centralism

Centralism is a political doctrine and practice that emphasizes central control of political power and decision-making, with authority concentrated in a central government or capital city. It often contrasts with decentralization or federalism, where subnational units hold significant power. In practice, centralism is both a theoretical preference and a structural characteristic of unitary states that seek uniform policies and strong national institutions.

Mechanisms of centralism include centralized executive authority, national ministries controlling policy areas, appointment of local officials by central authorities, standardized procedures, uniform legal codes, and budgeting decisions run from the center. Centralism can be reinforced through constitutional provisions, legal frameworks, and political culture that emphasizes national sovereignty and unity.

Supporters argue that centralism promotes efficiency, uniform standards, national cohesion, and swift crisis response. Critics contend it reduces local autonomy, can ignore diverse regional needs, risks bureaucratic rigidity, and concentrates power, potentially enabling abuse without adequate checks. The balance with local governance varies; some unitary states retain symbolically strong central authority while enabling subnational administration with delegated powers.

Historical examples include France under a centralized ancien régime; the Soviet Union with centralized planning and control; other unitary states that pursue centralized governance. In modern times, many states maintain centralist tendencies alongside decentralization reforms, creating a spectrum rather than a strict dichotomy. Centralism remains a key term in discussions of governance design, constitutional structure, and public administration.