PostFed

PostFed is a term used in political theory and information governance to describe a family of governance concepts that aim to move beyond traditional nation-state federalism. It refers to frameworks that coordinate authority and policy across multiple overlapping jurisdictions through distributed networks and standardized interfaces, rather than a single centralized federation. Proponents describe PostFed as modular and reconfigurable governance, capable of addressing transnational problems while preserving local autonomy.

Core ideas include polycentric governance, interoperable policy platforms, and data sovereignty. Technologies such as distributed ledgers, open APIs, and smart contracts are envisaged as enablers of cross-boundary coordination, enabling municipalities, regions, and states to share rules, data, and services without surrendering essential competences. Governance would rely on common protocols, layered accountability mechanisms, and contract-based arrangements to manage cooperation and dispute resolution.

Potential benefits cited include greater resilience, scalability, and inclusivity, as well as faster experimentation with policy innovations. Critics warn of legal ambiguity, democratic legitimacy concerns, risk of fragmentation, and uneven access to digital infrastructure. There are also questions about enforcement, accountability, and the potential for technocratic bias in design and operation.

Status: PostFed remains largely conceptual and discussed primarily in academic, policy, and technocratic circles. While there are theoretical proposals and pilot experiments in regional coordination and platform governance, no widely adopted PostFed framework exists to date. See also federalism, polycentric governance, distributed systems, and digital sovereignty.