James C. Scott is an American political scientist and anthropologist known for his work on the relationship between power and resistance. He is a professor emeritus at Yale University and has written extensively on topics such as anarchism, peasant studies, and the dynamics of state power. His influential books include "Weapons of the Weak" and "Seeing Like a State," which explore how marginalized groups navigate and resist authority. Scott's research emphasizes the importance of everyday forms of resistance and the ways in which ordinary people challenge dominant systems. He argues that the state often misunderstands or overlooks local knowledge and practices, leading to failures in governance. His work has significantly contributed to the fields of political theory and sociology.