Discussion: The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia

Author: James C. Scott

Description: In The Art of Not Being Governed, James C. Scott examines the history of stateless societies in upland Southeast Asia, exploring how various groups intentionally resisted state control. Scott argues that the region's mountainous terrain provided a natural refuge for groups who sought to avoid the state's reach, developing alternative forms of social organization. The book challenges traditional views of state-building and civilization, arguing that many of these groups’ refusal to be governed was not due to a lack of sophistication, but a deliberate strategy to preserve autonomy and avoid exploitation by external powers.

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