Recursive Polycentric Governance Based on the Local–Neighbor–Distant Triad

This record contains the preprint of the paper:

“Recursive Polycentric Governance Based on the Local–Neighbor–Distant Triad.”

The paper proposes a formal framework for polycentric governance based on a recursive triadic structure composed of localities, neighboring collectivities, and structurally distant collectivities.

The model introduces a distributed mechanism of normative regulation based on judgments of inacceptability rather than centralized authority, allowing systemic coherence to emerge horizontally without suppressing local political autonomy.

The paper includes:

• a formal structural specification of the protocol,

• demonstrable mathematical properties (monotonicity, termination, procedural safety),

• and an exploratory multi-agent simulation implemented on the Canadian federal structure.

The simulation code and datasets used in the study are archived separately as a software record on Zenodo under DOI:

10.5281/zenodo.18303790

Source code repository:
https://github.com/sylebel-cdr/polycentric-governance-simulation

Project website:
https://sylebel.net

This deposit corresponds to the exact version of the paper used for public dissemination prior to journal submission.