decentralisation
Spreading authority outward
Decentralisation is the distribution of power, authority, or functions away from a central location or governing body.
Governments decentralise when they shift decision-making to regional or local authorities.
Organisations decentralise by giving departments more autonomy.
In technology, decentralised systems like blockchain operate without central control: The movement toward decentralisation challenged traditional power structures.
Also spelled decentralization.
Divided governmental authority system
- devolutionTransferring power locally
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- subsidiarityLocal authority when able
- local governmentRegional civic administration
self-governance · regional authority · home rule · parish councils · panchayat · grassroots democracy · town hall · civic participation
Organization with few levels
- remote workEmployment from afar
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- agileLimber and quick-moving
cross-functional · cooperative · worker ownership · bottom-up · microenterprises · cellular structure · pods · squads
Localized autonomous power systems
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- mesh networksSelf-healing node system
- edge computingProcessing data near source
- water harvestingCollecting precipitation for storage
off-grid · renewable energy · battery storage · rainwater collection · redundancy
Encrypted decentralized money
- BitcoinPeer-to-peer electronic cash
- EthereumProgrammable blockchain network
- nodesPoints of connection
- peer-to-peerServerless network architecture
smart contracts · mining · validators · Web3 · DeFi · trustless · immutability · permissionless
Nearby retail establishments
- regional bankingGeographically limited financial services
- credit unionsMember-owned financial cooperatives
- microfinanceSmall loans for poor entrepreneurs
- small businessModest independent commercial venture
import substitution · community development · cottage industry · farmers markets · local sourcing · community ownership · mutual aid
federalism
Divided governmental authority system
- devolutionTransferring power locally
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- subsidiarityLocal authority when able
local government · self-governance · regional authority · home rule · parish councils · panchayat · grassroots democracy · town hall · civic participation · local elections
flat hierarchy
Organization with few levels
- remote workEmployment from afar
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
agile · cross-functional · cooperative · worker ownership · bottom-up · microenterprises · cellular structure · pods · squads · self-direction
microgrids
Localized autonomous power systems
- solar panelsLight-converting power generators
- mesh networksSelf-healing node system
- edge computingProcessing data near source
water harvesting · off-grid · renewable energy · battery storage · rainwater collection · redundancy
cryptocurrency
Encrypted decentralized money
peer-to-peer · smart contracts · mining · validators · Web3 · DeFi · trustless · immutability · permissionless · tokens
local markets
Nearby retail establishments
- regional bankingGeographically limited financial services
- credit unionsMember-owned financial cooperatives
- microfinanceSmall loans for poor entrepreneurs
small business · import substitution · community development · cottage industry · farmers markets · local sourcing · community ownership · mutual aid
- droit administratifprefect, prefecture, competence, decision, cassation
decentralisationcentralisation
Concentrating control in one place
centralization · centralism · power consolidation · consolidation · concentration
decentralisationcentralization
Unifying control in one place
concentration · consolidation · urbanization · agglomeration · clustering
central, eccentric, concentrate, centre, concentration, centrist, egocentric, decentralization, centralise