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Seeing Like a State
How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed
Series: Veritas Paperbacks
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Check link for latest rating. ( 6,577 ratings, 753 reviews)
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Description
“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book Review
"A powerful, and in many insightful, explanation as to why grandiose programs of social reform, not to mention revolution, so often end in tragedy... An important critique of visionary state planning."—Robert Heilbroner, Lingua Franca
Hailed as “a magisterial critique of top-down social planning” by the New York Times, this essential work analyzes disasters from Russia to Tanzania to uncover why states so often fail—sometimes catastrophically—in grand efforts to engineer their society or their environment, and uncovers the conditions common to all such planning disasters.
“Beautifully written, this book calls into sharp relief the nature of the world we now inhabit.”—New Yorker
“A tour de force.”— Charles Tilly, Columbia University
The Institution for Social and Policy Studies
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Seeing Like a State
“One of the most profound and illuminating studies of this century to have been published in recent decades.”—John Gray, New York Times Book Review "A powerful, and in many insightful, explanation as to why grandiose programs of social reform, not to mention revolution, so often end in tragedy... An important critique of visionary state planning."—Robert Heilbroner, Lingua Franca Hailed as...Paperback$4099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Seeing Like a State is widely praised for its insightful critique of top-down social planning and the state's simplifying tendencies. Reviewers commend James C. Scott for his engaging prose and profound analysis of modern state's impact on society, making the book a must-read for those interested in understanding the complexities of government power and development ideology. It's celebrated for being both theoretically significant and empirically thorough, with notable academics praising its contribution to political science and social studies.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300246759
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 12 May 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 36 b-w illus.
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 127.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 363g
Pages: 464
About the Author
James C. Scott (1936–2024) was Sterling Professor of Political Science and Professor of Anthropology Emeritus at Yale University. His many books include The Art of Not Being Governed, Domination and the Arts of Resistance, and Against the Grain.
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