Decentralism

/diːˈsɛntrəlɪzəm/ noun

Definition

A political or organizational philosophy that favors distributing power and authority to local or regional levels rather than concentrating it centrally.

Etymology

From decentralize plus the suffix -ism, creating an ideology or system of beliefs. This term emerged in the 20th century as various political movements advocated for local control.

Kelly Says

Both libertarians and some environmentalists embrace decentralism for completely different reasons—libertarians want less government control, while environmentalists believe local communities understand their own ecosystems better than distant bureaucrats. It's an ideology with surprising allies!

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