Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance

Peasant rebellions are uncommon. Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance explores peasants' foot dragging feigned ingorance false compliance manipulation flight slander theft arson sabotage and similar prosaic forms of struggle. These kinds of resistance stop well short of collective defiance a strategy usually suicidal for the subordinate. The central argument about peasant resistance is presented in the opening chapter by James Scott in which he summarizes and extends the thesis of his book on Malaysia's peasantry Weapons of the Weak. Scott's ideas are employed and refined in the ensuing seven country studies of peasant resistance: Poland India Egypt Colombia China Nicaragua and Zimbabwe.