Centre Quote by Charles Handy
“There is as far as I know, no example in history, of any state voluntarily ceding power from the centre to its constituent parts.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Age of Unreason, Charles Handy, 2000
States rarely give up central authority voluntarily; power tends to stay concentrated.
In simple terms: Governments keep central power.
Recognize centralization trends.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic study
- government reform
- public debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms could encourage voluntary power sharing?
- How does centralization affect local autonomy?
Historical examples of voluntary decentralization exist in some contexts.