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Cited by 112Political Systems and GovernanceGlobalization and political ideologiesPolitical Theory and Democracy

An Introduction to Polycentricity and Governance

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Stephan, Mark, Marshall, Graham, McGinnis, Michael·2019·Governing Complexity
DOI 10.1017/9781108325721.002
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Abstract

Since the early discussions of polycentricity, the concept (and variations such as polycentric political systems, polycentric governance, polycentric order, etc.) has seen the development of numerous permutations, digressions, and contradictions. This chapter is meant to carefully step through key notions tied to polycentricity and polycentric governance. The chapter’s purpose is to discuss polycentric governance in particular, while giving some attention to polycentricity as a term from which polycentric governance originates. We build upon the classic version of polycentric governance as a 'polycentric political system', link this concept with broader conceptualizations of polycentricity, and survey the related ideas that have been investigated around the concepts of polycentric political systems, polycentric order, polycentric governance, and polycentric arrangements.

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13 of 13 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A polycentric governance system emerges from the fact that, although all clusters remain relatively independent from each other, when it comes to making decisions, they necessarily account for what the others are doing.

    “A polycentric governance system emerges from the fact that, although all clusters remain relatively independent from each other, when it comes to making decisions, they necessarily account for what the others are doing [100]; p. 29).”

    From Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance (2020) · cites this paper as [100]

  • In a polycentric system, interdependence among a web of actors leads to a common set of rules, norms and strategies that guide the behaviour of a large majority of actors within the system.

    “According to Polanyi [96]; the particularity of a polycentric system, is that, as a result of the interdependence between this web of actors, a common set of rules, norms and strategies emerge to guide the behaviour of a large majority of actors within the system [100]; p. 40).”

    From Blockchain as a confidence machine: The problem of trust & challenges of governance (2020) · cites this paper as [100]

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Authors
Stephan, M., Marshall, G., & McGinnis, M.
ORCID
Venue
Governing Complexity
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Published
2019-09-30
Pages
21-44
DOI
10.1017/9781108325721.002
OpenAlex
W2974108063
Cited by
112
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 3
FWCI
112.99
Type
book chapter
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations
  • Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
  • Digital Library Of The Commons Repository (Indiana University) (submittedVersion)
  • RUNE (Research UNE) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (1431487)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Systems and Governance
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Globalization and political ideologies
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
Keywords
polycentricity, polycentric governance, governance theory, political system theory

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