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governance

governance

4 6.3
Rules and processes that let people decide changes in a digital network like a blockchain
  • noun
  • /ˈɡʌvərnəns/
  • Texting
translation icon : gobernanza
  • The new blockchain platform requires a clear set of rules for governance to ensure all participants can propose changes fairly.
  • decentralized governance
  • corporate governance
  • Internet governance

Examples

  • At-risk democracies are almost universally plagued by poor governance.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Effective governance in decentralized networks helps participants make decisions about resource allocation transparently.

  • I have here a list of new rules of governance.

  • The rapid growth of the Internet has led to a worldwide crisis of governance.

    Academic text (2002)
  • We need AI and its governance to serve humans rather than humans serving it.

  • Improving governance will also require strengthening the enforcement of commercial contracts.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Barriers also exist to the participation of nonprofit organizations in global Internet governance.

    Academic text (2002)
  • However, to be legitimate, global governance forums will also need improved democratic processes.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Some people in Japan are very cautious about joining the AIIB, arguing that, well, the governance is not very clear.

  • Everybody's using the same software that allows them to connect together and participate in a governance structure that's shared.

Synonyms

governing
vsgovernance
76 3.5

The act of controlling and directing a country, organization or group

is specific to computing protocols and their decision processes
governing body
vsgovernance
  • Jargon
6.4

A system with no single leader that makes and enforces rules for a digital platform using code and token votes

is the set of on-chain rules and voting mechanisms that guide changes

Antonyms

438 3.1

A situation with no order where people are confused and cannot act normally

Compounds

The way people run a local area to provide services

How Decentralized

governance
  • Texting
4 6.3
governance
  • Specialized
83 5.6
centralized
  • US
9 4.4

Surface Forms

governance singular
governances plural

Morphology

governance = govern (transparent) = govern + ance

Although used in a technical blockchain context, the term denotes the rules and processes of 'governing' a protocol and is directly derived from 'govern' + '-ance'.

Etymology

Governance comes from the same root as govern and governor, from Latin gubernare meaning 'to steer', so imagine steering a ship. In technology, especially in systems like blockchain, governance is the rules, votes, and processes that 'steer' the network and decide how it changes.