Hyper-Localism
Characteristics
Adapted from Sacha Pignot:
Scale Philosophy: As small as possible (neighborhood, village, household)
Decision Criterion: Ideological (smaller is always better)
View of Hierarchy: Rejects or radically flattens hierarchical structures
Attitude to Higher Authority: Often skeptical or hostile toward higher authority
Philosophical Roots: Anarchism, libertarian municipalism, deep ecology
Implementation Approach: Often seeks autonomy from or replacement of state institutions
(https://soushi888.github.io/alternef-digital-garden/knowledge/governance-and-community/subsidiarity)
Discussion
For Sacha Pignot, it is the micro-level 'Connected Foundation' of the Fractal Sovereignty stack:
"Hyper-localism in fractal sovereignty isn’t isolation—it’s creating resilient foundation layers that can participate meaningfully in larger networks.
This includes:
- Household production: Food preservation, craft production, repair culture, energy generation
- Community workshops: Shared tools, skill exchanges, local fabrication capabilities
- Neighborhood resource sharing: Tool libraries, community kitchens, local currency systems
- Immediate ecosystem management: Watershed stewardship, local food systems, micro-grids
The key innovation: these systems maintain full autonomy over production processes and resource allocation while accessing global knowledge networks when beneficial. A community workshop using locally sourced wood can access global design innovations while maintaining control over working conditions."