A quick-reference guide to key terms used throughout the Network Nations Knowledge Garden. Follow the wikilinks for deeper exploration of each concept.
Network Nation — A globally distributed community of choice that builds and governs its own digital civic infrastructure to cultivate trust at scale. See network-nations.
Translocalism — A mode of organizing that connects local communities across geographies through shared digital infrastructure and mutual purpose, without requiring physical co-location. See translocalism.
Polycentrism — A governance model characterized by multiple overlapping centers of decision-making authority rather than a single hierarchy. Draws on the work of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom. See polycentrism.
Functional Sovereignty — Sovereignty defined not by territorial control but by the capacity to effectively govern specific functions (identity, dispute resolution, resource allocation) for a community. See functional-sovereignty.
Commons — Shared resources governed collectively by a community according to rules they define and enforce together, rather than through private ownership or state control. See commons.
Interdependence — The recognition that individuals, communities, and network nations exist in webs of mutual reliance, and that governance should be designed to strengthen rather than deny these connections. See interdependence.
Stake-Based Governance — A governance model where decision-making power is allocated based on demonstrated commitment and contribution to the community, rather than wealth or status alone. See stake-based-governance.
Metapolitics — The practice of shaping the underlying assumptions, narratives, and cultural conditions that determine what is politically possible, rather than operating within existing political frameworks. See metapolitics.
Beyonders — Individuals and communities who operate beyond the conventional boundaries of nation-state politics, seeking to build new institutional forms from the ground up. See beyonders.
Techno-Realism — An approach to technology that is neither utopian nor dystopian, recognizing both the transformative potential and the real limitations and risks of digital tools for governance. See techno-realism.
Self-Governance — The capacity of a community to define, implement, and enforce its own rules and norms without depending on external authority. See self-governance.
Mutualization — The process of converting privately or state-controlled infrastructure into collectively owned and governed commons, enabling shared benefit and shared responsibility. See mutualization.
Steward — A governance role within the Network Nations Alliance responsible for maintaining and nurturing specific aspects of the alliance’s operations and mission. See steward.
Alliance Assembly — The collective decision-making body of the Network Nations Alliance, composed of member organizations and individual participants. See alliance-assembly.
Lazy Consensus — A decision-making protocol where a proposal is considered approved unless someone explicitly objects within a defined period. Used within the NNA’s governance processes. See decision-making.
Digital Garden — A style of knowledge base where content is cultivated over time rather than published as polished, final articles. Pages grow, change, and interconnect as understanding deepens. This site is a digital garden.
Wikilink — A hyperlink format (using double brackets like [[page-name]]) that connects pages within a knowledge base, enabling free interlinking between ideas without rigid hierarchies.