Historical examples of decentralized organization

This page collects historical examples of groups which organized without central authorities. The goal is to study the common patterns that emerge in such situations. The successes and failures of previous efforts give valuable lessons for future DAOs, indicating wise practices in developing legal principles and standards for cultivating ethics in order to create stability and longevity.

A common pattern in the emergence of decentralized organization is often an abundance of resources, for instance, geography in the cases of nomadic steppes tribes or maritime republics. Another situation that generates the conditions for decentralized organization is oppression, in the cases of the Maghribi traders and rebel groups such as pirates and religious orders.

Nomads

Loads of examples from the steppes--from the Mongols to the Roma--to the North American plains Indians.

Maghribi traders

Jewish merchant network in the 11th century Silk Road.

Papers by Avner Greif are particularly relevant to DGF, since they directly discuss the theory of repeated games and reputation:

• Avner Greif (1993) "Contract Enforceability and Economic Institutions in Early Trade: The Maghribi Traders' Coalition" American Economic Review, Vol. 83(3): 525-48.
• Avner Greif (1992, May) "Institutions and International Trade: Lessons from the Commercial Revolution." American Economic Review, Vol. 82, No.2, pp. 128-133.
• Avner Greif (1989) "Reputation and Coalitions in Medieval Trade: Evidence on the Maghribi Traders" Journal of Economic History, XLIX, pp. 857-82. Also of interest is a four year debate about the issues https://web.stanford.edu/~avner/greif-debate.html

Peasant republics

Peasant republics have emerged in various agrarian areas throughout history when monarchies are weak in particular areas.

Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League was a loose confederation of trading bodies which emerged in Germany in the middle ages.

• Avner Greif, Paul Milgrom, & Barry Weingast (1994) “Coordination, Commitment, and Enforcement: The Case of the Merchant Guild”, The Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 102, No. 4, pp. 745-776.

Thassalocracies

Thassalocracies often emerge first as decentralized groups which find common purpose in creating security and stability for trade on the ocean.

Greek democracies

The Delian league ...

Maritime republics

Maritime republics emerged in the Mediterranean during the Middle ages.

Pirate confederacies

Pirate confederacies would often take particularly democratic forms of government. This was especially evident during the Golden Age of Piracy in the Caribbean preceding the foundation of the United State of America. The pirate code was based on a previous maritime law, the Rôles d´Oléron, (detailed here) from the 12th century.

Another interesting example is the hypothesized Sea Peoples, claimed as a reason for the Bronze Age Collapse.

Religious orders

• Quaker deliberation
• Monastic Community of Mount Athos
• Judaic diaspora
• Islam