Promise theory models cooperation among autonomous participants: each makes behavioral promises, while others decide whether those promises are reliable enough to trust. It replaces centralized command with locally governed commitments. section 18.7
Cross-domain cooperation relies on several reinforcing commitments:
- Legal agreements define responsibilities, liabilities, and audit requirements. section 18.7
- Technical protocols and schemas make interactions predictable. section 18.7
- Agent promises constrain local behavior, such as payment limits, receipt requirements, and signed records. section 18.7
Contractor reimbursement
A payment agent promises to process only reimbursements below a defined amount, in an approved currency, with receipts, and to return signed transaction records. A delegation credential then narrows the authority further by adding purpose, contractor, category, and expiry constraints. section 18.7
