There had been some attempts in the west to retain independence from the Matrix. Sir John Bradbury in UK, probably some in other places, Generalisimo Francisco Franco even copied almost the entire approach from Thailand involving military, monarchy and religion. But all eventually failed. All of Asia failed, except Thailand. Some muslim countries probably succeeded, but at a great cost of treason to their likeminded neighbours, or/and to their own societies.
Thailand succeeded while making only limited compromises on wellbeing of their own society.
Let's think and learn.