Parallelism

Parallelism in the Cyberpunk Universe refers to the belief that contemporary structures are inefficient but impossible to tackle head on. As such, it posits that communities must develop alternative institutions and societies.

In terms of aesthetics, it is closely related to Entropism.

Principles

The status quo does not care about the individual, it suppresses and alienates him;
Violence against the current system will only reinforce the system;
Those who choose to succumb to the system are at fault for it still existing;

While Edgerunners are the most numerous believers in Parallelism, Streetscum & Movers adhere to some principles, fusing it with Realism in order to synthesize a good framework for them to live in. Parallelism, thus, is the most difficult to define, since it is just "living against the grain", "despite it all". Interestingly, reaching the heights of the Powerdealers brings with it a form of Parallelism through detachment from the struggles of ordinary life.

For a Parallelist, the dichotomy of control separates what he cares about from what he doesn't. Easier said than done, many believers still shift their day-to-day activities enough so that they can control them - examples include becoming a Nomad or an Edgerunner.

People are not inherently against one another, it is the infrastructure of the system that drives them into evil and conflict. Therefore, Parallelism asks to identify friend from foe and maintain that distinction of the Other. This is different from Insurrectionism, which uses the image of the Other in order to attack and deflect blame towards.

Parallelists build a life outside of the system as much as they can, living off the grid and even constructing entire societies in parallel, with their own rules and customs. They won't hesitate to steal or kill, but it won't be the first thing they think of.

Patrons

Parallelism is the most divided #ideology, since it relies on the frameworks provided by the Patrons on how to act in order to distance oneself from society at large. As such, Patrons might not agree with one another or even regard themselves as Parallelists.

Santiago Aldecado, leader of the Aldecaldos;
The Highrider Confederation, the independent high-tech colonists of LEO (Low Earth Orbit);
The Co-op, a #corporation founded by a New York Edgerunner named Turkish;

Principles

Patrons

Further reading