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Seeing like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed,New
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?Illuminating and beautifully written, this book calls into sharp relief the nature of the world we now inhabit.?New Yorker?A magisterial critique of topdown social planning.?Jennifer Schuessler, New York Times?One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.?John Gray, New York Times Book ReviewCompulsory ujamaa villages in Tanzania, collectivization in Russia, Le Corbusier?s urban planning theory realized in Bras?lia, the Great Leap Forward in China, agricultural ?modernization? in the Tropicsthe twentieth century has been racked by grand utopian schemes that have inadvertently brought death and disruption to millions. Why do wellintentioned plans for improving the human condition go tragically awry?In this wideranging and original book, James C. Scott analyzes failed cases of largescale authoritarian plans in a variety of fields. Centrally managed social plans misfire, Scott argues, when they impose schematic visions that do violence to complex interdependencies that are notand cannotbe fully understood. Further, the success of designs for social organization depends upon the recognition that local, practical knowledge is as important as formal, epistemic knowledge. The author builds a persuasive case against ?development theory? and imperialistic state planning that disregards the values, desires, and objections of its subjects. He identifies and discusses four conditions common to all planning disasters: administrative ordering of nature and society by the state; a ?highmodernist ideology? that places confidence in the ability of science to improve every aspect of human life; a willingness to use authoritarian state power to effect large scale interventions; and a prostrate civil society that cannot effectively resist such plans.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Seeing like a State'? A: 'Seeing like a State' explores the failures of top-down social planning and authoritarian schemes that aim to improve human conditions but often lead to disastrous outcomes.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The book is written by James C. Scott, a renowned scholar in political science and anthropology.
- Q: What are some examples of failed schemes discussed in the book? A: Scott discusses several historical cases, including compulsory ujamaa villages in Tanzania, collectivization in Russia, and the Great Leap Forward in China.
- Q: How many pages does 'Seeing like a State' have? A: 'Seeing like a State' has 464 pages.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: The book was published on February 8, 1999.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: This edition of 'Seeing like a State' is available in paperback binding.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic study? A: Yes, 'Seeing like a State' is often used in academic settings for its insightful critique of social planning and is valuable for students of political science and sociology.
- Q: What are the core arguments James C. Scott makes in the book? A: Scott argues that large-scale authoritarian plans fail when they impose simplistic visions that ignore complex social interdependencies and that local knowledge is crucial for successful social organization.
- Q: Who would benefit from reading this book? A: Readers interested in political theory, social sciences, and critiques of development policies would benefit greatly from this book.
- Q: Is 'Seeing like a State' a critical analysis? A: Yes, it provides a critical analysis of high-modernist ideologies and their impact on society, making it an important read for those examining state planning and development.