As a direct contrast to the hierarchical governance structure, the atmostic governance structure eschews the idea of the hierarchy and sees that participation in governance to be an individualized model. Whereas the participation in governance in the hierarchal structure is either voluntary or promulgated, yet in the atomistic structure there is usually only the voluntary participation aspect to governance. What is a common narrative information tool throughout the book, but is especially helpful in understanding the contrast between these two styles of governance, is the introduction of visual tools to understand the relationship between players in the governance structure. If this tool was not utilized, it would be even harder to understand the differences between the two governance structures in this and in the previous chapters. A specific idea that is worth mentioning specific to the interest of the reader is where the atomistic governance structure pulls from the political science realm. The Lockean interpretation of the social contract between I/individuals in society are “neither natural nor permanent”. This allows for a quite fluid interaction between players, wholly allowing for the atomistic aspect of the governance to exist as a contrasting structure. Again, the authors weave theories, concepts and belief systems between the introduction of the specifics of the governance structure. These snippets of detail introduced into the quite complex structure of this theory are very important and necessary.

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