[P2P-F] Domination_and_the_Arts_of_Resistance

[mp]

Much of his life-long work is included up in his latest and very 
interesting publication:

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

Reviwed here:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/12/06/the_mystery_of_zomia/

Official page:
http://yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?isbn=9780300152289

Scanned excerpt:
http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/LTW-Scott.pdf

In general, one of his arguments is that writing is rejected by 
non-state governed people, because it is through writing that states 
extend their domination - public records, cadastral maps, treaties, 
declarations and so on. Recall the native Americans signing papers, for 
instance. His argument is sustained by many examples of non-state 
governed people throughout history attacking public record offices as 
one of the first moments of revolt.

He also argues that in Zomia people are not "non-developed" or primitive 
or whatever you prefer, because they are nomads and have scattered, 
diverse, networked agriculture, which is a typical western 
anthropological line of thought, but that rather they are *not 
governable* because they have such networked multi-seasonal agriculture. 
This is premised on the idea that empire/state domination and expansion 
is based on a cost/benefit analysis: if a territory can yield more grain 
than it costs to annex it, then it will be annexed/conquered - and if 
not, as is the case with territories based on nomadic, networked 
agriculture with many different crops to be harvested at many different 
times, then you can remain free. A nice subversion of that old school 
thinking.

There are probably some parallels with cyberspace and centralisation of 
architecture, such as Google and Facecrack. Easy to conquer, just give 
Sucker-berg a call.


On 18/10/11 06:36, Michel Bauwens wrote:
> http://p2pfoundation.net/Domination_and_the_Arts_of_Resistance
>
> Kevin, anything on this would be of interest !!
>
> Michel
>
>
>
>
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