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

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.