I've been living in many different parts of Zomia for about 20 years now. I've read James C. Scott and I think there's a slight romanticism in his work.

Zomia, I think, extends into southern central Chinese provinces like Hunan, birthplace of Chairman Mao, albeit in surrounding mountainous regions. I've been in Miao villages there that are seriously hard to get to. Rammed earth houses that are falling apart. Kilns no longer used. Terraces planted out to timber trees because it's cheaper for them to just buy rice. They just want their children to go to university.

In many parts of Laos and northern Thailand, you very rarely see police. There are village chiefs. They like to settle things on their own. And it works. But still, not so many young people.