The Art of Not Being Governed

"The Art of Not Being Governed" by James C. Scott explores how certain groups, often marginalized or rural communities, deliberately avoid state control and centralized authority. These communities employ strategies like mobility, secrecy, and flexible social structures to maintain independence and preserve their ways of life outside formal governments. Scott argues that these practices are conscious acts of resistance aimed at safeguarding their autonomy and culture, challenging the idea that state authority is inevitable or universally beneficial. The book highlights how resisting governance can be an active, strategic choice rather than mere neglect or ignorance.