Definition ∞ Social governance refers to the collective processes and norms through which a community or group organizes itself, makes decisions, and allocates resources, often extending beyond formal institutional structures. This involves decentralized decision-making, consensus-building, and the establishment of shared behavioral guidelines. It prioritizes community participation and collective welfare.
Context ∞ Within decentralized autonomous organizations and Web3 projects, social governance is a fundamental concept, where token holders or community members directly participate in protocol upgrades and treasury management. The situation involves navigating challenges related to voter apathy, whale dominance, and effective communication among distributed participants. A critical future development includes the implementation of more sophisticated governance mechanisms, such as quadratic voting or delegated proof of stake, to enhance fairness and efficiency in decentralized social structures.