1. plural of polycentrism; systems or ideologies organized around multiple centers of power, authority, or influence rather than a single center
Usage: academic; political science; typically used in discussions of international relations, organizational structures, or historical movements
2. in communist and socialist contexts, the principle that communist parties in different countries should have equal authority and independence rather than subordination to a single center
Usage: historical; political ideology

Examples

• The rise of polycentrisms in global politics has challenged traditional notions of superpower dominance.
• Some scholars argue that polycentrisms better reflect the complexity of modern international relations.
• The organization adopted polycentrisms to distribute decision-making power across regional offices.
• Eastern European communist parties embraced polycentrisms as a way to assert independence from Moscow.
• Polycentrisms in corporate structures can improve responsiveness to local market conditions.