Responses and Reflections on Scott's Study of Zomia in Recent Years in Domestic Academia

Abstract

James Scott, a professor of political science and anthropology in the United States, proposed the influential "Zomia" theory in his book The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast Asia. The theory has garnered significant international interest and has yielded numerous research findings. Meanwhile, the domestic academic community has shown little regard for the book. Until 2016, when the Chinese translation of Scott’s "Zomia" was published in China, the impact of his theory in the Chinese literary world had been significant, prompting lively discussions among numerous scholars. Local scholars utilized their own research experience to either introduce it as a new theory and method into their research practice or thoroughly analyze its viewpoints, contents, theories, and methods. This paper analyzes the role and significance of Scott's book in relevant research fields by combining domestic research. The aim is to provide a reference for further research in these fields.