Transitions towards the pluriverse: place, difference, alliances and autonomy in two Latin American

This article proposes an alternative analytical framework to sustainability transitions research (STR) by drawing on critical scholarship on grassroots innovations and post-development studies. Breaking with the fixation of STR on scalable innovations and socio-technical regime change, this alternative framework conceptualizes sustainability transitions as transitions towards the pluriverse (TTP). TTP offers a bottom-up, decolonial and context-sensitive approach to transitions that acknowledges the diversity of transition pathways and places local communities and grassroots innovations at the center of transition efforts. Our framework consists of four analytical dimensions: place, difference, alliances and autonomy. We apply this framework to two case studies of ecovillages in Latin America, and answer the following research question: In what ways do ecovillages promote (or fail to promote) TTP in Latin America? We compare the two ecovillages in relation to the four dimensions and analyze the challenges they face in promoting TTP. The results show that socio-economic differences between place-based groups create power asymmetries that shape local transition pathways. The specificity of each place influences the range of strategies available for grassroots initiatives to form alliances with other actors. Recognition of their role within local power dynamics and a commitment to social justice are crucial elements for building horizontal collaborations and fostering autonomy. This article contributes to a theory of change for TTP by reflecting on the role of ‘modern’ individuals, the state and the market in the creation of the pluriverse.