Xerocracy

Xerocracy

Xerocracy (pronounced|zɪˈrɒkrəsiː "zee-ROK-ruh-see") is the idea of "rule through photocopying". It is a form of anarchic organization.

The word was coined to describe the organizational principle of Critical Mass, and it is used almost exclusively within that context. The word is intended to combine the ideas of freedom from bureaucracy and freedom to photocopy. Unlike a hierarchical organization, nobody is in charge structurally because everyone is free to make photocopies of their ideas and pass them around.

In such a system, the power to rule defaults to those who have chosen to photocopy their ideas. This power is proportionate to the number of individuals who receive the originator's photocopy and choose it over any other photocopies that they may have received.

The goals of a xerocratic group are not set by a few individuals in charge but are broadly defined by its members. Each person in the group is free to invent his or her own reasons for participating and is free to share those reasons with others. The degree to which an individual's ideas are shared by the group as a whole is dependent on the number of copies of the idea that are distributed, the effectiveness of the distribution of the copies, and the adoption of the ideas contained therein - either over or in addition to other ideas being distributed within the group.

The lack of an identifiable leadership may be itself a desirable trait for an organization. The ability to make anonymous, clandestine photocopies also makes it difficult for law enforcement to identify and punish organizers, since the "leadership" may be hard to trace and may change over time.

External links

* [http://www.critical-mass.org/ Critical Mass]
* [http://www.criticalmassrides.info/ Worldwide Critical Mass Hub]
* [http://www.criticalmass.org.au/ Critical Mass Australia]
* [http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/ Critical Mass London] (London, UK)
* [http://www.runmuki.com/paul/writing/urban.html Critical Mass in San Francisco]
* [http://www.times-up.org/cm.php New York City Critical Mass]
* [http://www.chicagocriticalmass.org Chicago Critical Mass]
* [http://massa.org.ru Critical Mass Moscow]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • xerocracy — (zee.ROK.ruh.see) n. 1. A society in which censorship is so pervasive that the only way to disseminate information is via photocopied documents and newsletters that have be written clandestinely. 2. Rule by whoever feels like doing the… …   New words

  • Critical Mass — This article is about bicycle events. For the nuclear reaction, see Critical mass. For other uses of the term critical mass , see Critical mass (disambiguation). San Francisco Critical Mass, April 29, 2005. Critical Mass is a cycling event… …   Wikipedia

  • -cracy — The English suffix cracy means a form of government or a state having such government. It is derived from the ancient Greek kratein , meaning to rule . Typically, the suffix is encountered in distinguishing between the following different forms… …   Wikipedia

  • Government — athlete tax carry tax competitive compassion declinism democrazy dollarize endism fast food zoning …   New words

  • Politics — astroturf attack fax Baracknophobia birther blue hot Bork businesscrat celeb …   New words

  • adhocracy — n. An organization with little or no structure; the opposite of a bureaucracy. Example Citation: One beginning point might be to compel the attorney general actually to manage the Justice Department and its investigative agencies in accordance… …   New words

  • corpocracy — (kor.PAWK.ruh.see) n. A society in which corporations have substantial economic and political power. Example Citation: Since at least 1775, when Isaiah Thomas published his eye witness account of the Battle of Lexington, the Worcester area has… …   New words

  • do-ocracy — n. An organization or movement where power and respect go to people who get things done. Also: doocracy. Example Citations: In fact, the success of Anonymous without leaders is pretty easy to understand if you forget everything you think you know …   New words

  • ineptocracy — n. A government or state ruled by people who are incompetent. Also: inept ocracy. Example Citations: Cardiff council operates a no can do culture and morale among general staff is low. The council operates as a private club, with the Liberal… …   New words

  • soft power — n. Power based on intangible or indirect influences such as culture, values, and ideology. Example Citation: The US s best soft power analyst is Harvard s Kennedy School dean Joseph Nye, who defines the concept as co opting people rather than… …   New words

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”