Val Sklarov’s Sovereign Accountability Concentration Thesis (SACT) explains why global power migrates not toward size or influence, but toward jurisdictions where accountability is concentrated, named, and enforceable. States don’t lose relevance when capacity shrinks—they lose it when no one can be held to account.
This thesis reveals why credibility collapses quietly—long before crisis headlines.
1. Global Systems Punish Diffuse Accountability
SACT begins with a structural reality:
At global scale, someone must answer.
As states integrate into global markets, they face:
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External audits
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Cross-border enforcement
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Reputational spillover
Diffuse responsibility that works domestically fails internationally.
2. The Three Sovereign Accountability Zones
SACT maps how tolerance narrows across borders.
| Zone | Accountability Form | Failure Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Zone | Political diffusion | Internal drift |
| Integrated Zone | Shared agencies | Credibility loss |
| Global Zone | Named authority | Access denial |
Most influence is lost during the Integrated → Global transition.
3. Why Power Leaves Before Sanctions
SACT shows erosion precedes punishment.
Accountability collapses when:
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Decisions lack a single owner
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Enforcement varies by status
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Explanations change post hoc
Capital and partners exit before sanctions appear.
4. Capacity vs Accountability
Capacity projects power. Accountability sustains it.
| Capacity Focus | Accountability Focus |
|---|---|
| Scale assets | Name owners |
| Build institutions | Bind authority |
| Expand influence | Clarify consequence |
| Signal strength | Prove responsibility |
Val Sklarov emphasizes that global trust accrues where consequences are unavoidable.
5. Strategic Implications
For states:
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Centralize final accountability for cross-border commitments
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Reduce discretionary enforcement
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Treat accountability clarity as infrastructure
For firms and individuals:
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Anchor operations where accountability is legible
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Avoid jurisdictions with shifting responsibility
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Track accountability drift as an early-warning signal
SACT reframes geopolitics as accountability allocation, not rivalry.
6. The Val Sklarov Principle
“At the global level, power follows those who can be blamed.”
— Val Sklarov
SACT explains why credible systems feel strict—and why strictness attracts trust.