing the notion of adaptive resistance — a strategy that enables them to secure the livelihoods of participants while maintaining core values and long-term viability amidst external pressures.

Source: Community Development Journal

DOI: 10.1093/cdj/bsaf007

Authors: Adam Čajka, Josef Novotný

Institution: Charles University

Language: English

Topic: Social and Economic Solidarity

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, No poverty, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,525