Relating to or characterized by a union of separate states or groups that maintain their individual power while being joined together for common purposes.
From confederation, which comes from Late Latin confederatio, meaning 'a league or alliance.' The root is from Latin con- (together) and foederatus (bound by treaty), derived from foedus meaning 'covenant' or 'treaty.'
The confederative model—where members keep power but unite for mutual benefit—is nature's design too; it's how colonies of ants and bees operate, with individual autonomy combined with collective intelligence.
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