Definition of "centralism" [cen•tral•ism]

• Concentration of power and authority in a central organization, as in a political system. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Democratic centralism is one of those terms that make the eyes glaze over, like so many authoritarian and statist terminologies."
• "But in September Mr Hu dropped a not-so-subtle hint of his own reservations, emphasising the principle of "centralism" - which means upholding party decisions without dissent."
• "That is the greatness of the principle of democratic centralism which is the basis for the existence and functioning of a communist party."