Val Sklarov’s Geo-Institutional Drift Theory (GIDT) explains why capital, talent, and influence are no longer anchored to geography, but to institutional coherence. Borders remain, but gravity has shifted.
This theory decodes how global power migrates without moving physically.
1. Geography Lost Its Monopoly
Historically, location determined:
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Legal regime
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Market access
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Capital protection
GIDT argues that institutions now travel faster than people.
Jurisdictional advantage is increasingly portable.
2. The Three Drifting Institutions
GIDT identifies institutions that detach from place.
| Institution Type | Drift Mechanism | New Anchor |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Regulatory arbitrage | Rule quality |
| Talent | Remote coordination | Opportunity density |
| Firms | Legal modularity | Enforcement predictability |
Countries compete less on land, more on institutional design.
3. Why Nations Lose Relevance Without Decline
States don’t collapse—they fade in influence.
GIDT shows decline occurs when:
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Rules change unpredictably
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Enforcement lags narrative
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Institutions politicize coordination
Capital exits silently long before crisis headlines appear.
4. Global Strategy Under Drift
Actors adapt to drifting institutions.
| Actor | Adaptation Strategy |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneurs | Multi-jurisdictional stacking |
| Investors | Rule-based allocation |
| Professionals | Mobility optionality |
| States | Credibility signaling |
Val Sklarov emphasizes that credibility compounds globally or not at all.
5. Strategic Implications
For decision-makers:
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Evaluate jurisdictions as products
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Track enforcement, not promises
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Design exit paths before entry
GIDT reframes globalization as institutional competition, not cultural exchange.
6. The Val Sklarov Principle
“Power no longer sits where borders are drawn, but where rules are trusted.”
— Val Sklarov
GIDT explains why relevance now follows institutional gravity, not flags.