centralisé

Centralisé is the French adjective meaning centralized, used to describe systems, institutions, or practices in which authority, decision-making, or resources are concentrated in a central body rather than dispersed. The related noun forms are centralisation (the process) and centralisme (a doctrinal or political stance in favor of central control). While the term is rooted in French governance, it is widely used in political science, public administration, organizational theory, and information technology to distinguish centralized from decentralized or distributed arrangements.

In political and administrative contexts, centralisation refers to concentrating power and functions at the national or central government level, often accompanied by standardized policies, unified budgeting, and centralized personnel management. In organizations, it denotes decision rights and control emanating from the top management, with limited autonomy granted to regional or local units. In information technology, centralized systems store data and provide services from a central server or data center, rather than distributing processes across multiple nodes or locations.

Advantages commonly cited for centralisation include uniform standards, easier policy coherence, economies of scale, and clearer accountability. Disadvantages include potential bottlenecks, slower response to local needs, reduced flexibility and innovation at lower levels, and a higher risk of systemic failure if the central node is compromised.

The appropriateness of centralisation depends on context and goals, with many governance models balancing central control and local autonomy. Related concepts include decentralisation, devolution, federalism, and subsidiarity. See also centralisation, decentralisation, and unitary versus federal state structures.