Jonathan Healey, of the University of Oxford, argues that the way people resisted unpopular governments changed dramatically from the 16th to the 21st centuries. As states grew in power, flight was no longer an option, so discontented people were forced to imagine revolution. Today, escape is once again possible, to safe online spaces which act like medieval forests, places which the government can't control. The nature of resistance is reverting to its Tudor state: socially conservative, constant, and small in scale.

Recorded with an audience at the 2017 York Festival of Ideas
New Generation Thinkers is a scheme run by the BBC with the Arts and Humanities Research Council to find academics who can turn their research into radio. You can find information about how to apply for this year's scheme on the website https://ahrc.ukri.org/

Producer: Jacqueline Smith.

Image: Jonathan Healey. Credit: Ian Martindale. Show less