Beyond Centrality: Conditional Connectivity and Boundary Control in Interdependent Networks

<jats:p>Network analysis has transformed the study of power by showing how centrality, brokerage, dependence, exit options, and network topology shape influence. This working paper develops a Node-Boundary-Network-System framework centered on conditional usability. It defines a boundary as an actor-, function-, direction-, and time-indexed admissibility state, while distinguishing rules, interfaces, and control-rights bundles. The paper separates structural position, available leverage, boundary action, admissible capacity, target response, network adaptation, and system transformation, and distinguishes systemic effects from systemic power. A semiconductor-export-control walkthrough using NVIDIA A100/H100 product-time evidence illustrates the coding logic without claiming a causal estimate of policy effectiveness. The paper concludes that NBNS adds value when actor-function-specific admissibility, implementation-interface evidence, and disaggregated control-right configurations explain variation not resolved by topology, resources, jurisdiction, institutional capacity, dependence, and cross-network position.</jats:p>