Synergistic behaviour between individuals and collective action are two kinds of behaviour attempting to achieve the same objective. The sum total of the isolated actions of individuals produces synergism and this synergism tries to bring about a social change. In this, the actors are not consciously contributing to the movement. On the other hand, a collective action results from a situation wherein individuals interact with each other and produce relationships to achieve a common aim. This interaction is missing in synergistic behaviour.
Looking at both synergism and collective action, I wonder where one would place the Weapons of the Weak as stated by James Scott. The everyday form of resistance as shown by the peasants of Malaysia has an effect of wearing down the power of the powerful. These peasants did not have any interaction amongst themselves and took the decision to rebel individually. Hence, will we take it as collective action taken by the hundreds of silent and oppressed peasants or will we take it synergistic behaviour?
1 comment:
You have raised a very good point here but at the same time we also need to look at the case facts and no where it is written that they did not interact among themselves, by interaction we mean unobtrusive observation too! People do observe what is going around them. One of the biggest advantage of weapons of the weak is that it spreads very fast, as the person who comes to know about it would like to act in a similar manner as he now knows that nothing could be done against him and thus it may become a torrent in the long run
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