The Sovereign Spine: A New Theory of Institutional Coherence and Agency

This paper develops a theoretical account of institutional coherence centered on the concept of the "sovereign spine." It proposes that institutions maintain coherence through a structured alignment of intent, interpretation, and decision criteria over time. The paper reframes agency as an emergent property of coherent translation across governance layers, rather than as a fixed attribute of actors. It contributes a new theoretical foundation for understanding how institutions sustain purpose under conditions of complexity and drift. This paper is part of the Coherence Programme. Further materials and companion papers are available at: https://thecoherenceprogramme.org/