This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
In societies, people’s spoken words do not always align with their true thoughts when faced with an oppressive authority. In environments dominated by a powerful political or social figure, the behavior exhibited in their presence can differ significantly from the views expressed when they are absent. Often, individuals suppress their genuine feelings and choose to conform to the expectations of the system or its leader. This behavior arises not only from fear but also as a strategy for survival in social life.
A visual representing James C. Scott’s concepts of public transcript and hidden transcript. (Image generated by artificial intelligence.)
James C. Scott proposes two key concepts to understand this phenomenon: public transcript and hidden transcript. These concepts are particularly useful in explaining how oppressed, suppressed, or directly monitored groups behave in daily life and how they quietly resist.
The public transcript refers to the behavior displayed by individuals or groups when under the direct observation of those in power. This domain functions like a public stage, visible to all. Here, people typically act obedient, silent, compliant, and sometimes artificially respectful. The motivation behind such conduct is usually not internalized belief but the fear of punishment. The public transcript serves to maintain a social order that appears harmonious on the surface. Beneath this facade, however, there often lies a suppressed discontent and an invisible dissatisfaction.
The hidden transcript emerges in spaces inaccessible to authority—more private or secure environments. It is an alternative mode of expression developed through conversations among group members, shared stories, jokes, or collective traumas. Here, direct criticisms, mockery, or coded narratives about the dominant figure find room to exist. This form of expression does not always signify open rebellion; rather, it accumulates over time and becomes a reservoir of invisible resistance.
According to Scott, this distinction shows that resistance is not limited to taking to the streets, holding up signs, or speaking loudly. Resistance can also be expressed through silence, a glance, or an implied remark. The hidden transcript reveals hidden political meanings within seemingly ordinary actions. When carefully observed, these meanings become visible beneath the surface of everyday life.
There is no fixed or clear boundary between the public transcript and the hidden transcript. There is fluidity between these two domains. As pressure increases, the hidden transcript expands. In some cases, what was once hidden begins to seep into the public sphere. Though these leaks may start small, they can ignite large-scale social movements as collective anger and demands become visible. The voices echoing from silence have historically marked the beginning of many transformations.
James C. Scott’s two concepts illustrate that power relations cannot be understood solely through what is visible. Silence does not always signify consent; sometimes, behind that silence lies a powerful, accumulated, and strategically waiting resistance. The public transcript represents the surface-level performance of conformity and order, while the hidden transcript carries the accumulated dissent, anger, and desire for change that lies behind the stage. Often, the real story is written behind that curtain.