Distributed republic
Encyclopedia
The concept of a distributed republic is that of a fluid republic
consisting of land and citizens scattered across the globe, changing far more frequently than conventional nation-states. Many of these republics were corporate entities, while others were more loosely connected anarchist communities. The concept is rooted in the anarcho-capitalist, dystopian cyberpunk
subgenre of science fiction
, and was used extensively by novelist Neal Stephenson
in his books Snow Crash
and The Diamond Age
.
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
consisting of land and citizens scattered across the globe, changing far more frequently than conventional nation-states. Many of these republics were corporate entities, while others were more loosely connected anarchist communities. The concept is rooted in the anarcho-capitalist, dystopian cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
subgenre of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, and was used extensively by novelist Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson
Neal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction.Difficult to categorize, his novels have been variously referred to as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and postcyberpunk...
in his books Snow Crash
Snow Crash
Snow Crash is Neal Stephenson's third novel, published in 1992. Like many of Stephenson's other novels it covers history, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, religion, computer science, politics, cryptography, memetics, and philosophy....
and The Diamond Age
The Diamond Age
The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson. It is to some extent a science fiction bildungsroman, focused on a young girl named Nell, and set in a future world in which nanotechnology affects all aspects of life. The novel deals with themes of...
.