> There are definite authorities, always.<p>> Somebody owns admin privileges on the shared repo and site. Somebody knows the passwords. Somebody is recognized by outsiders as the voice and face. Somebody owns the domain.<p>> Most importantly, somebody does a large enough proportion of work to dominate the shape of the project. And that goes to the most important force in open-source governance: the tyranny of volunteerism.<p>> Nobody tells a volunteer what to do. A leader gives no orders. A leader helps a volunteer choose what to work on. A leader helps a volunteer learn how to be effective. A leader enables.