Natural potency and political power an innovative exploration of the social and political importance of forests in contemporary laos challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an authoritarian regime it offers instead a novel understanding of local perspectives under authoritarianism demonstrating that lao . Natural potency and political poweran innovative exploration of the social and political importance of forests in contemporary laos challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an authoritarian regime. Natural potency and political power an innovative exploration of the social and political importance of forests in contemporary laos challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an authoritarian regime it offers instead a novel understanding of local perspectives under authoritarianism demonstrating that lao . Natural potency and political power an innovative exploration of the social and political importance of forests in contemporary laos challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an authoritarian regime. Forests as physical entities have received considerable scholarly attention in political studies of asia and beyond much less notice has been paid to the significance of forests as symbols that enable commentary on identity aspirations and authority this book challenges common views of the rural countryside as isolated and disconnected from national social debates and politics under an