Abstract

As institutional systems falter under the weight of complexity, fragmentation, and loss of public trust, individuals and small collectives are increasingly stepping into roles once reserved for centralized authorities. Node Theory offers a conceptual framework for understanding how people self-organize, host trust, and coordinate action in the absence of stable institutions. Drawing from systems theory, network science, collapse studies, information ecology, and cognitive infrastructure, this work outlines the six core functions of a node and explores how decentralized behavior restores coherence in failing environments. Grounded in both human and ecological examples, the paper situates node behavior as a response to systemic erosion—and as scaffolding for future systems yet to emerge. This piece provides both a theoretical foundation and a practical lens for identifying, understanding, and amplifying collapse-aware coordination in the real world...