Hierarchical structure of decision-capacity limits across strategic and institutional systems
STT — Strategic Termination Time
Exogenous temporal collapse
The time an adversary requires to achieve a politically decisive outcome. Pressure originates outside the system — from adversary tempo, kinetic operations, and escalation dynamics. The defending system observes the world.
ITT — Institutional Termination Time
Endogenous temporal collapse
The time before an institution loses causal agency over outcomes due to internal coordination failure, legitimacy friction, or decision latency. Pressure originates inside the system. The system observes itself.
Lex Resiliens — LR()
Diagnostic instrument for ITT
Identifies the transition point at which institutional decision capacity ceases to influence outcomes. Classifies situations as A (technical necessity), B (value choice), or C (governance failure). Scope is institutional only — LR does not diagnose STT.
Pressure Transfer
Causal coupling, not diagnostic symmetry
STT pressure can trigger ITT collapse — operational tempo generates institutional overload, which accelerates governance failure. This coupling is causal and directional. It does not make LR a diagnostic for strategic systems.