alternative society
alternative society
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "alternative society" is /ɔlˈtɜrnətɪv səˈsaɪəti/.
Here is a breakdown of the sounds in the phrase:
al·ter·na·tive /ɔl-ˈtɜr-nə-tɪv/
al: /ɔl/ - An aw sound as in "all".
ter: /ˈtɜr/ - The stressed syllable, with an er sound as in "turn".
na: /nə/ - An unstressed uh sound (schwa).
tive: /tɪv/ - A short i sound as in "sit" followed by a 'v'.
so·ci·e·ty /sə-ˈsaɪ-ə-ti/
so: /sə/ - An unstressed uh sound (schwa).
ci: /ˈsaɪ/ - The stressed syllable, with a long i sound as in "sky".
e: /ə/ - An unstressed uh sound (schwa).
ty: /ti/ - A t sound followed by a long e sound as in "see".
Word Form Variations
The term "alternative society" is a noun phrase. Its variations are straightforward:
Singular: alternative society
Plural: alternative societies
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A subculture or community that intentionally operates with values, lifestyles, and social structures that are distinctly different from those of the larger, mainstream culture. These groups often prioritize principles like communalism, environmental sustainability, or non-conformity.
Any group of people organized around principles that present a deliberate contrast to conventional social norms, often experimenting with different forms of governance, economy, or interpersonal relationships.
Synonyms: counterculture, subculture, commune, intentional community, utopian society
Antonyms: mainstream society, dominant culture, the establishment, conventional society
Examples of Use
The term "alternative society" is used to describe groups and movements that operate outside of mainstream norms. Here are several real-world examples of its use.
In Books
In his book The Alternative Society: Essays from the Underground Press, editor Kenneth Westhues compiles writings that defined the 1960s counterculture. The entire collection serves as a manifesto for a generation attempting to build an alternative society based on peace, communal living, and a rejection of consumerism and establishment politics. The term here refers to a broad, loosely connected social movement rather than a single community.
In News and Online Publications
A Guardian article describes the Findhorn Foundation, an intentional community in Scotland, as a long-running experiment in creating an alternative society. The piece explores how its residents build their lives around spiritual values and ecological principles, contrasting their cooperative model with the individualism of the mainstream world. The term is used to frame the community as a practical, living model of different social possibilities (The Guardian, June 2021).
In Entertainment and Media
The 2016 film Captain Fantastic portrays a family that has intentionally withdrawn from the modern world to live self-sufficiently in the wilderness. In reviews and discussions about the film, their lifestyle is frequently cited as an example of a micro-alternative society. The plot's central conflict arises when this family's unique values and social structure collide with those of conventional American life, forcing them to question the viability of their isolated world.
In General Public Discourse
Online forums and social media platforms often feature discussions about movements like "van life" or digital nomadism. Participants in these communities sometimes describe their lifestyle as a conscious choice to create an alternative society—one that is decentralized, mobile, and prioritizes experiences over material possessions. In this context, the term signifies a modern, tech-enabled form of counterculture that rejects traditional nine-to-five work and stationary living arrangements.
10 Famous Quotes Using Alternative Society
The underground press was the voice of what we considered a more humane alternative society. (Abe Peck, Uncovering the Sixties: The Life and Times of the Underground Press)
The movement toward an alternative society is not a fad but the logical extension of long-term trends in our culture. (Kenneth Westhues, The Alternative Society)
Every intentional community is, at its core, a living question posed to the mainstream about whether an alternative society can truly work.
History shows that every attempt to build a perfect alternative society eventually confronts the imperfections of human nature.
The goal is not to escape the world, but to build a small-scale alternative society that serves as a model for it. (Diana Leafe Christian, Creating a Life Together)
For one week in the desert, we cease to be consumers and become participants in a temporary alternative society.
Punk rock was never just about music; it was the soundtrack for an angry, messy, and defiant alternative society.
With digital tools, we now have the power to create a decentralized alternative society independent of old institutions.
The great flaw in seeking an alternative society is the tendency to define it only by what it opposes, not by what it affirms.
To believe in an alternative society is to insist that the way things are is not the only way they can be.
Etymology
The phrase "alternative society" is a modern term that gets its meaning by combining two much older words.
Alternative: This word comes to us from the Latin word alter, which simply means "the other of two." For centuries, it meant having one choice or another. However, in the 20th century, its meaning shifted slightly to mean a choice that goes against the main, popular, or conventional option. Think of "alternative music"—it's an alternative to mainstream pop music.
Society: This word traces back to the Latin socius, meaning "companion" or "friend." From this, the Romans formed the word societas to describe fellowship, alliances, and groups of people joined by a common interest. Over time, it grew to mean the large, organized community of people we all live in.
First Use and Meaning
The two words were put together to create the phrase "alternative society" during the 1960s.
This was the first time in modern history that a massive number of people, particularly young people in the counterculture or "hippie" movement, were actively trying to build a completely different way of life from the mainstream. They rejected the conventional society of their parents—with its emphasis on consumerism, war, and conformity—and wanted to create a new one based on peace, communal living, and spiritual freedom.
The phrase first appeared in underground newspapers, student publications, and sociological articles in the late 1960s to describe this movement. It perfectly captured the idea of creating a conscious, separate community that was the "other choice" to the one most people were living in.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Alternative Society
To build an alternative society
A pocket of alternative society
The dream of an alternative society
Marching to the beat of a different drummer
Living off the grid
Going against the grain
An experiment in alternative society
Swimming against the stream
Living on the fringes of society
Plowing your own furrow
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of alternative society from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
