UNDERSTANDING DECENTRALIZATION THROUGH AMC'S THE WALKING DEAD
FINANCE
IN THE WALKING DEAD
Are the communities in The Walking Dead free to decide on a currency which is an accepted means of exchange between themselves and other communities? (Gevers, 2014)
COMMUNITY
Does the community have decentralized finance?
Explanation
ALEXANDRIA
Rick's effort to offer "protection" as a means of trade to other communities has been implemented with arrogance and disaster. It seems that it was Rick's decision, largely, to make such a means of exchange on his own. Carol, Morgan, Glenn, and others did not think his initial attack on one of Negan's outposts in the name of "protection" was the correct move, though Rick did this anyway. This action sparked a downhill motion that ended with the deaths of many (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Rick alone gets a strong down arrow for this arrogance.
Picture of Rick. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
THE SAVIORS
Negan's form of finance is very effective in the world he faces, but it is also very centralized. He trades protection for an extreme return like 50 percent of all the food a community under his control produces. When he wants, he changes the terms of such contracts without any immediate repercussions. Like many of Negan's aspects of ruling, you could argue that such a dire time would call for such a drastic form of trade. But in the end, all resources are controlled by Negan. All resources are allocated by Negan with a point system. The people are even resources of Negan (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Big downvote for Negan in this regard.
Picture of Negan. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
HILLTOP
The only evidence of finance happening with the Hilltop thus far has been under duress. They are responsible for supplying the Saviors with food with no real trade occurring in return even though they are promised protection. Saying that, Maggie has shown up on every occasion to help provide defense for her community and others as a form of "currency". This shows she keeps her word. More will have to be seen without the influence of the Saviors to make a better judgment of finance in the Hilltop (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Until then, Hilltop gets a mixed arrow vote.
Picture of Maggie. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
THE KINGDOM
The same is true of the Kingdom as is with the Hilltop. More will have to be seen without the influence of the Saviors before judgment can be made about the Kingdom's finance (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Until then, the Hilltop gets a mixed arrow vote.
Picture of Ezekiel. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
They don't trade guns- that is for sure. But it is unknown how Oceanside handles means of trading and contracts (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Until we know more, Oceanside also gets a mixed arrow vote.
OCEANSIDE
Picture of Cyndie. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://walkingdead.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cyndie_Season_7.jpg
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
THE TRASH PEOPLE
Once again, if you look at the actions only of the Trash People and do not consider how they treat other communities, then you could say they freely make contracts which support their own group. But they have been sneaky liars in several instances, where they do not live up to their contractual obligations, and attempt to change the rules as they go along (The Walking Dead, 2010-2018). Therefore, the Trash People get a strong down arrow vote for decentralized finance.
Picture of Jadis. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2018, from http://www.amc.com/shows/the-walking-dead/cast-crew
The Walking Dead [Television series]. (2010-2018). New York, NY: AMC Network Entertainment, LLC.
Gevers, Johann (2014). The four pillars of a decentralized society | Johann Gevers | TEDxZug. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oeiOeDq_Nc