
Domination and the Arts of Resistance
James C. Scott
“A splendid study, surely one of the most important that has appeared on the whole matter of power and resistance.”—Natalie Zemon Davis
Confrontations between the powerless and powerful are laden with deception—the powerless feign deference and the powerful subtly assert their mastery. Peasants, serfs, untouchables, slaves, laborers, and prisoners are not free to speak their minds in the presence of power. These subordinate groups instead create a secret discourse that represents a critique of power spoken behind the backs of the dominant. At the same time, the powerful also develop a private dialogue about practices and goals of their rule that cannot be openly avowed.
In this book, renowned social scientist James C. Scott offers a penetrating discussion both of the public roles played by the powerful and powerless and the mocking, vengeful tone they display off stage—what he terms their public and hidden transcripts. Using examples from the literature, history, and politics of cultures around the world, Scott examines the many guises this interaction has taken throughout history and the tensions and contradictions it reflects.
Duration - 10h 43m.
Author - James C. Scott.
Narrator - Alex Boyles.
Published Date - Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Copyright - © 1990 Yale University ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
“A splendid study, surely one of the most important that has appeared on the whole matter of power and resistance.”—Natalie Zemon Davis Confrontations between the powerless and powerful are laden with deception—the powerless feign deference and the powerful subtly assert their mastery. Peasants, serfs, untouchables, slaves, laborers, and prisoners are not free to speak their minds in the presence of power. These subordinate groups instead create a secret discourse that represents a critique of power spoken behind the backs of the dominant. At the same time, the powerful also develop a private dialogue about practices and goals of their rule that cannot be openly avowed. In this book, renowned social scientist James C. Scott offers a penetrating discussion both of the public roles played by the powerful and powerless and the mocking, vengeful tone they display off stage—what he terms their public and hidden transcripts. Using examples from the literature, history, and politics of cultures around the world, Scott examines the many guises this interaction has taken throughout history and the tensions and contradictions it reflects. Duration - 10h 43m. Author - James C. Scott. Narrator - Alex Boyles. Published Date - Saturday, 17 January 2026. Copyright - © 1990 Yale University ©.
Language:
English
Preface
Duration:00:15:00
Chapter 1: Behind the Official Story
Duration:00:45:57
Chapter 2: Domination, Acting, and Fantasy - 1
Duration:00:19:37
Chapter 2: Domination, Acting, and Fantasy - 2
Duration:00:01:01
Chapter 2: Domination, Acting, and Fantasy - 3
Duration:00:12:59
Chapter 2: Domination, Acting, and Fantasy - 4
Duration:00:22:56
Chapter 2: Domination, Acting, and Fantasy - 5
Duration:00:19:48
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 1
Duration:00:15:02
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 2
Duration:00:05:28
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 3
Duration:00:07:44
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 4
Duration:00:08:18
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 5
Duration:00:21:46
Chapter 3: The Public Transcript as a Respectable Performance - 6
Duration:00:09:03
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 1
Duration:00:02:30
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 2
Duration:00:15:22
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 3
Duration:00:15:12
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 4
Duration:00:07:23
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 5
Duration:00:13:18
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 6
Duration:00:20:14
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 7
Duration:00:18:42
Chapter 4: False Consciousness or Laying It on Thick? - 8
Duration:00:11:41
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 1
Duration:00:02:10
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 2
Duration:00:05:19
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 3
Duration:00:13:03
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 4
Duration:00:06:05
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 5
Duration:00:04:45
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 6
Duration:00:13:09
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 7
Duration:00:11:50
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 8
Duration:00:16:07
Chapter 5: Making Social Space for a Dissident Subculture - 9
Duration:00:05:18
Chapter 6: Voice under Domination: The Arts of Political Disguise - 1
Duration:00:06:45
Chapter 6: Voice under Domination: The Arts of Political Disguise - 2
Duration:00:49:14
Chapter 6: Voice under Domination: The Arts of Political Disguise - 3
Duration:00:10:51
Chapter 6: Voice under Domination: The Arts of Political Disguise - 4
Duration:00:33:57
Chapter 6: Voice under Domination: The Arts of Political Disguise - 5
Duration:00:28:14
Chapter 7: The Infrapolitics of Subordinate Groups - 1
Duration:00:04:46
Chapter 7: The Infrapolitics of Subordinate Groups - 2
Duration:00:08:28
Chapter 7: The Infrapolitics of Subordinate Groups - 3
Duration:00:14:21
Chapter 7: The Infrapolitics of Subordinate Groups - 4
Duration:00:15:06
Chapter 7: The Infrapolitics of Subordinate Groups - 5
Duration:00:09:05
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 1
Duration:00:03:32
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 2
Duration:00:09:25
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 3
Duration:00:18:47
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 4
Duration:00:12:45
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 5
Duration:00:10:12
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 6
Duration:00:11:12
Chapter 8: A Saturnalia of Power: The First Public Declaration of the Hidden Transcript - 7
Duration:00:09:51