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James Scott was talking about nomadic societies living in regions near a state where they come into conflict. In those situations, withdrawal is possible. The situation is not possible today, not even partial withdrawal.

Look at the Wetʼsuwetʼen territory in northwestern British Columbia. It is unceded land. It's not just a relatively remote low population density area, it's not simply a part of a state where there is less surveillance, or an area where people could buy land and set up communal living -- it's actually technically not even part of Canada. If ever there was a place where people could withdraw to, this would be it. Yet the state encroaches and rams pipelines through anyway. The Wetʼsuwetʼen have already withdrawn....and the state followed them.

Withdrawal is not the answer. There is no place left on earth to withdraw to...except maybe Antarctica.

We have to stand our ground and start fighting back.