Definition:
Authority laundering is the process by which responsibility for decisions is diffused across committees, procedures, or abstract entities to obscure who holds power.
Usage Context:
Common in government departments, corporate structures, regulatory bodies, and international institutions.
Critical Note:
Authority laundering makes power difficult to confront. By dispersing ownership of decisions, it creates the illusion that no one is responsible.
Related Terms:
Legitimacy Laundering, Power Consolidation, Institutional Self-Alignment, Cultural Capture, Authority Bias