The Impact of Shared Authority

Preface 

Shared Authority refers to the practice of distributing decisions making power and the right to interpret information across multiple individuals or groups rather than solely relying on a single person or authority figure. Shared authority is seen as an important step forward for public historians and the process of their work. Shared authority allows historians to create an interactive space with a public audience. [1]

A group of Prairie View students posing together for a picture during a community service commute .

This picture displays a group of students engaging in a real world scenario displaying  shared authority . [Photograph Rylo’s Mom , 2025]

Main Body 

Shared authority refers to a collaborative approach to historical research and interpretation in which the perspectives of multiple individuals, including scholars, community members, and other resources are acknowledged and integrated into the process. Another approach rather than using the traditional methods where authority relies solely on academic experts or institutions, shared authority emphasizes the inclusion of diverse voices, especially those historically marginalized or excluded from dominant narratives. Here we notice the impact that shared authority can have on historical events and how its discretion is seen as irrelevant in certain situations. In a historical context, shared authority allows for a more in-depth and inclusive understanding of the past. Researchers work alongside community members, historians, activists, and local experts incorporating personal experiences. Within scholarship, shared authority redefines the power dynamics between academic researchers and other knowledge holders. This may involve partnerships with local communities, cultural groups, or grassroots organizations. These partnerships are seen as reciprocal and emphasize mutual respect, with each party contributing their own insights. This approach can lead to new methods  and theoretical frameworks, encouraging interdisciplinary work that challenges the dominant narratives typically shaped by institutions of power. The influence of shared authority has prompted many of my colleague peers to add their own knowledge , here are soon of their blog post below . 

NOTES

[1] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236813682_Sharing_Authority_An_Introduction?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[2]

https://www.ohs.org.uk/scripts/journal-search.php?parameter=issue&searchkey=109