National perspective

Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed

In this rich and original book, James C. Scott analyzes examples of the failure of large-scale, state-led planning projects across various sectors. Scott argues that centrally controlled social planning projects struggle to succeed when state power insists on simple planning schemes that are particularly intrusive on complex and poorly understood relationships. Furthermore, successful design of social organizations must rely on a recognition that local and practical knowledge is as important as conventional and technical knowledge. The author presents compelling examples, questions "development theory," and argues against the neglect of national values, aspirations, and goals in planning projects led by authoritarian power. "Social clarity provides the feasibility of large-scale social engineering, extreme modernist ideologies provide the aspirations, the authoritarian state has the power and capacity to decide and act on these aspirations, and a weak civil society provides the hierarchical foundation for their realization." In the author's view, this combination of four factors often makes tragedy inevitable.

2019-05-01

社会科学文献出版社

Thought Conference

527

9787520145930