Recursive Polycentric Governance Based on the Local–Neighbor–Distant Triad

This record contains the preprint of the paper: “Recursive Polycentric Governance Based on the Local–Neighbor–Distant Triad.” The paper proposes a formal framework for polycentric governance based on a recursive triadic structure composed of localities, neighboring collectivities, and structurally distant collectivities. The model introduces a distributed mechanism of normative regulation based on judgments of inacceptability rather than centralized authority, allowing systemic coherence to emerge horizontally without suppressing local political autonomy. The paper includes: a formal structural specification of the protocol, demonstrable mathematical properties (monotonicity, termination, procedural safety), and an exploratory multi-agent simulation implemented on the Canadian federal structure. The simulation code and datasets used in the study are archived separately as a software record on Zenodo under DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18303790 Source code repository:https://github.com/sylebel-cdr/polycentric-governance-simulation Project website:https://sylebel.net This deposit corresponds to the exact version of the paper used for public dissemination prior to journal submission.