gwiazdom

Gwiazdom is a speculative term used in science fiction and worldbuilding to denote a federation or network of star systems connected by trade, culture, and governance. The name combines Polish gwiazda (star) with the morpheme -dom, signaling a realm or domain that transcends individual planets.

The concept is not an established term in astronomy. It appears mainly in fictional settings and theoretical discussions about how civilizations might organize themselves at interstellar scales.

Typical Gwiazdom models imagine a distributed federation in which member systems maintain autonomy but coordinate through a central council or rotating leadership. Economic integration, common defense pacts, and standardized infrastructure enable long-distance commerce and information flow. Travel between star systems would rely on advanced propulsion, relay networks, and potentially wormhole corridors; governance emphasizes resource sharing, conflict mediation, and cultural hybridity.

In literature and analysis, gwiazdom serves as a thought experiment about how large, diverse star-state coalitions might balance autonomy and unity, manage resource disparities, and address collective security.

See also interstellar federation, galactic federation, megastructures, spacefaring civilizations.