Introduction
Understanding Cryptocracy: While transparency is often emphasized in information disclosure, several systems of power are practiced in secret as a form of hidden governance. This type of hidden governance is known as a cryptocracy. The word cryptocracy derives from the Greek words kryptos (hidden or secret) and kratos (rule or power), and means “rule by secrecy.” Cryptocracy refers to a political or organizational atmosphere in which the decision-makers are truly unknown to, or unseen by, the general public.
What is Cryptocracy?
A cryptocracy exists when the people in genuine control of a government, organization, or society are concealed from society as the onlooking public and only visible leaders are acting as public faces or figures. In such modes of governance, official government figures may have a very limited role in the exercise of power. The real power may exist in secret networks, elites, conglomerates of powerful elites, and/or intelligence agencies.
Examples and Real-World Speculation
Cryptocracy is not treated as an actual system of governance, as democracy or monarchy is, but there are many people that believe some countries have acted towards dwelvng in cryptocratic principles. For example:
In some authoritarian states, the powerful families, families of drug lords, or military ruling dos not act as visibly in denying a form of democractic process behind the curtains.
In democratic nation-states, hidden forces are acted upon us as citizens. For example, lobbyist and agencies act outside public accountability to subvert decision-making for large powerful conglomerates of capital…and intelligence agencies.
Personified theories about cryptocracy include the “deep state” suggesting that permanent officials and elites control what happens to our public policy — and those decisions are not presented to us elected leaders.
Features of a Cryptocracy
Opacity – Actual decisions are made in clandestine juxtaposition to deadlines; there is no transparency.
Unidentified Principal’s – The individual or group actually directing policy is often unknown.
Contextualized Information – Propaganda and other forms of manipulated media or communication are a central component of cryptocratic motives.
Surveillance and Intelligence Departmentalization – For cryptocracy’s movers it’s vital that they blend in or not be identified as a power — otherwise they will be less powerful.
Compromised Legal Process – Solutions will always be favourable to the person in power, as the legal system is a sub-set of public instead of for public’s good.
What Makes It Risky?
Cryptocracy reduces democracy, human rights, and freedom — if citizens do not understand who is making decisions and governing less process, inaction and abdication are the only responses. This allows a distrustful relationship with government and promotes a disoriented, corrupt, and authoritative rule.
Can Anything Be Done About It?
Absolutely. The first step to mitigating or ignoring its influence is to provide transparency of action, the information available, and shared media. Contextualizing power for citizens, media, and courts that are not partisan to the state was the point of a recent ethos of the merger of citizen free and independent press. The power that citizen journalism holds has been aided by a plethora of classified and unclassified systemic forms of surveillance and intelligence.
Conclusion
Even though it is likely impossible to eliminate secrecy from government, too much secrecy leads to a cryptocracy – a shadowy way of governing (where the people lose control over their leaders). Awareness of this idea allows citizens to call for more transparency, accountability, and justice, regardless of the political system.
