The Open Forms of Resistance - Essay Example

The Open Forms of Resistance INTRODUCTION This paper intends to explain about the meaning of “everyday forms of peasant and slave resistance, nothing that these forms may be far more important and widespread than outright rebellion” made by James C. Scott. This paper also deals with the compare and contrast the Scott analysis of everyday resistance to the open forms of resistance and the revolutionary action. It also deals with the possible ways through which the everyday resistance might have revolutionary potential. It also explains about the assumption of the presence of hidden transcript and the maintenance of the status related to the everyday resistance reinforce along with the evaluation of changes of revolutionary (Kelley 1-52). MEANING OF “EVERYDAY FORMS OF PEASANT AND SLAVE RESISTANCE, NOTING THAT THESE FORMS MAY BE FAR MORE IMPORTANT AND WIDESPREAD THAN OUTRIGHT REBELLION” Through this discussion James C. Scott, want to state that everyday resistance is one of the basic form of opposition to oppression. Scott initiated this concept in the year 1985, which reflected about the various forms of resistance. The resistance as per his opinion is not as dramatic as rebel but everyday resistance is more hidden and invisible. He also stated that the forms of slave resistance are more important than the outright rebellion. On the other hand, a peasant rebellion is uncommon and it cannot occur when required as well as it does not have the much impact therefore, it is considered as the less important (Scott, “Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance”). COMPARE AND CONTRAST SCOTT'S ANALYSIS OF EVERYDAY RESISTANCE TO THE OPEN FORMS OF RESISTANCE AND REVOLUTIONARY ACTION SUGGESTED BY AIME CESAIRE The “Discourse on Colonialism” may be the best description as the statement of war, which is provided by Aime Cesaire and it is also known as the third world manifesto. On the other hand, the analysis made by Scott is that the everyday resistance to the open forms and revolutionary actions may also describe the statement of war. This analysis of Scott provides information related to the actual meaning of everyday resistance and the forms of resistance. According to Scott, the notion of national sovereignty was however, historically superseded as per the thought of revolutionary anticolonialism besides becoming a politically absolute future past, when it failed to secure freedom for colonized people. He also argues that traditional dreams related to total revolution and political emancipation is the form of power that can be negotiated but cannot be mitigated completely (Kelley 1-52). IN WHAT WAYS MIGHT EVERYDAY RESISTANCE HAVE REVOLUTIONARY POTENTIAL AND IN WHAT WAYS MIGHT IT NOT Everyday resistance might have revolutionary potentials in several ways, such as the new forms of resistance; those involve conflict between the seekers of tax benefits, interests, food supplies and rents. Through these struggles, everyday resistance might also have revolutionary potential or a new possible way for everyday resistance. If there is a good co-operation among the group of people then there may be no innovative way or revolutionary potential for everyday resistance. The various methods of resistance can be adapted for the features of the peasantry. Geographical distribution is also another way to have the revolutionary potential for the everyday resistance (Colburn 21-35). WHAT DOES SCOTT MEAN BY THE PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO THE HIDDEN TRANSCRIPT According to Scott, hidden transcript means the open-eyed assessment of current relation with regard to domination comes into fights along with theories of philosophy as well as hegemony. Dominant group refers to the group who share the values as well as perception of the domination group. In other words, hidden transcript is considered as the conceptual innovation, which has an important way to recognize and understand the association of social realities with the domination as well as resistance. Therefore, public have different views and have opposed to the hidden transcript. Hidden transcript can also be used as the essential contribution to the intellectual experiment of defining and explaining the difficult social realities (Halliday 207-233). TO WHAT EXTENT MUST CÉSAIRE'S CRITIQUE OF COLONIALISM ASSUME THE PRESENCE OF A HIDDEN TRANSCRIPT, AND HOW MIGHT EVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF INSURGENCY AND GUERRILLA ACTION ASSUME THE SAME Hidden transcript refers to the information, which is not yet clear. The information provided by the hidden transcript can be accepted based on the situation and the assumption of people because there is no clear evidence to what is right or what is wrong. Therefore, people may be accepting things based on their own assumption or based on the assumption of the other people. The earlier information of the hidden transcript may be changed based on the analysis of the current situation. Sometimes the assumption might be the same. Therefore, in this case the assumption of Cesaire related to the critique of colonialism and the assumption of the possibility insurgency and guerrilla action might be the same (Freire 52-67). IN WHAT RESPECTS MIGHT EVERYDAY RESISTANCE REINFORCE MAINTENANCE OF THE STATUS QUO Everyday resistance reinforces maintenance of the status QUO refers to reproducing as well as maintaining imbalances of current or existing power. By maintaining the balances of the everyday resistance and the cultural production, the maintenance of the status QUO can be possible. Status QUO means the affairs of the current state related to the issues of social or political. Therefore, the issues of political or social can be evaluated by proper maintenance of balances of the social as well as political environment. By reducing the issues of social and political environment everyday resistance reinforce can maintain the status QUO. Through the everyday resistance reinforce the current affairs of the environment will also have to be reduced to maintain the status QUO because this involves several affairs and issues related to the environment (Hobsbawm 150-153). CAN IT LEAD FROM PROTEST TO ALL-OUT REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE It can lead from protest to all out revolutionary changes. Through the maintenance of status QUO, the changes of revolution can be lead from protest. The past revolution can be the way to protest in comparison to the current revolutionary changes. There can be innovative changes in the everyday resistance by reducing the issues of social as well as political environment and through proper balances of the affairs of these two environments. Social and political issues has a strong impact on the changes of environment therefore, it can lead to protest along with revolutionary changes. Today revolutionary change is required for the development of the environment and for the improvement of the everyday resistance. Revolutionary changes can also be possible through the co-operation among people and the group of people and it helps to reduce the conflicts in the society for a better future (Fanon 72-77). CONCLUSION From the above discussion it can be stated that the everyday resistance is, a form of opposition and the forms of peasant resistance are more important as well as widespread than the outright rebellion. As peasant, rebellion is rare and it cannot happen whenever it is required thus it does not have the great effect or influences. Correspondingly, it can be concluded that the information about the hidden transcript is still not disclosed or clear and it can be accepted based on the assumption of the people. Therefore, the assumption can be right or can be wrong if it wrong then it can be changed later. Everyday resistance reinforce can maintain the status QUO by reducing the affairs and issues of the social as well as political environment and it can also lead to protest along with revolutionary changes. The revolutionary change is required in recent trends for the improvement of the everyday forms of resistance. Works Cited Colburn, Forrest. “The Intellectual Culture of Contemporary Revolutions.” The Vogue of Revolutions in Poor Countries. (1994): 21-35. Print. Freire, Paulo. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Continuum (1973): 152-167. Print. Fanon, Frantl. The Wretched of the Earth. USA: Penguin Books, 2001. Print. Halliday, Fred. Revolution and World Politics. Durham: Duke University Press, 1999. Print. Hobsbawm, Eric. “Ritual in Social Movements”. Primitive Rebels (1959): 150-153. Print. Kelley, Robin D. G. “Discourse on Colonialism.” A Poetics of Anticolonialism (2000): 1-52. Print. Scott, James C. Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance. 2012. Web. 8 Mar. 2015. Read More