The Solidarity Economy as Territorial Practice
摘要
This chapter explores the solidarity economy in Haiti as a territorial practice that redefines economic activity beyond mere survival, embedding it within logics of reciprocity, mutual aid, and collective responsibility. Emerging from conditions of chronic precarity, women, youth, and grassroots organizations develop economic initiatives—such as rotating savings groups, cooperatives, and micro-enterprises—that are deeply anchored in local territories. These practices not only sustain livelihoods but also constitute forms of political agency, challenging dominant market-oriented and state-centric paradigms. By foregrounding intergenerational transmission and the central role of women as economic pillars, the chapter highlights how solidarity-based initiatives foster resilience and create pathways toward social innovation. At the same time, these situated economies reveal tensions: they remain vulnerable to fragmentation, limited scaling up, and co-optation by external actors. Yet, they also carry transformative potential, articulating claims for territorial citizenship and recognition within broader governance frameworks. The chapter argues that the solidarity economy in Haiti cannot be understood solely as an economic response to poverty but must be interpreted as a territorial and political project, rooted in practices of inclusion, self-organization, and the pursuit of justice.