Of course a couple days after writing my post consolidating thoughts of decentralization I found a piece by Nathan Schneider in my Omnivore called: What to do once you admit that decentralizing everything never seems to work

This further makes the point that the centralization-decentralization debate is nuanced, and Schneider quotes another scholar saying we must go “beyond the centralization-centralization dichotomy.”

Schneider discusses entrepreneurship, co-ops, blockchain, and more, introducing three characteristics of applying the decentralization principle:

  1. Decentralization is a process, not static. It is not one-way. Centralization is like reverse-entropy.
  2. Decentralizing systems should be heterogenous, incorporating multiple forms of decentralization.
  3. We must plan for centralization and ensure that it is accountable. This rhymes with Mark Nottingham’s point of the need for checks and balances.

Read the whole piece: What to do once you admit that decentralizing everything never seems to work